1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe

Mercedes-Benz produced 1,371 steel-bodied and 29 alloy bodied 300SL Gullwing Coupes between 1954 and 1957.

In 1952, Mercedes-Benz participated in the 2,000-mile road race called the La Carrera Panamericana. 92 entries began the race and by the end, 53 were eliminated. It was an extremely dangerous and grueling adventure. Mercedes-Benz finished in 1-2-3. Unfortunately, John Fitch was disqualified which left Mercedes-Benz with a 1-2 victory. Within a short period of time, Mercedes-Benz received 400 orders for the 155 mph 300SL Gullwing Coupe.

The La Carrera was only the fifth race the 300SLs had entered. The gullwing coupes placed 2nd in the Mille Miglia, 1-2-3 in the Berne, Switzerland Sports Car Race, 1-2 at Le Mans, 1-2-3-4 at the Nürburgring, and 1-2 in Mexico. Since the car had accomplished Mercedes-Benz's vision for the car, the La Carrera was actually an afterthought. They had planned to cease 300SL production before the November race. However, the company's importer in Mexico City and U.S. distributor Max Hoffman in New York, pleaded for an entry.

125 of the first 166 300SLs built in 1954 were sold through Hoffman's New York and Los Angeles dealership. This was the first time a Mercedes was introduced abroad instead of in Germany, making it clear that the United States was the target audience.

In 1954, a Cadillac Eldorado sold new for $5,738. The 300SL retailed for a staggering $6,940, almost 20 percent higher.

After the disaster at Le Mans in 1955, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing. Privateers, however, continued to flock to the tracks with their 300SLs, and in many situations, the factory was happy to help them. John Fitch and Olivier Gendebien won their class in the 1955 Mille Miglia, then Gendebien won the Liege-Rome-Liege and Alpine rallies. W.I. Tak won the Tulip Rally, Werner Engle won the European Touring Car Championship, Armando Zampiero won the Italian Sports Car Driver's Championship, and Paul O'Shea won the SCCA's D Production Class in the U.S. In 1956, Prince Metternich finished 6th in the Mille Miglia, Shock and Moll won the Acropolis and Sestriere rallies and the European Rally Championship, Stirling Moss was 2nd in the Tour de France, and Willy Mairesse won the Liege-Rome-Liege race.

This particular 300SL Coupe is a steel bodied, 'matching-numbers' example that was built in August of 1955. It is one of the earliest cars to be fitted with the 'curved' three-pointed star in the grille. The doors, hood, and truck are comprised of aluminum while the rest of the body is made from steel. The engine features a Bosch mechanical fuel injection system, and the engine is canted about 30 degrees to enable the hood line to be brought down.

To make the most of the rear space in the interior of the car, there is fitted luggage. The streamlined belly pans, which assisted the car to its top speed, also serve a function purpose by containing the engine heat.

This example was owned until 1964 by a body shop mechanic at Loeber Mercedes-Benz in Lincolnwood, and then passed to Josef L. Klingler. Klingler campaigned the car in several SCCA vintage events from 1987–1989. Later, Mr. Steven Schultz acquired the Gullwing in 2004. Schultz kept the car until 2012, when he sold it to the present owner.

The car has recently been disassembled and repainted in red. The chrome has been replated. The odometer currently shows 53,943 miles. It has its black leather interior and fitted luggage, and is also equipped with the factory belly pan. There is a Nardi steering wheel, correct Becker Mexico radio, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, and a four-speed manual gearbox.

In 2013, this car was offered for sale at RM Auctions Scottsdale, Arizona sale. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $847,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013