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Chassis number 198.040.550368 was completed on May 31, 1955, and delivered as a special order on July 6, 1955, by Max Hoffman's distributors in New York. The car was originally finished in Ivory (DB 608) with an interior in Red (1079) leather, the same color it wears today. It came equipped with chrome Rudge knock-off wheels. The original owner was reportedly Buddy Champlin, the son of Oklahoma oil baron H.H. Champlin. After 28 years, in 1973, Mr. Champlin's 300 SL was listed for sale at $12,000 by the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Tulsa. Mr. David Rogers, a local individual, purchased the car for $10,000. He owned it for a very short time before passing it to Bob Boone, an Oklahoma University student. Boone, in turn, traded the 300 SL to Rennsport Werkstatt, of Tulsa.
Rennsport Werkstatt fitted new pistons, bearings, and chains on the 300 SL, and the valves, water and oil pumps, injection pump, and fuel injectors were all rebuilt. New motor mounts and heating and cooling system pipes were installed, along with a new clutch disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. The interior was re-upholstered in NOS factory leather, which was still available in 1974. At the time of the work, the odometer showed approximately 76,400 original miles.
David Jahimiak purchased the car from Rennsport Werkstatt, who owned the car until 1997, when it was acquired at the Door County Gull Wing Group's annual convention by its present owner. During Mr. Jahmiak's two-decade-long ownership, only about 200 miles were added to the odometer.
The car spent nearly six months being re-commissioned, with virtually every mechanical component disassembled and inspected.
Since owning this 300 SL Gullwing, the owner has driven around 20,000 miles. It still has the factory Rudge wheels and original belly pans, as well as its correct trunk mat, tire gauge, tool kit and folio, complete owner's document case with the full set of manuals, official dealer service manual and parts book, jack and wheel chock, and red side-window folios. It has a period-correct Nardi steering wheel, and correct red leather fitted luggage.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014
Rennsport Werkstatt fitted new pistons, bearings, and chains on the 300 SL, and the valves, water and oil pumps, injection pump, and fuel injectors were all rebuilt. New motor mounts and heating and cooling system pipes were installed, along with a new clutch disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. The interior was re-upholstered in NOS factory leather, which was still available in 1974. At the time of the work, the odometer showed approximately 76,400 original miles.
David Jahimiak purchased the car from Rennsport Werkstatt, who owned the car until 1997, when it was acquired at the Door County Gull Wing Group's annual convention by its present owner. During Mr. Jahmiak's two-decade-long ownership, only about 200 miles were added to the odometer.
The car spent nearly six months being re-commissioned, with virtually every mechanical component disassembled and inspected.
Since owning this 300 SL Gullwing, the owner has driven around 20,000 miles. It still has the factory Rudge wheels and original belly pans, as well as its correct trunk mat, tire gauge, tool kit and folio, complete owner's document case with the full set of manuals, official dealer service manual and parts book, jack and wheel chock, and red side-window folios. It has a period-correct Nardi steering wheel, and correct red leather fitted luggage.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014
2014 RM Auctions at Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,400,000
Sale Price :
USD $2,530,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500048 Sold for USD$1,380,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe Chassis#: 198.040.5500120 Sold for USD$1,545,000 2024 Broad Arrow : Monterey | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500656 Sold for USD$1,545,000 2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' Coupé Chassis#: 1980405500152 Sold for USD$1,473,679 2024 Bonhams : Goodwood Festival of Speed | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe Chassis#: 198.040.5500418 Sold for USD$1,545,000 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING Chassis#: 198.040.5500666 Sold for USD$1,765,000 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Papillon' Chassis#: 198.040 5500130 Sold for USD$1,539,554 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500289 Sold for USD$1,737,500 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500078 Sold for USD$1,466,139 2023 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Sold for USD$1,815,000 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING Chassis#: 198.040.5500031 Sold for USD$1,737,500 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Sold for USD$1,650,000 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'Gullwing' Coupe Chassis#: 1980405500263 Sold for USD$1,700,000 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING Chassis#: 198.040.5500784 Sold for USD$2,040,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing Chassis#: 198.043.5500786 Sold for USD$5,010,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500693 Sold for USD$2,040,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500243 Sold for USD$1,710,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing Chassis#: 198.043.5500332 Sold for USD$6,825,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING Chassis#: 1980405500347 Sold for USD$1,870,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Sold for USD$2,640,000 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings That Failed To Sell At Auction
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 1980405500263 | 2024 Mecum : Monterey | $1,700,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,500,000 |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500681 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream | $1,600,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500753 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | $1,500,000 | $1,700,000 | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING | 198.040.5500454 | 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,300,000 | $1,500,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500629 | 2023 RM Sothebys : Sealed Bid (November 17) | |||
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE | 198.040.5500099 | 2020 Bonhams : Quail Motorcar Auction | $1,200,000 | $1,350,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500457 | 2020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500553 | 2020 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Custom Gullwing Coupe | 1S9GR11T078879005 | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction | $1,000,000 | ||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W198) Brabus Restoration | 2019 Silverstone Riyadh Car Show | ||||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé | 198.040-55 00295 | 2019 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale | $1,100,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500156 | 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,500,000 | $1,800,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500154 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500799 | 2018 RM Sothebys : London | $950,000 | $1,250,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 1980405500154 | 2018 Mecum : Monterey | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500626 | 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | $1,350,000 | $1,500,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé | 00810 | 2015 Bonhams : Bond Street Motor Car Sale | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Sportabteilung Gullwing | 198.040.5500640 | 2015 RM Sotheby's NY Auction : Driven By Distruption | $5,000,000 | $7,000,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 198.040-5500129 | 2015 Historics at Brookland | $925,000 | $1,125,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing | 198.043.5500786 | 2015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | $5,500,000 | $6,500,000 | |
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL papillon | 198.040.5500278 | 2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars | $1,200,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING | 2014 Mecum Dallas | $1,200,000 | |||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 198.040.5500674 | 2013 RM Auctions Amelia Island | $910,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,250,000 |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing | 198.043-5500786 | 2012 RM Auctions London | $2,400,000 | ||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 2010 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions | $550,000 | $650,000 | ||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe | 1980404500032 | 2010 RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | $460,000 | $475,000 | $575,000 |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | GW1006 | 2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | $375,000 | $475,000 | $550,000 | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe | 2009 Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale | $510,000 | |||
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe | 2009 Automobiles of Arizona | $500,000 | $600,000 | $700,000 |
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1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis#:189391 Sold for $1,132,500 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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1963 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III DROPHEAD COUPÉ ADAPTATION BY H.J. MULLINER Chassis#:LSDW221 Sold for $1,133,092 2021 RM Sothebys : A Passion for Elegance | |
2015 PORSCHE 918 SPYDER Chassis#:WP0CA2A15FS800089 Sold for $1,144,000 2021 Gooding & Co : May : Geared Online | |
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1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy Chassis#:2167 Sold for $1,132,500 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with Factory Hardtop Chassis#:198042-10-003245 Sold for $1,133,463 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#:1980427500152 Sold for $1,142,950 2019 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
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1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Chassis#:RD80428500215 Sold for $1,130,446 2018 Silverstone Auctions : Silverstone Classic Sale | |
1975 Lamborghini LP400 Countach Periscopio Chassis#:1120062 Sold for $1,148,895 2018 Artcurial : LeMans Classic | |
1992 Ferrari F40 Chassis#:ZFFGJ34B000093710 Sold for $1,146,048 2018 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1956 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Coachwork by Carrozzeria Boano Chassis#:0543GT Sold for $1,133,000 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#:198.040.7500077 Sold for $1,144,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
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