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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Navigation
Mercedes-Benz built just twenty-nine aluminum-bodied Gullwings. This example was ordered new by Rene Wassermann of Basel, Switzerland. Mr. Wasserman ordered his new alloy Gullwing with many special options, including special high-gloss white paint, a red leather interior, a sport suspension, two-piece matching luggage, sealed-beam headlights, and instruments in English. The car was completed on October 5th, 1955. Mr. Wasserman opted to pick the car up himself and drive it back to his home in Switzerland. It is not known when Mr. Wasserman sold the car, but by the early 1960s, it had been exported to the United States and was in the care of its second owner, Jerome Seavey, of Chicago, followed by John K. Scattergood III, a principal at Blenheim Motors, located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The next owner, also of Pennsylvania, was Keystone State politician and enthusiast Senator Theodore Newell Wood. He represented the 20th District of Luzerne, Susquehanna, Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties in the Pennsylvania State Senate. He also founded the Brynfan Tyddyn Road Races, which were held from 1952 to 1956.
Ownership of the Gullwing later passed through Bill Kontes and Joe Marchetti, before being acquired by Leslie Barth in 1983. Mr. Barth retained the car until 1989. The next owner was Swedish businessman and collector Hans Thulin, who later sold it to a German collector, who commissioned to Kienle Automobiltechnik in Stuttgart, Germany to perform a full restoration. Upon completion, the car was repainted in traditional Mercedes-Benz silver and re-trimmed in its original color of red leather.
The car passed through a few more caretakers before coming into the care of its current owner. Currently, the odometer displays just 2,481 kilometers, presumably since Kienle's restoration.
There were 1,400 steel-bodied examples built, and just 29 alloy-bodied examples. Making this car even rarer are the highly desirable options and accessories, including the Sonderteile engine, sport suspension, Rudge knock-off wheels, and a two-piece luggage set.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2015
Ownership of the Gullwing later passed through Bill Kontes and Joe Marchetti, before being acquired by Leslie Barth in 1983. Mr. Barth retained the car until 1989. The next owner was Swedish businessman and collector Hans Thulin, who later sold it to a German collector, who commissioned to Kienle Automobiltechnik in Stuttgart, Germany to perform a full restoration. Upon completion, the car was repainted in traditional Mercedes-Benz silver and re-trimmed in its original color of red leather.
The car passed through a few more caretakers before coming into the care of its current owner. Currently, the odometer displays just 2,481 kilometers, presumably since Kienle's restoration.
There were 1,400 steel-bodied examples built, and just 29 alloy-bodied examples. Making this car even rarer are the highly desirable options and accessories, including the Sonderteile engine, sport suspension, Rudge knock-off wheels, and a two-piece luggage set.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2015
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $5,000,000-USD $7,000,000
Sale Price :
USD $5,010,000
2015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $5,500,000-USD $6,500,000
Lot was not sold
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#: 198.040.5500654 Sold for USD$1,501,000 2025 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island |  |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe Chassis#: 198.040.5500429 Sold for USD$1,490,000 2025 Broad Arrow Auctions : Academy of Art University Collection | |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#: 198.040.5500127 Sold for USD$1,470,782 2024 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
| 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 |
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 300 SL Gullwing Coupe | 198.040.5500606 | 2025 Broad Arrow Auction : Amelia Island | $1,375,000 | $1,475,000 | |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 198 040 5500614 | 2025 Artcurial : Rétromobile | $1,300,000 | $1,600,000 | |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé | 1980405500152 | 2025 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | $1,100,000 | $1,300,000 | |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 1980405500263 | 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | $1,900,000 | ||
| 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 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $1,148,711 range.
| 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Chassis#:10511AR*750081* Sold for $1,160,000 2025 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | |
| 2020 Ford GT Carbon Series Chassis#:2fagp9dwxlh100206 Sold for $1,155,000 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1962 Porsche 356 B 1600 'Twin-Grille' Roadster by D'Ieteren Chassis#:89848 Sold for $1,160,000 2024 RM Sothebys : The Junkyard : Rudi Klein Collection | |
| 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Chassis#:198.042.7500473 Sold for $1,160,000 2024 Bonhams : The Audrain Concours Auction | |
| 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible Chassis#:DB5/C/1921/L Sold for $1,160,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
| 1990 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer Chassis#:WP0AB2962LS450145 Sold for $1,160,000 2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
| 1997 RUF BTR Twin Sold for $1,150,000 2024 Broad Arrow : Porsche Air|Water | |
| 1990 PORSCHE 964 CARRERA 4 BY SINGER 'CLASSIC STUDY' Chassis#:WP0ZZZ96ZLS406359 Sold for $1,160,000 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island | |
| 1955 Lancia B24 Spider America Chassis#:B24S-1170 Sold for $1,160,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center |   |
| 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#:CSX 2407 Sold for $1,160,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey |   |
| 1990 Nissan R90CK Chassis#:R90C/1 Sold for $1,154,172 2023 RM Sothebys : Le Mans | |
| 1936 Delahaye 135M Competition Court Cabriolet Chassis#:46837 Sold for $1,160,000 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
| 2024 CHEVROLET CORVETTE E-RAY 3LZ FIRST RETAIL PRODUCTION VIN Chassis#:2023012345 Sold for $1,150,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 1972 Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa: A Homage to F. A. Porsche Chassis#:9112510719 Sold for $1,149,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Sealed Bid (December 14) | |
| 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux Chassis#:57654 Sold for $1,155,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Gene Ponder Collection | |
| 1994 PORSCHE 964 TURBO 3.6 S FLACHBAU Chassis#:WP0AC2964RS480379 Sold for $1,160,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
| 1914 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST TOURER Chassis#:6TB Sold for $1,160,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach |   |
| 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#:CSX2234 Sold for $1,160,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction |  |
| 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Chassis#:2111037 Sold for $1,160,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey |   |
| 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 Chassis#:3333 Sold for $1,153,844 2021 Artcurial : Monaco |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
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