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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Navigation
This Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was completed on October 11th and shipped on October 29th, 1955, to Max Hoffmann, the Mercedes-Benz Distributors of Manhattan, New York. It was special-ordered with DB 190 Graphite Gray with 1079 Red Leather. The car's first owner was Robert Rau of Pacific Palisades, California, and would retain the car until 1979, when it was acquired by Stanley Kaufman of Long Beach, California, and remained in his care for three decades. During that time, the car was repainted in black.
The car remained with Mr. Kaufman until his passing in 2009, at which time his daughter, Joan Kaufman Nielsen, was entrusted with the car. It remained with Mrs. Nielsen until passing to the current owner in 2019.
This 300 SL has a period-correct wood-rimmed steering wheel, although an original white-ivory wheel accompanies the vehicle as well. There is color-coded luggage fitted on the rear luggage shelf, original VDO gauges and switchgear, and an as-delivered red leather interior. The 2,996cc single overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine has Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection and delivers 240 horsepower at 6,100 RPM. There is a four-speed manual transmission, independent suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2021
The car remained with Mr. Kaufman until his passing in 2009, at which time his daughter, Joan Kaufman Nielsen, was entrusted with the car. It remained with Mrs. Nielsen until passing to the current owner in 2019.
This 300 SL has a period-correct wood-rimmed steering wheel, although an original white-ivory wheel accompanies the vehicle as well. There is color-coded luggage fitted on the rear luggage shelf, original VDO gauges and switchgear, and an as-delivered red leather interior. The 2,996cc single overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine has Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection and delivers 240 horsepower at 6,100 RPM. There is a four-speed manual transmission, independent suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2021
2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,250,000-USD $1,500,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,710,000
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#: 198.040.5500654 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.
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| 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 | |
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| 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 |   |
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| 1936 Delahaye 135M Competition Court Cabriolet Chassis#:46837 Sold for $1,160,000 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
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| 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) | |
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| 1914 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST TOURER Chassis#:6TB Sold for $1,160,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach |   |
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| 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Chassis#:2111037 Sold for $1,160,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey |   |
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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
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