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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe

  • Chassis Number: 1980405500503
This 300SL Coupe was purchased new from dealer Heinz Zegke of Spokane, Washington, by Ed Atchinson. It was then sold to a doctor in Great Falls, Montana. It would remain in his care of only a short period of time before it was sold to Mr. Waldenberg of Great Falls, who also kept it for a short time. It was sold, now showing about 20,000 miles on the odometer, to Mr. Curt Hanson of Portland, Oregon, in July 1966. It would remain in storage from 1977 until November 1981. When it was brought out of storage, it was given a full restoration, which was completed in July 1982. From there, it was used very sparingly and shown at a few events where it was always trailered. It is a multiple-award winner including a Best of Show honors that it earned at the 1982 Olympia Concours d'Elegance and the 1982 Chico Concours d'Elegance. It came in second at the 1984 Forest Grove Concours. It won its class between 1982 and 1984 at the Modesto, Hillsborough, OSU Corvallis and Forest Grove Concours events. It was given a 'Distance Trophy' at the 1982 Oakland Invitational Concours and a People's Choice Award in 1983 at the Exotic Sports Car Show in Portland, Oregon.

It was later shipped to Switzerland, where it became part of an automotive collection and museum and did not see any road use for the next fifteen years. The present owner purchased the car twelve years ago and shipped it to London. Since that time, it has been stripped down, repainted and brought back to concours-quality condition. It is finished in white and has a red leather interior. Over the past decade, it has accumulated a mere 1,000 miles.

There were just 867 300SL Coupes built in 1955 and few remain in modern times. This example is powered by a six-cylinder engine that displaces 2996cc and produces 215 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes.

In 2009, this Dual-Ghia Convertible was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. It was expected to sell for $475,000 - $550,000. Bidding reached $375,000 but failed to satisfy the car's reserve. The lot was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009

2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $475,000-USD $550,000 
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $375,000

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 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 Concours
 
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 image  1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing image  
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 image  1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing image  
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 Alloy Gullwing
Chassis#: 198.043.5500332
Sold for USD$6,825,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona
 
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#: 198.040.5500243
Sold for USD$1,710,000
  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
 
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#: 198.040.5500716
Sold for USD$1,277,558
  2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland
 
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
Chassis#: 198.040.5500801
Sold for USD$1,710,000
  2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing image  
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#: 198.040.5500533
Sold for USD$1,495,500
  2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection
 
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Papillon
Chassis#: 198 040 5500448
Sold for USD$1,627,360
  2020 Artcurial Motorcars : Monaco
 

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.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55007532024 RM Sothebys : Arizona $1,500,000$1,700,000
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING198.040.55004542023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $1,300,000$1,500,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55006292023 RM Sothebys : Sealed Bid (November 17)   
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE198.040.55000992020 Bonhams : Quail Motorcar Auction $1,200,000$1,350,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55004572020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online $1,200,000$1,400,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55005532020 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona $1,000,000$1,200,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Custom Gullwing Coupe1S9GR11T0788790052019 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 Coupé198.040-55 002952019 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale $1,100,000$1,400,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55001562019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $1,500,000$1,800,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55001542019 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona $1,200,000$1,400,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55007992018 RM Sothebys : London $950,000$1,250,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing19804055001542018 Mecum : Monterey$1,000,000$1,300,000$1,400,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55006262017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction $1,350,000$1,500,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé008102015 Bonhams : Bond Street Motor Car Sale $1,000,000$1,300,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Sportabteilung Gullwing198.040.55006402015 RM Sotheby's NY Auction : Driven By Distruption $5,000,000$7,000,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing198.040-55001292015 Historics at Brookland $925,000$1,125,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing198.043.55007862015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey $5,500,000$6,500,000
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL papillon198.040.55002782015 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 Gullwing198.040.55006742013 RM Auctions Amelia Island$910,000$1,000,000$1,250,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing198.043-55007862012 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 Coupe19804045000322010 RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook$460,000$475,000$575,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL GullwingGW10062009 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
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing 2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction $400,000$500,000
1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing19804355007862004 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction$770,000$800,000$1,000,000

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

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