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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe

  • Chassis Number: 4500016
This first owner of this unique Mercedes 300SL Coupe was Adrian Conan Doyle, the youngest son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. His comfortable royalty income allowed Adrian to dabble in racing in the 1930s with Bugattis, Delages, and a Mercedes-Benz SSK. In the post-war years, Mr. Doyle turned his attention to Ferraris and this 300SL. This Gullwing was the only one delivered in this 'silver violet' color (DB377). In later years, the car found its way to California, repainted white. During a full body-off restoration by Paul Russell and Company, the original silver violet was found under the headliner and dashboard to enable a perfect color match. This restoration was completed in 1999.

The production version of the 300 SL Gullwing was introduced at the 1954 New York International Motor Sports Show. 1954 was the first year for the Gullwing and this example carries the S/N 4500016.

This low-slung chassis gave the car strength and lightness ('SL' stands for 'Sport Light') but there was a problem; an essential part of the frame lay right where the door hinge in a conventional car would have been. The solution: put the hinge on the roof and let the door swing up. It was nothing like anything anyone had ever seen before.

This was the first production automobile to employ fuel injection. This car is powered by an overhead-valve, in-line 6-cylinder, 183 cubic inch, (3-liter) engine developing 190 horsepower coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission. The car is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering, front independent/rear swing axle suspension and 4-wheel finned drum brakes. It has a top speed of 152 mph and will travel from 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The car weights 2,869 pounds.

The Mercedes 300SL Gullwing was owned by such fans as Elvis Presley and Sophia Loren.

No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

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 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 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.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing19804055002632024 Mecum : Monterey$1,700,000$2,000,000$2,500,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing198.040.55006812024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream $1,600,000$2,000,000
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

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

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