Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 198.040.5500418
Engine No. 198.980.5500427
Body No. A 198.040.5500401
Mercedes-Benz achieved great success racing their W194 Coupe in
1952 and, with encouragement from visionary U.S. car importer Max
Hoffman, the development of a high-performance road variant of the
race car began. The resulting road car, the 300 SL Gullwing, is an
automotive masterpiece. It featured a unique, streamlined design
that included the signature "gullwing" doors and direct mechanical
fuel injection. The Gullwing model's success led to a four-year
production run of 1,400 cars.
Perhaps more important than its racing origins, mechanical
superiority, speed, production numbers, or looks, is the outsized
relevance the Gullwing maintains within the collector car
community. 300 SL Coupes emit a gravitational pull like no other
European classic, and are considered a bellwether due to a devotion
to not only the Mercedes-Benz brand, but the fact that a Gullwing
is always in demand and stylistically timeless. Naturally, this has
led to connoisseurs of the model looking for the best Gullwing
possible, one that features wonderful colors, offers a well-known
chain of ownership, and exudes an impressive originality that few
examples can offer. This particular 300 SL Coupe, chassis number
5500418 is one such car, equipped with Gullwing "must haves" like
critical matching-numbers components, a known chain of ownership
since the 1960s, Rudge knock-off wheels, and a lush, special order
Blue leather interior.
The accompanying Data Card shows that this Gullwing completed
production on 16 June 1955 and left the factory in a seaworthy
shipping crate on 29 June, destined for trip across the Atlantic
Ocean as a United States-market example. Its Gullwing Group
Registry entry notes that this car was specially ordered by
Mercedes-Benz Distributors Inc. of New York with special high gloss
Ivory (608) paintwork, a Blue leather (333) interior, 3.94:1 rear
axle ratio, and most importantly, painted Rudge knock-off
wheels.
While its original owner is unknown, the car was located in Texas
by the mid-1960s at Memorial Motors of Houston, Texas. On 7 April
1966 the car was acquired by John M. Wheatley of Tulsa, Oklahoma
for the princely sum of $5,100. Most interestingly, the bill of
sale notes that the purchase price included a one-way plane ticket
for Wheatley from Tulsa to Houston. Wheatley planned to drive his
newly acquired sports car the 500 miles from The Bayou City through
Dallas, back to Tulsa. No doubt, even as an 11 year old sportscar
his new 300 SL attracted all manner of appreciative and quizzical
looks on the way to Oklahoma.
Earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of
Michigan, Wheately served as a 1st Lieutenant in United States Air
Force during the Korean War and returned to work as a test pilot
for the Hughes Aircraft, Culver City, California. Surely with an
appreciation for innovative technology, the 300 SL was a real star
amongst his growing car collection, which included five Packard
Twelves. The car remained in the stewardship of Lieutenant Wheatley
for the following 16 years before heading to Albuquerque, New
Mexico, with Robert P. Friggens.
As a fellow aviator and automobile collector, the new owner of this
300 SL shared a similar connection with the previous. Mr. Friggens
collection was comprised of many noteworthy cars including multiple
Packards, a Duesenberg, and even a 500 K Spezial Roadster. Under
the stewardship of Mr. Friggens for a remarkable 38 years, the 300
SL was thoroughly enjoyed and reported to have been used to set a
brisk pace on his business trips into Texas. While with Mr.
Friggens, the 300 SL was featured at the 2008 Concours du Soleil in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 300 SL was then acquired by Peter
Kumar of Gullwing Motor Cars approximately four years ago, with it
then migrating back to Europe, where the owner had the car cared
for by KS Classic Cars of B�hler, Switzerland, before returning to
the United States in September 2022.
Upon its return to the United States, the car was brought to the
specialists at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Long Beach,
California in September 2022. Technicians drained the fuel tank and
serviced the highly precise mechanical fuel pump. The engine oil
was changed, and, while drained, a leak in the oil cooling system
was repaired. Additionally, a new set of five 185VR15 Dunlop SP
Sport tires and tubes were mounted, and the transmission and rear
differential oil were changed. The maintenance work totaled just
over $7,500 and is reflective of the impressive condition in which
it returned to the United States.
Today the car remains in a highly original condition, having
developed a charming patina from decades of careful and
conscientious use. It is believed that the car was repainted only
once, a rarity among Gullwings, in the early 1960s to its present
Silver-Grey Metallic. Inside the car, its original special order
Blue leather upholstery exists with a set of aircraft-style lap
belts just as Mercedes might have installed in 1955. A
period-correct Becker Mexico AM/FM radio has also been mounted
underneath the dashboard. Accompanying the car are period
photographs showing the car in Texas in the 1960s, Oklahoma
registration cards, and an invoice from the Mercedes-Benz Classic
Center in January 2023.
Through the decades, the 300 SL has remained as one of the "must
have" cars for any serious automobile collector, having firmly
established its place as one of the most significant production
sports cars of all time. This exceptional 300 SL Gullwing Coupe,
one of just 856 produced for 1955, stands out in terms of its
documented history, matching-numbers engine, original Blue leather
interior, and factory-equipped Rudge wheels.
Please note this vehicle is titled as model year 1956
