Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 198.040.5500409
Engine No. 198.980.10.5500407
Body No. 198.040.5500394
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe stands as a true icon of
its era-equal parts engineering marvel and sculptural elegance.
Born from the racing pedigree of the W194 and the keen foresight of
U.S. importer Max Hoffman, the Gullwing was no mere adaptation; it
was a revolution. Hoffman, recognizing the appetite of his American
clientele for a high-performance road car, persuaded Mercedes-Benz
to build a production model that would bring the thrill of the
track to the open road.
The result was nothing short of groundbreaking. The 300 SL Coupe
featured an aerodynamically sculpted silhouette, highlighted by its
signature gullwing doors-an ingenious solution to the high sills of
its lightweight tubular space frame. Beneath the hood, it was even
more radical: the first production car to use direct mechanical
fuel injection, boosting output to 215 horsepower-25 more than its
carbureted race predecessor.
Engineers tilted the engine for a lower profile, maximizing both
speed and style. Weighing just under 2,900 pounds, the 300 SL could
reach a then-astonishing top speed of 160 mph, depending on its
rear axle ratio, making it the fastest production car of its day.
Between 1954 and 1957, just 1,400 examples were built, each a
rolling testament to Mercedes-Benz's innovation. Today, the
Gullwing is a coveted blue-chip collectible-a masterpiece revered
not only for its timeless design but for reshaping the
possibilities of automotive performance.
Beginning as order number 664 136, this 300 SL, chassis number
5500409 was sold new in the United States. It was finished in its
most popular color of Silver Grey Metallic (DB180), reminiscent of
the illustrious Silver Arrows, over a Blue vinyl interior with Blue
Plaid fabric seat inserts. From there, the car's documented history
begins with the Gullwing Group Registry that lists the car as
returning to Germany with Fa. Schuchhart of Karlsruhe. The car then
made the trip back across the Atlantic to the United States with
noted Southern California collector Chuck Spielman importing it to
San Diego. After its tenure with Spielman, the car came to the east
coast, first with Lee A. Alexander of Potomac, Maryland, before
being acquired by a private collector in Dover, Massachusetts in
2010.
During this time, the car was taken to one of the country's leading
300 SL restoration specialists, Mark Allin of Rare Drive, Inc. of
East Kingston, New Hampshire for a comprehensive refurbishment
beginning in March 2014. Engine work included an overhaul of the
cooling system, a rebuilt water pump, a tune-up with a valve
adjustment, and a new distributor cap and rotor. The front
suspension and rear axle were both completely overhauled before a
renewed braking system was installed. Numerous parts were also sent
to be replated or repainted to their original specification. One of
the largest tasks undertaken during this period was the fitting of
Rudge-style knock-off wheels and all of the associated parts that
included spindles, axles, and mounting plates which alone cost over
$40,000.
The cosmetics received the same level of care from the team at Rare
Drive. With the belly pans removed from the car for service work,
they were restored to their original condition. Inside the car, the
dashboard was removed and completely overhauled with restored
instruments, paint, and ornate dash trim. The interior of the car
was renewed with correct style Blue vinyl, Blue-Grey plaid seat
inserts, along with the correct style Blue square weave carpeting
on the transmission tunnel. A proper style wool headliner finished
off the interior restoration. When Mark and his team completed this
300 SL in October 2015, a total of over $280,000 worth of
restorative work was invested in the car.
After enjoying the car for several years, the car was purchased by
the current owner in early 2024. The car benefits from additional
servicing completed by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in March
2024. This work included a complete engine oil change, service to
the fuel injection pump, and tuning of the engine along with a
fresh set of five Dunlop Sport tires totaling just over $7,500.
With work from some of the finest vintage automobile restoration
houses and a recent visit to Mercedes' official service center,
this 1955 300 SL Gullwing remains in splendid condition. It's
sporting Silver Grey Metallic finish, Blue interior, and delicate
plaid seat inserts show only minimal wear since being retrimmed by
Rare Drive.
The 300 SL Gullwing Coupe is a multi-faceted collector car with
near-unmatched versatility within the collector car sphere. It's a
superb choice for prestigious touring events. It's a show-stopping
entry to nearly every high-level concours. As an automotive object
d'art, it has few equals. There's a good reason it's an icon across
all automotive eras and, as a result, the Gullwing is a virtual
must-have centerpiece for any high-level collection.
