Vehicle Description
Commission Number 856 345
Delivery Number 11344
Chassis Number 198.040 7500077
Engine Number 198.980 7500072
Body Number A198.040 7500074
Gearbox Number 7500079
Steering Box Number 7500076
Right Front Axle Number 7500086
Left Front Axle Number 7500086
Rear Axle Number 7500055
Rear Axle Ratio 3.64:1
Engine Compression Ratio 8.5:1
Ignition Static Timing 28 Degrees
Exterior Color DB 534 (Fire Engine Red)
Interior Trim 953 (Special Order Black Leather)
Completed May, 1957
Shipped May 7th, 1957
Sold June, 1957
Ordered New By Studebaker Packard, South Bend, Indiana
Options -3.64:1 Final Drive Ratio & Calibrated Speedometer in Miles
Per Hour
-Wheel Balancing Protractor and Selection of Various Wheel
Weights
-Front and Rear Bumper Over-Rider Bars
-External Mirror, Body-Mounted, Left-Side
-Becker Mexico Signal Seeking Radio, Speakes & Amplifier
-Automatic External Power Antenna, Body-Mounted, Right-Side
-6.5 x 15, Continental Tires
-USA Sealed Beam Headlights
-Windscreen Wipers and Washing Equipment
-Steering Column, Stalk Control High & Low Beam Light Dipping
Switch
-Instrument Labels and Calibration in English with English
Units
-"Made In Western Germany" Badge
-Ocean Shipping with Special Made Wood Ocean Crating
-Special Ordered Black Leather Upholstery
Mileage 74,279 Miles
Ownership History 1957 George Mennen Montclair, New Jersey (21
Years)
1978 Joseph M. Stoyak Springfield, Massachusetts (30 Years)
2008 David P. Zagaroli Hickory, North Carolina
2010 Tom Rossiter Gladstone, New Jersey
2010 Orin R. Smith Vero Beach, Florida
2017 Symbolic International San Diego, California
Specifications:
240 bhp, 2,992cc SOHC inline six-cylinder engine with Bosch
mechanical fuel injection, four-speed manual transmission,
coil-spring independent front suspension, coil-spring and
swing-axle rear suspension, with four-wheel "Al-fin" hydraulic drum
brakes. Wheelbase: 94.5 in.
300SL Gullwing Background:
All 1400 examples of Mercedes Benz's legendary 300SL Gullwing
produced from 1954 until 1957 are special, there are however a few
that truly stand out and they are regarded as a bit more special
than the rest... The most important of these are the 29 examples
completed with all alloy bodies followed by the highly coveted 70
examples produced in the final production year, 1957. Like the
1954, 55 and 1956 models, these used standard steel bodies with
alloy bonnet, deck lid and doors. What make an original 1957 300SL
so special is the extremely low production numbers of those built.
Various sites and sources quote 79 examples being built in 1957 and
others 73, but a close examination of the original Factory assembly
record "Data Cards" confirms that the first 1957 300SL Gullwing
built was chassis number 7500007 and the final example was chassis
number 7500079. This would indicate 73 examples being built but
three of these, chassis numbers, 7500037, 7500038 and 7500062 were
all prototype 300SL Roadsters assembled as Gullwing production was
coming to an end.
Chassis Number 198.040 7500077:
• Original, Ultra-Rare 1957 Final Production Year 300SL
Gullwing
• The third from last 300 SL Gullwing built and one of just 70
examples produced in 1957
• One of Just Four 1957 Production Models Delivered New in Fire
Engine Red with a Black Leather Interior
• Known history from new with only four previous Owners
• Wonderful originality and authenticity throughout
• Matching numbers
• Completely Rust and Accident Free
• Long-term maintenance for previous owners by the noted Gullwing
Specialist, Paul Russell & Company
• Complete with manuals and original tools
• All services and Safety Checks Completely Current and Up to
Date
All good things must come to an end and in the Spring of 1957
Hoffman Motors in New York and Studebaker / Packard in South Bend,
Indiana, the new distributor for 300SLs in the States were given
notice that no more orders for the Gullwing would be taken. The
dealerships told their sales folks and individual clients that
orders would be cancelled if not switched to the new Roadster that
was being built alongside the last of the legendary Gullwings. In
fact the original Mercedes Factory Assembly Data Cards for each of
the 70, 300SL Gullwings built in 1957 record that each example was
completed as a special wish / special order vehicle per individual
client's requirements. It seems more than a few loyal hold-outs
greatly preferred the original, innovative and unique Gullwing over
the new Roadsters and orders were processed at least until the end
of April and possibly early May of 1957 before production finally
ended.
As noted above, there is a fair amount of confusion regarding just
how many 1957 300SL Gullwings were completed. The very last chassis
number assigned and last example delivered new was s/n 7500079.
Many assumed that this meant a total of 79 examples were completed.
Production actually started with 7500007 and three of the assigned
chassis numbers in this sequence were completed as prototype 300SL
Roadsters. The actual total number of 1957 300SL Gullwings
completed was just 70 units for 70 very, very lucky clients!
Chassis number 7500077 was the third to last example completed and
one of just four examples ordered and delivered new that final
production year in DB534, "Fire Engine Red" with code 953, a black
leather interior. 7500077 was ordered with special softer grade
leather for the interior and a variety of other options. Being
destined for the North American Market, it was completed with USA
sealed-beam headlights and gauges calibrated and indicating in US /
English units. The order further specified the installation of a
Becker Mexico Signal Seeking Radio with Loud Speaker, Amplifier and
an external automatic power antenna that was body mounted on the
right fender. The opposite fender was fitted with an optional
external rear view mirror. A very rare option included with this
300SL was the installation of a steering column left-side stalk,
opposite of the right side turn signal stalk. The left side stalk
actuated the high and low beam lights depending on which way it was
moved in order to signal and flash on-coming traffic.
The assembly of this 300SL Gullwing, like all late production
examples built in 1957 utilized a variety of pre-assembled,
off-the-shelf components that had been built and gathered in the
months leading up to the actual production of the vehicle itself.
All five of the original standard "Typ. S562C 5Kx14-B-BLM KPZ"
wheels are date coded July and August of 1956. These are the oldest
found components on this particular 300SL. Almost all of the
engine, gearbox, suspension and axle components have date codes
from December of 1956. The engine itself was cast on December 30th,
1956 and the sump cover plated also bares the date code, December
1956. Actual assembly of the vehicle itself was initiated under
"Kommission" number "856 345." Recorded at the time of construction
on the Factory Records are the following individually assigned
component numbers:
Chassis Number 7500077
Engine Number 7500072
Body Number 7...for more information please contact the seller.
