Sold 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing 2146374700
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Overview
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Price: Contact Seller for PriceClick here to view high resolution photos Spectacular 100 Point Concours Restoration by Expert Mark Allen of Rare Drive Iconic Silver Grey Metallic with Blue interior and Tartan Plaid seats Matching Numbers Chassis, Body, and Engine Includes matching luggage set, tool roll, spare wheel/tire, lug wrench and owners manual Mercedes-Benzs most sought-after post-war sports car Very few cars exude the same level of class, desirability, and recognizability of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, a constant benchmark in timeless design. With its long swooping hood, perfect curves, iconic upward-opening doors, and a body design that is considered to be this day the epitome of style, the 300SL Gullwing has aged remarkably well. The 300SL has become a staple of many collectors must have items in automotive collections, despite the Gullwing starting from humble beginnings from an educated bet of a single person: Max Hoffman. Max Hoffman was Mercedes-Benzs authorized United States importer in the early 1950s. He also was/would become the importer for BMW, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Jaguar. He correctly guessed that the American public (specifically those with the wherewithal) were looking for a luxury car that also had lots of performance. Maxs bet proved to be correct, with Mercedes-Benz making 1,400 examples of the Gullwing, selling nearly 80% of them to American buyers. Considered a resounding success, when the 300SL was released, it was considered the best sports car of its era. The 300SL Gullwing succeeded because it was able to do two things well, not just one. A full-blown luxury car along with a record-breaking high-performance sports car, the Gullwing provided huge performance in a luxurious package. With its dry-sump 3.0-liter engine producing 215hp via mechanical fuel injection and its low-drag bodywork made it capable of reaching 163 miles per hour. In todays speeds this doesnt seem high, but this was 65 years ago where many cars barely went past 100 miles an hour! A 4-speed manual transmission kept the driver engaged, and the cabin inside was appointed like what you expected from a halo model from Mercedes-Benz. They were luxurious, designed well, and were swathed in the best materials to remind you that you were driving something special. For all of this luxury and performance, the price didnt come cheap, with the 300SL Gullwing ringing in at $6,820 in 1954, although would be considered a bargain in 2024 money at $78,667! One of the most unique features of the 300SL was the use of a tubular frame like many of the race cars of the era. Designed specifically for strength while reducing the amount of weight, it ensured that each car had an immense amount of stability upon high-performance maneuvers. The added plus of being able to design an entire chassis in this way was ensuring that the center of gravity was lower and towards the middle of the car, improving handling. This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was completed in July of 1954 according to factory stampings throughout the vehicle. It was the 135th 300SL ever built. It appears this was a two owner car until 2020. It was then purchased by noted car collector Chuck Wegner who commissioned Mark Allen of Rare Drive to complete a 100 point body off concourse restoration. This car was restored from a completely original 300SL showing no signs of corrosion or damage and has all matching numbers and original components. At the completion of the restoration the car was shown at The Quail. The factory-correct mechanicals and finishes, from the engine down to the smallest fasteners, all in the correct places and period-correct finishes. When you picture concours winner, this is an image that should pop into peoples heads. After an initial inspection, each and every collector car that comes to Canepa,
Specifications
- VIN:
- Exterior: Silver
- Interior: Blue Plaid
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Classic car for sale by
Canepa
Canepa
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Location: Scotts Valley, CA, United States
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You may be able to finance this car.
Subject to credit approval.
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Welcome to our collector car marketplace where we feature thousands of classified ad listings of vintage cars for sale. We hope that you will bookmark our site and visit often; our cars are updated every day. Furthermore we encourage you to subscribe to our mailing list so that we may periodically notify you of interesting classic cars that become available.