Sold 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing 2146372239 Tweet

Click here to view high resolution photos Stunning black over green color combination Matching numbers chassis, body, and engine Spectacular concours restoration by expert Rudy Koniczek of Rudi & Company Known history, with five owners from new Includes matching luggage set, tool kit, spare wheel, 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 2023 money at $77,501! 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 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was completed on November 18th, 1954 according to factory records where it was then shipped to New York City on November 24th. It was acquired in early 1955 through suburban Detroit dealer Falvey Motors, of Ferndale, Michigan by Jose J. Calvillo. Mr. Cavillos Detroit studio produced commercial artwork for the automotive industry, most notably the cars depicted in Chevrolet ads of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Factory records indicate that the car was originally finished in Light Blue (DB 334) over a Blue Vinyl and plaid (L1) interior, although, in a strange turn of events, the car arrived at Falvey Motors finished in Dark Green. This especially upset Jose Cavillo since he originally ordered a silver car! Eventually the businessman took delivery of the car. The Gullwing passed into the ownership of Fred T. Haddock, of Ann Arbor, Michigan wi