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.