1957-Mercedes-Benz-300SL Gullwing

Description

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe (titled as a 1957)
s/n 198.040.6500192, engine no. 198.980.6500200
Silver with Red Leather Interior

The 300SL was one of the most exotic cars available when it was new. Directly descended from racing cars, and chock full of innovative features, they were fast, beautiful, and expensive. Arguably the first ‘supercar’ ever (others claim that honor should be bestowed upon the Lamborghini Miura), the 300SL has also been described as the McLaren F1 of its day. Thanks to Mercedes’ development work during World War II in aircraft engines, the 300SL became the first production car with fuel injection, and the light but strong spaceframe necessitated the now legendary and often copied upwards opening doors. The result was a stunningly beautiful but also functional car that was, depending on gearing, the fastest production car in the world. Surrounded by separate frame carbureted contemporaries, the SL was truly a glimpse of the future and remains today a very special car indeed. Its appeal is timeless and consequently, 300SLs have remained blue-chip collector cars that are always in demand and perhaps even culturally embedded as one of the most iconic and greatest cars of all time.

This particular car is a matching-numbers example that was supplied new by Max Hoffman’s Mercedes distributorship in New York City, originally finished in DB040 black with red leather interior. The car was repainted silver about thirty years ago, although the dashboard remains black. This is an extremely complete and honest example that retains its original belly pans, original luggage, Becker AM/FM radio, as well as extensive tools and books sets.

It shows 88,153 miles, which is believed to be correct. It has been in the western United States for several decades, having been purchased by a fellow named Bill McClenahan of Hillsborough, California from a Robert Canny in Las Vegas in the late 1980s. Fantasy Junction sold the car to its next keeper in 2002, who used the car in several rallies before selling it to its current owner in 2007. The car’s current owner is in Arizona has used it successfully in several rallies as well, where the car has proven to be an excellent running and reliable event car.

The car is cosmetically attractive and honest in appearance, but not freshly restored. The paintwork was done to high standards but is showing some chips and minor crazing in places. The front end of the car is protected with clear bra. The body is excellent, with exceptionally straight panels that fit and operate very well. There are no signs of accident damage or rust. The chrome is also very nice and the headlamp rings retain their Bosch etchings.

The interior was retrimmed to high standards by Jack’s Auto Top in San Mateo during the McClenahan ownership. The leather has wonderful patina, the carpets are of the correct material, and the headliner is also correct cloth. The dashboard is in lovely condition, with a well-preserved original appearance. The steering wheel has a few small cracks. The original luggage is in excellent unrestored condition.

The engine compartment and trunk have a similarly correct and honest but unrestored appearance. Neither is detailed, but both are well-presented with correct finishes and details. The engine compartment retains most of its original decals and glass windscreen washer fluid reservoir.

The runs and drives superbly. The engine starts easily, warms up properly, and pulls well while making great noise. The gearbox is wonderfully slick but also solidly mechanical reassuringly robust in feel, a stark contrast to contemporary Italian gearboxes. The brakes are effective and the car does not pull, while the chassis has a solid and confidence-inspiring feel that encourages the driver to go on a 1000 mile drive across the Mexican countryside.

This is an outstanding gullwing that has superb honest and wholesome feel to it. It has never been fully disassembled for restoration and as a result, it has an exceptionally coherent car to drive. It feels worn in but not worn out, and it wears its age with grace, showing that it has always been loved and sympathetically maintained, never neglected to the point of needing a complete restoration. Consequently, it is an ideal event car, being neither too nice cosmetically nor mechanically fragile. As a 1956 example, it is eligible for the world’s most prestigious events. It is also exceptionally complete, retaining the belly pans (all gullwings were delivered with these, but many have lost them over the years), matching numbers engine and body, and extensive tools, books, and accessories. It comes with the following items:
Two different tool rolls
Travel bag with bulb set, belts, cigarette light trouble light, puller, timing arch, spare electrical parts
Original side window storage bag
Original plastic Mercedes manual holder with original books
300SL Owner’s manual
300SL service booklet
300SL parts book in German
300SL parts book in English