1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing

To stay competitive in sports car racing, Mercedes-Benz offered a handful of 300 SL Coupes with aluminum-alloy bodies. With these alloy cars, Mercedes-Benz could improve the pedigree of the production version which was outwardly identical.

Based on the W194 racecars which won Le Mans, the 300 SL was fully capable and raced at events like the Mille Miglia. The weight reduction of 200 lbs meant the alloy cars had a clear advantage on the race track.

In addition to the lightweight body, Mercedes outfitted the alloy cars with Plexiglass windows, shorter competition springs , stiffer shock absorbers, hotter camshafts and knock-off Rudge-Whitworth wheels.

Only 29 alloy cars were ordered which was just 2% of the production run.

Our feature car, chassis 5500208, was delivered in metallic silver gray with blue leather interior to Veron Holz of Bonita, California. The first owner never raced the car and its history is unknown until the 1980s. At that time it was disassembled by Hill & Vaughn in Santa Monica while the engine was sent to Germany and rebuilt by AMG Motorbau. Later the whole car was shipped in pieces to Germany and completed overseas.

In 2009, the Gullwing was purchased by Ken McBride of Seattle, Washington. He sent the car to Rudi & Co. in Victoria, BC, Canada for a correct shade of DB180 silver and blue leather upholstery with plaid seat inserts. It debuted after McBride passed away at the 2011 Kirkland Concours d’Elegance.

The car was offered for sale at the the 2012 Scottsdale Auction by Gooding & Co. They achieved a high bid of $4,200,000 USD which with buyer’s premium set a world record for a 300 SL at auction with a total figure of $4,620,000 USD.

In Detail

tagsgullwing, 300sl
submitted byadmin
typeSeries Production Car
built atGermany
production29
engineInline-6
positionFront, Longitudinal
aspirationNatural
displacement2996 cc / 182.83 in³
bore85 mm / 3.3 in
stroke88 mm / 3.5 in
compression8.55:1
power179.0 kw / 240 bhp @ 6100 rpm
specific output80.11 bhp per litre
bhp/weight199.5 bhp per tonne
torque294.2 nm / 217 ft lbs @ 4800 rpm
body / frameAluminum Body over Steel Space Frame
driven wheelsRWD
front tires6.50-15 Dunlop SP Sport D8
rear tires6.50-15 Dunlop SP Sport D8
front wheelsF 38.1 x 12.7 cm / 15 x 5 in
rear wheelsR 38.1 x 12.7 cm / 15 x 5 in
steeringRecirculating Ball
f suspensionDouble Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Telescopic Dampers
r suspensionHalf Axles w/Coil Springs over Telescopic Dampers
curb weight1203 kg / 2650 lbs
wheelbase2400 mm / 94.5 in
front track1384 mm / 54.5 in
rear track1435 mm / 56.5 in
length4217 mm / 166.0 in
width1778 mm / 70.0 in
height1300 mm / 51.2 in
transmission4-Speed Manual
gear ratios3.34:1, 1.97:1, 1.39:1, 1.00:1
final drive3.64:1
top speed~241.35 kph / 150 mph

 

Auction Sales History

 

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing 198.043.5500208 – sold for $4,620,000 The Sixth of 29 Aluminum-Bodied 300 SL Gullwings Built. Numerous Competition-Born Features Original Matching-Numbers NSL-Code Engine. Complete with Rudge Wheels, Belly Pans and Luggage. Recent Major Refurbishment by Rudi Koniczek’s Rudi & Co. Kirkland Concours d’Elegance Award Winner. Exacting Finish Throughout. The Rarest and Most Desirable of All 300 SLs.
Auction Source: 2012 Scottsdale Auction by Gooding & Company