Unrestored 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Hits the Auction Block for $1.2-$1.4 Million
Giancarlo Perlas July 31, 2020The iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe produced from 1954 to 1957 is one of the most sought after classic cars of collectors. A restored car of the model usually fetches at least a million dollars in the auction block. Recently, a 1955 model of the auto was spotted, and what makes it very rare is its unrestored state.
The 65-year-old car may be the last unrestored SL Gullwing out there. The model comes in classic fire engine red finish with muted gray leather in its upholstery. It’s also fitted with special unrestored Rudge wheels. The vehicle was made as a US-export model and has gone through five owners in its lifetime—one of whom kept the auto for 40 years. The classic SL only appeared rarely in automotive shows.
According to Gooding & Company, the current seller, the car’s paint was only repaired when the first owner was crossing the San Francisco Golden Bridge wherein a maintenance crew working overhead accidentally spilled a bucket of paint in it. The original paint of the vehicle was brought back at the city’s expense.
What makes this particular 300 SL a nice catch is that the next owner will get to restore the car as he or she sees fit. That means the owner will no longer have to worry about previous substandard restorations. Included in the auto is its factory build sheet that details its original factory specifications.
Gooding & Company is looking to sell the unrestored 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing in California between $1.2 million to $1.4 million. The online bidding for the car will run from August 3 to 7, 2020.
