The final Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing constructed might be among the many a number of a small, however unique, RM Sotheby’s public sale in Las Vegas.
Scheduled to cross the block Nov. 22, this Gullwing is the final of 1,400 constructed between 1954 and 1957. That is primarily based on its chassis quantity (7500079) and completion date (Could 15, 1957), in line with the public sale itemizing.
The ultimate Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (picture by way of RM Sotheby’s)
Completed in Fireplace Engine Purple with a Créme leather-based inside, this Gullwing was displayed on the Mercedes stand on the Poznan Worldwide Commerce Honest in June 1957. It was then despatched to the U.S. on September 27, 1957 to be bought.
The automotive has had simply 4 homeowners since new, with the present proprietor holding the automotive for over 25 years, RM Sotheby’s notes. It stays principally unique mechanically with a numbers-matching engine, transmission, physique, and entrance axle. The rear axle is believed to be unique as nicely, though that may’t be confirmed with the manufacturing unit knowledge card.
The ultimate Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (picture by way of RM Sotheby’s)
Designed as a race automotive, the 300SL Gullwing was constructed with a tube-frame chassis to most stiffness whereas holding weight to a minimal. This necessitated the automotive’s namesake doorways, because the chassis’ thick sills did not go away room for a large enough opening with typical doorways. Early examples had been pure race vehicles, however Mercedes progressively tailored the SL Gullwing right into a street automotive after lobbying from American importer Max Hoffman.
RM Sotheby’s expects the ultimate Gullwing to promote for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million—in line for a automotive that is not one of many rarer aluminum-bodied Alloy Gullwings. A kind of vehicles, in unrestored situation, simply bought for $9.35 million as a part of the Rudi Klein junkyard assortment sale.
