The final Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing constructed will likely be among the many a lot 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 based mostly 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 Crimson 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 automobile has had simply 4 homeowners since new, with the present proprietor retaining the automobile for over 25 years, RM Sotheby’s notes. It stays principally authentic mechanically with a numbers-matching engine, transmission, physique, and entrance axle. The rear axle is believed to be authentic as properly, though that may’t be confirmed with the manufacturing facility information card.
The ultimate Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (picture by way of RM Sotheby’s)
Designed as a race automobile, the 300SL Gullwing was constructed with a tube-frame chassis to most stiffness whereas retaining weight to a minimal. This necessitated the automobile’s namesake doorways, because the chassis’ thick sills did not depart room for a large enough opening with typical doorways. Early examples have been pure race vehicles, however Mercedes steadily tailored the SL Gullwing right into a highway automobile 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 automobile that is not one of many rarer aluminum-bodied Alloy Gullwings. A type of vehicles, in unrestored situation, simply bought for $9.35 million as a part of the Rudi Klein junkyard assortment sale.