French title

Chassis No. 198 040 5500614 Engine No. 198 980 5500650 Body No. 198 040 5500594

- Original engine and body

- In the same ownership since 2011

- Presented to a high standard, fitted luggage

- Maintained by one of the leading French specialists in the model 

With its tubular chassis, direct-injection six-cylinder engine with dry sump lubrication, finned Alfin brakes, independent suspension and streamlined body, the Mercedes 300 SL had its origins in racing. A stroke of inspiration, the ‘gullwing’ doors which gave the car its name were not just for show, but resulted from the structure of the chassis, which extended up the sides for maximum strength. What began as a constraint became one of the characteristics which made this car a legend, and deservedly so; enthusiasts recognised it for what it was. After its presentation at the New York Auto Show in 1954, the list of customers for the new Mercedes read like a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of the celebrities of the time: Pablo Picasso, the Shah of Iran, Prince Ali Khan, Clark Gable, Tony Curtis, King Hussein of Jordan ... Not to mention car enthusiasts such as Luigi Chinetti or Briggs Cunningham. In 1956, a 300 SL cost 5.4 million francs in France, compared with 1.6 million for a Porsche 356 1600 Super. As for its performance, it outclassed absolutely everything on the road. At the time, few cars could exceed 230kph in complete safety and accelerate from 0-100kph in less than 9 seconds, prompting the magazine Auto Sport to say: “The 300 SL has fantastic styling and almost unbelievable performance”. It was just one example of the rave reviews the 300 SL received when it arrived on the roads of Europe and the States. Its European Rally Championship titles in 1955 and 1956 contributed to building the aura around it in racing.

 

According to Eric Lemoine’s 300 SL Register, the reference work listing all the Mercedes 300 SL coupés, this car left the factory on 9 August 1955 and was delivered on 25 August that year to Mercedes-Benz Distributors Inc. in New York. It was finished at the time in metallic grey (DB 180) with upholstery in blue leatherette and tartan cloth. It had four successive owners in the USA, including Charles J.Burns based in Ohio, before coming to England, in the 1980s. After a complete restoration by a specialist at the end of the 1980s, it was sold to an English owner by Gerry Porter, a specialist in the model who was then very active in the field.

Two major British collectors followed, but the car was little used before it was put up for sale at auction in 2011. It was at this time that its current owner, a Parisian collector, bought it. After purchasing his 300 SL, he sent it to Mercedes-Benz Classic at Stains for a full overhaul, at a total cost of nearly 61,000 euros including parts and labour. At the time, the Classic department was managed by François Bieuvelet, who continued to follow the meticulous maintenance of the car and who may be considered its mechanical ‘guardian angel’.

Indeed, in 2013 a valuation report noted the car’s “Excellent overall running order” and that “The visible parts of the underbody and chassis [are] in very good condition, with no visible signs of significant accident damage or of rust going through the metal”.

 

Finished today in black, after its restoration in the late eighties, with its unique patinated red leather upholstery, this 300 SL is used regularly and is particularly pleasant to drive, with a lovely sound from its stainless steel exhaust. It has its original engine as well as two fitted black suitcases, designed to go behind the front seats. This nice and tasteful model will surely please any lover of the model who is keen to own a very classy motorcar which will be usable and reliable.

Photos © Kevin Van Campenhout