The final Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing constructed can 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 (Might 15, 1957), in keeping with the public sale itemizing.
The ultimate Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (picture by way of RM Sotheby’s)
Completed in Fireplace Engine Pink 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 house owners since new, with the present proprietor retaining the automotive for over 25 years, RM Sotheby’s notes. It stays largely 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 unit information 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 retaining weight to a minimal. This necessitated the automotive’s namesake doorways, because the chassis’ thick sills did not depart room for a large enough opening with typical doorways. Early examples had been pure race automobiles, however Mercedes progressively tailored the SL Gullwing right into a highway 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 type of automobiles, in unrestored situation, simply bought for $9.35 million as a part of the Rudi Klein junkyard assortment sale.