1955 Mercedes-benz 300 sl For Sale by Auction

Dorotheum autumn auction at the classic expo salzburg / autumn sale at classic expo salzburg
classic vehicles / classic cars
saturday, october 19, 2019 / saturday, october 19, 2019
salzburg fairground, hall 9 / salzburg exhibition center, hall 9

lot 60

1955 mercedes-benz 300 sl

chassis: the details below46,
Engine: the details below72,
Construction: the details below25,
papers: German vehicle letter

one of only 12 gullwing cars delivered in strawberry red metallic
for 25 years in the possession of a 300 sl enthusiast
German delivery
matching numbers

At the beginning of the 1950s, Mercedes wanted to prove on the race tracks that they could build the best cars in the world. It speculated with the new automobile world championship, expected opportunities with the old wonder car, but ultimately made a new rule that a dash through the bill. The executive Board therefore decided against formula 1 and the sports car championship. Only, also missing for a dare.

the 3-liter engine from the 300 had potential and actually 170 ps could tickle out of him. But the unit was heavy, which is why the case had to be light. A streamlined light metal body with a Cd value of 0. 25 was formed around a net of a lattice frame. The frame itself weighed only 50 kilos. Conventional doors would have taken construction stability, the solution of the problem gave the 300 sl baptized runners that characteristic, for which everyone knows today, its gullwing doors.

the race successes did not take long to be expected. Whether nürburgring, carrera panamericana or le mans, where the 300 sl started in 1952, they usually won as well. But by the end of August, the career end of the ten built racecars had been announced. After all, in 1954 they wanted to enter Formula One. The fate of the 300 sl seemed to be sealed even before her story had really started. In december, rudolf uhlenhaut plans to build five cars for 1953, but there was room for improvement, especially in terms of performance. But at the beginning of 1953 the final one followed. Everything had been won, the superiority sufficiently proven, another proof could safely be dispensed with.


one of the five people who had been declared dead was already almost done. And he served the experimental department as a rabbit. He should be even lighter, still windschlüpfrigeriger and above all stronger. If you had been experimenting with compressor charging the year before, then a petrol injection should now provide more power in addition to increased compression and larger inlet and outlet. Experience with it had already been collected in the aircraft engines, the 300 sl brought the six-stamp injection pump to 215 hp.

that it was not just the one prototype that remained is also due to a wiener emigrating to new york. Max Hoffman was not only a Mercedes importer since 1952, he was also a fast-carter lover and had a sense of what the new world demanded. The success of the 300 sl had left an impression on him, also the impression that with such a dare money was to earn. Hoffman pleaded with the executive board in Stuttgart to build the SL in series, ordered as many as 1, 000 pieces, until he agreed in the fall of 1953. The racing prototype became a production sports car, civilized only where it was needed. The sl got bumpers, in order to save costs was waived except for hoods and doors on light metal, the gear sat again on the front of the engine. But that was that engine with injection from the prototype, rocket science in comparison with everything else that rolled over the streets.

in february 1954, at the international motor sports show in new york, mercedes presented the finished 300 sl production car, production started in august, despite its sinfully expensive price of dm 29, 000, it became a success, especially in the us, where the big one the car was sold. Exactly 1, 400 copies were made in just under three years. Throughout its construction, the 300 sl has always been improved. When he was finally replaced by the roadster at the beginning of 1957, he was already a legend!

even if you do not look at it today, this 300 sl is a very extraordinary one. As only one in twelve he was originally delivered in the color strawberry metallic (543). As a new car, he went to the textiles company wollino to eat. Twenty-five years ago he found food by chance. Not looking for a gullwing, because yes in the local garage was a very early roadster, he could not resist for the red 300 sl to go out an outrageous offer. Contrary to expectations, the seller agreed and suddenly the local garage was blocked exclusively with 300 sl, much to the reluctance of the better half.


though in perfect condition, the perfectionist immediately went to work. In 1996, the paint was renewed on bare metal. Because the original strawberry red is not for everyone, not even that of the consignor, the car was painted red in the same color it already wore. Successively, in the following years, the complete mechanics were put into perfect condition, many in their own right, after all they saw nearly 300 years of experience, some with the help of older specialists, who were already working on the 300 sl when they were still new cars.

In the last 25 years, this gullwing could not have been in better hands. He always got the necessary spout, but never once in the rain, and was cared for and cared for on the less sunny days in the garage with much prudence and even more. With the separation from the roadster, the blessing hung straight again, even if the donor still today describes it as his biggest stupidity. The decision just could not fall against the gullwing. Because a quarter of a century has passed the machine but not the human race, the decision has now been made and an extraordinary gullwing is waiting for a new owner!



Dorotheum herbstauktion auf der classic expo salzburg / autumn sale at classic expo salzburg
klassische fahrzeuge / classic cars
samstag, oktober 19, 2019 / saturday, october 19, 2019
messegelände salzburg, halle 9 / salzburg exhibition center, hall 9

lot 60

1955 mercedes-benz 300 sl

chassis: the details below46,
motor: the details below72,
aufbau: the details below25,
papiere: Deutscher fahrzeugbrief

einer von nur 12 flügeltürern ausgeliefert in erdbeerrot metallic
seit 25 jahren im besitz eines 300 sl enthusiasten
deutsche auslieferung
matching numbers

anfang der 1950er wollte man bei mercedes auch wieder auf den rennstrecken beweisen, dass man die besten autos der welt bauen konnte. Man spekulierte mit der neuen automobil-weltmeisterschaft, rechnete sich chancen mit den alten wunderwagen aus, doch letztlich machte ein neues reglement dem einen strich durch die rechnung. Der vorstand entschied sich deshalb gegen die formel 1 und für die sportwagen-meisterschaft. Bloß, auch dafür fehlte ein wagen.

der 3-liter-motor aus dem 300er hatte potenzial und tatsächlich ließen sich 170 ps aus ihm kitzeln. Doch das aggregat war schwer, weshalb die hülle leicht sein musste. Um ein netz von einem gitterrohrrahmen wurde eine strömungsgünstige leichtmetallkarosse mit einem cw-wert von 0, 25 geformt. Der rahmen selbst wog gar nur 50 kilo. Herkömmliche türen hätten der konstruktion die stabilität genommen, die lösung des problems gab den 300 sl getauften rennern jene charakteristik, wofür sie heute jeder kennt, seine flügeltüren.

die rennerfolge ließen nicht lange auf sich warten. Ob nürburgring, carrera panamericana oder le mans, wo die 300 sl 1952 starteten, gewannen sie meist auch. Doch schon ende august verkündete man das karriereende der zehn gebauten renner, schließlich wollte man 1954 in die formel 1 einsteigen. Das schicksal der 300 sl schien besiegelt noch bevor ihre geschichte so richtig begonnen hatte. Im dezember dann das umdenken, fünf wagen will rudolf uhlenhaut für 1953 bauen lassen, verbesserungspotenzial gab es ja, vor allem bei der leistung. Doch folgte anfang 1953 das endgültige aus. Man hatte alles gewonnen, die Überlegenheit hinreichend bewiesen, auf eine weitere beweisführung konnte man getrost verzichten.

einer der fünf totgesagten war da bereits fast fertig. Und der diente der versuchsabteilung nun als kaninchen. Er sollte noch leichter, noch windschlüpfriger und vor allem stärker sein. Hatte man im jahr davor noch mit kompressoraufladung experimentiert, so sollte nun eine benzineinspritzung neben erhöhter verdichtung und größerem ein und auslass für mehr leistung sorgen. Erfahrung damit hatte man bereits bei den flugmotoren gesammelt, den 300 sl brachte die sechsstempeleinspritzpumpe auf 215 ps.

dass es nicht nur bei dem einen prototypen blieb, ist auch einem nach new york emigrierten wiener zu verdanken. Max hoffman war nicht nur seit 1952 mercedes- importeur, er galt auch als liebhaber schneller wagen und hatte ein gespür dafür, wonach die neue welt verlangte. Die erfolge des 300 sl hatten eindruck bei ihm hinterlassen, auch den eindruck, dass mit solch einem wagen geld zu verdienen war. Hoffman bekniete den vorstand in stuttgart den sl in serie zu bauen, orderte gar 1. 000 stück, bis dieser im herbst 1953 einwilligte. Aus dem renn-prototypen wurde ein seriensportwagen, nur dort zivilisiert, wo es nötig war. Der sl bekam stoßstangen, um kosten zu sparen verzichtete man mit ausnahme von hauben und türen auf leichtmetall, das getriebe saß wieder vorne am motor. Der war aber jenes rennaggregat mit einspritzung aus dem prototypen, rocket science im vergleich mit allem, was sonst so über die straßen rollte.

schon im februar 1954 auf der international motor sports show in new york präsentierte mercedes den fertigen 300 sl serienwagen, die produktion begann im august, trotz seines sündhaft teuren preises von dm 29. 000 wurde er zum erfolg, vor allem auch in den usa, wohin das gros der wagen verkauft wurde. Exakt 1. 400 exemplare entstanden in knapp drei jahren. Während seiner gesamten bauzeit wurde der 300 sl stets verbessert. Als er anfang 1957 schließlich vom roadster abgelöst wurde, war er längst schon legende!

auch wenn man es ihm heute nicht ansieht, ist dieser 300 sl ein doch ganz außergewöhnlicher. Als nur einer von zwölf wurde er ursprünglich in der farbe erdbeerrot metallic (543) ausgeliefert. Als neuwagen ging er zur textilfirma wollino nach essen. In essen fand ihn vor 25 jahren auch eher zufällig der einbringer. Gar nicht auf der suche nach einem flügeltürer, weil ja in der heimischen garage ein ganz frühen roadster stand, konnte er nicht widerstehen für den roten 300 sl ein unverschämtes angebot abzugehen. Wider erwarten willigte der verkäufer ein und plötzlich war die heimische garage ausschließlich mit 300 sl blockiert, sehr zum widerwillen der besseren hälfte.

obwohl tadellos in schuss, ging es für den perfektionisten sofort an die arbeit. 1996 wurde die lackierung auf blankem blech erneuert. Weil das originale erdbeerrot nicht jedermanns sache ist, auch die des einbringers nicht, wurde der wagen wieder in jenem rot lackiert, das er bereits trug. Sukzessive wurde in den folgenden jahren die komplette mechanik in bestzustand versetzt, vieles in eigenregie, immerhin sah man auf fast 15 jahre 300 sl erfahrung zurück, manches mit hilfe von älteren spezialisten, die schon auf dem 300 sl arbeiteten als diese noch neuwagen waren.

in den letzten 25 jahren hätte dieser flügeltürer nicht in besseren händen sein können. Er bekam stets den nötigen auslauf, jedoch nie auch nur einmal im regen, und wurde an den weniger sonnigen tagen in der garage mit viel umsicht und noch mehr wissen gehegt und gepflegt. Mit der trennung vom roadster hing der haussegen wieder gerade, auch wenn der einbringer es heute noch als seine größte dummheit bezeichnet. Die entscheidung konnte einfach nicht gegen den flügeltürer fallen. Weil ein vierteljahrhundert zwar an der maschine, nicht aber am mensch spurlos vorüber geht, ist die entscheidung nun doch gefallen und es wartet hier nun ein außergewöhnlicher flügeltürer auf einen neuen besitzer!

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
Please see the list below for similar live adverts.

Similar Adverts

3.2 E class estate. Rare 5 speed sportline. Great condition for age. Perfect daily classic. Used as a weekend car during my ownership. Only selling as I’m emigrating to Australia for a year and don’t want to leave it sitting. Huge comprehensive history and service file. No expense has been spared during its life. The ...

141,000
13 Mar 2024
Hampshire
Private

Under 47k miles, 3 owners & Cosworth kit. The files of paperwork include service invoices dating back to 1990, pages of tax discs, dealer brochures and various other goodies. Freshly refurbished and polished BBS RZs, genuine and very rare Mercedes alloys with matching tyres, bright paintwork and a very clean interior ...

46,500
21 Jan 2024
Cumbria
Private
35
Picture of 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300SL (R129) - Special Order - For Sale by Auction

This lot will be auctioned via Classic Car Auctions, The Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show Sale 2024 on Saturday the 23rd of March - Sunday the 24th of March, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Supplied by Mercedes-Benz Clover Leaf Cars of Odiham, Hampshire on 20/11/1990 to a unique specification Finished in Pearl ...

96,000
19 Mar 2024
United Kingdom
Premium Auctioneer (see stock)

Mercedes 220 Coupe. W124 series. Car run and drives very well. It's always a pleasure to get in and drive this car. I feel sad that I can't use her due to ULEZ, so time for her to find osmoene whoj can use her and appreciate her. You can see how she looks, so please stop and think, she's not worth the ridiculous ...

145,000
9 Feb 2024
London
Private

Beautiful Mercedes 300 SL with typical and particular colors of the 90s. The car of American origin was registered in Italian in 2020 with CRS. The service and maintenance use booklet is available with certified services up to 56,000 miles. Available PRATICAL CAR We perform registrations, inspections, audits, radiation, ...

1,992
15 Mar 2024
Italy

Very well cared for MERCEDES BENZ 300 SEL from 1970, very neat and well cared for interior and exterior. Runs and drives perfectly, well-functioning air suspension and everything else works. This Belgian ex-management Mercedes is in a very good overall condition. € 37.900,- www.bigboystoys.nl

15 Mar 2024
Netherlands

Perfect state of use rust free visit when you want it. matching numbers original state very preserved if you want to visit the car you can travel and you will be served car shipping can be done anywhere in the world not for curious not for resellers

67,000
12 Mar 2024
Spain
Verified Dealer (see stock)

Lovely example of a 190e 2.0 1991, runs great, loads of paper work, black on black, genuine Zender body kit, genuine AMG wheels, Nardi steering wheel, Yellow speed racing coilovers, brand new custom exhaust, sunroof, 112,303 miles. MOT until 27/04/24, 5 owners, full service history No swaps, no part ex. Please ...

112,303
24 Feb 2024
Hampshire
Private

Mercedes 560sl Left hand drive, I owned the car for over 2 years, part of my Mercede collection. The Mercedes is white and Grey leather interior. Mileage on the clock is 126400 Miles. Mot til 1/2/2024. It has 2 door, air conditioning, power locks, power windows. The paint and body are in excellent shape. Hard top and ...

126,400
13 Mar 2024
Kent
Private
24
Picture of 1971 Mercedes Benz 300SEL 6.3 - immaculate condition - For Sale

When you look for a 6.3 Mercedes 300SEL, as well as the normal structural issue associated with old classics, you need to ensure mechanically everything is tip top for overhauling things can be very expensive Hence our example is one you can rely upon - all mechanical works were checked over by our friends, and Mercedes ...

51,850
11 Mar 2024
London
Premium Verified Dealer (see stock)

Mercedes SL500 1994 100.00 miles FSH. Chassis number WDB1290672F106876 Brilliant silver metallic Alpaca grey leather. Purchased by me at 81774 miles. Used daily. Very original rust free example. Kept in dehumidified garage in my ownership. 12 Months MOT My daily driver for the last three years including 2000 miles ...

100,000
22 Jan 2024
Somerset
Private

Mercedes 300SL 24V Year 1992 The color is red Manual Gear box 2 Doors 2+2 Occupants The price in euros is 32.500€ Our store is 25 minutes from Oporto airport, which receives daily flights from ryannair and easyjet. If you don't know how to get the vehicle, don't worry, we will put it in your house. More ...

119,000
9 Mar 2024
Portugal

nice car.dry storage from new.sunroof,new paint-air conditioned,perfect leather interiorand new tires.automatic gear box.need anterior glass.engine run very well.p/x possible.alex milano italy

266
7 Mar 2024
Italy
Verified Dealer (see stock)

This car is in very good original condition. The paint and chrome looks nice. The car has an air ride. The car has a 6332 cc engine and is automatic. On the inside there are brown leather seats. The seats are in a very good condition. The dashboard is in good shape. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 was a full-sized luxury ...

6,646
5 Mar 2024
Netherlands

A beautiful 420SL in the iconic shade of Astral silver with grey leather interior . A low mileage , low owner example with matching hard top . The car has led a pampered life and is in excellent condition both inside and out .<br><br>The Mercedes-Benz 420SL was part of the model range for only the last three years of the ...

43,962
2 Feb 2024
Norfolk
Private
35
Picture of 1992 MERCEDES BENZ  300SL 24V R129 - For Sale

Very Rare spec, Mercedes 300SL 24V R 129 in Signal with Mushroom Leather, Black mohair Power Hood, and Signal Red Hard Top. 8 Hole Alloys, Aircond, Cruise, ABS, full electric pack, OTG, 5 Speed Auto, One Owner, 18000 miles only with Full documented history, Repeat 18000 miles. all Books, Tools, MOTs, Original Sales ...

18,000
4 Mar 2024
Cheshire
Premium Verified Dealer (see stock)

For Sale: RallyCar!! Mercedes-Benz W112 300SE Heckflosse Year 1962 Dutch registration Fitted with a overhauled M129 6 cilinder engine with a manual 5 gearbox. Standard air suspension and a double brake system. Complete with sportseats, rollbar, Harness seatbelts and double Cibie Oscar headlites. Drives ...

22,600
13 Mar 2024
Netherlands

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive, 1966 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Coupe. The data card on file confirms this is an Australian delivered, matching numbers example which was delivered on 29th March 1966. The data card also confirms the car still caries ...

61,811
4 Mar 2024
Australia