1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- Fuel-injected overhead-cam straight-six, inclined, NSL spec with competition camshafts
- Colour
- Silver gray (restored from original blue-grey)
Chassis 198.040.6500223 is a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing coupé finished from the factory in the rare Blue Grey (DB 166) over green leather combination — one of only four delivered in this colour. Specified with a 1:3.42 rear axle and an NSL-specification engine carrying 'code 00' competition camshafts dated January 1956, it was first registered to a Stuttgart-area brickworks proprietor before passing through several West Coast American owners. A full restoration to Silver Grey was undertaken by specialist Scott Grundfor Company, after which the car entered a single long-term collection in 1988.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €1,700,000 – €2,100,000
- 1973 →Acquisition unknownFranklin Burnspartial documentation
Resident of Petaluma, California; commissioned a full restoration to Silver Gray with blue leather by specialist Scott Grundfor Company, then located in the San Fernando Valley.
- 1988 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Acquired the car immediately upon completion of the Grundfor restoration and has kept it in continuous personal collection since that time.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryJ. Blank, Hohenz Ziegelwerkepartial documentation
Original recipient per the factory build record; operated a brick manufacturing facility near Stuttgart, Germany.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownGordon Donaldsonpartial documentation
Seattle, Washington resident who is believed to have brought the car to the United States; the connection is described as probable rather than certain.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJohn R. Winbladpartial documentation
Based in San Francisco; part of the car's West Coast ownership sequence.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationScott Grundfor Company
Full restoration carried out to Silver Grey finish, with blue leather interior, a coordinated fitted luggage set, and Rudge wheels fitted; chassis and engine number stampings confirmed original though identification tags were renewed in keeping with practice of the period.
Workshop was then located in the San Fernando Valley; commissioned by Franklin Burns prior to 1988 sale.
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