1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- 3.0L OHC straight-six, fuel-injected, dry-sump, 215 bhp at 5,800 rpm (DIN) / 240 bhp at 6,100 rpm (SAE), four-speed manual
- Colour
- Black
Chassis 198.040.4500080 is a November 1954-built Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, one of the most celebrated production sports cars of its era, notable for its lightweight tubular spaceframe, gullwing doors, and Bosch fuel-injected inline-six. Ordered by a Detroit commercial artist through a suburban Michigan dealer in early 1955, it later passed through several Michigan-area owners before undergoing a comprehensive rotisserie restoration by renowned 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek of Victoria, British Columbia, finished in black with dark green interior to period-correct Mercedes-Benz specifications.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,500,000 – US$1,800,000
- —Auction saleSold US$1,380,000
- 1955 →Private saleJosé J. Calvillopartial documentation
Detroit-based commercial artist whose studio created automotive advertising; acquired the car via suburban Detroit dealer Falvey Motors despite the car arriving in a different color than ordered.
- 2011 →Private saleBi-coastal collector based in Montecito, Californiapartial documentation
Maintains a collection of vintage vehicles at a California estate; had the car serviced by local motorsports mechanic Jack Bianchi during this period of ownership.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFred T. Haddockpartial documentation
Ann Arbor-based owner who held the car for an extended period before it passed to the next custodian.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRudi Koniczekpartial documentation
Prominent 300 SL specialist based in Victoria, British Columbia, who performed a comprehensive rotisserie restoration to factory standards, refinishing the car in Black with a Dark Green interior.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2011ServiceJack Bianchi
Ongoing maintenance and mechanical attention carried out as required during the current owner's tenure.
Bianchi is described as an experienced local motorsport and sports car mechanic in the Montecito, California area.
- —RestorationRudi Koniczek
Full rotisserie restoration by specialist Rudi Koniczek, covering all mechanical and cosmetic elements, with components either restored to original factory standards or replaced using correct new old-stock parts. Exterior refinished in black, interior trimmed in dark green vinyl with plaid seating, both period-correct 1954 Mercedes-Benz options. Photographic documentation of the process was compiled.
Koniczek's restorations have received recognition at events including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Gull Wing Group National Conventions.
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