1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé

198.040.5500695roadGermany

Engine: Fuel-injected overhead-cam straight-six, inclined layout
Colour: Light green metallic

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, one of only 19 examples finished in Light Green Metallic, originally delivered through Max Hoffman's New York showroom to a California buyer. The car is notable for its rare colour combination with red leather interior, its continuous loving maintenance without ever requiring complete mechanical disassembly, and its passage through only four documented owners before entering a prominent private collection.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$1,270,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknownFactory delivery
William D. Brown
partial documentation
California-based original purchaser who special-ordered the car in Light Green Metallic with red leather interior, delivered via Max Hoffman's New York showroom.
Date unknown
Four subsequent owners before current collection
partial documentation
A total of four additional owners in sequence held the car between the original buyer and the current collection; during this period the bodywork was refinished in the correct original color and the interior retrimmed to period-correct specification.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Prominent collection (current consignor)
partial documentation
The car was acquired into a notable private collection following the chain of four intermediate owners.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Bodywork
Exterior repainted professionally in the factory-correct Light Green Metallic shade, and the interior retrimmed in red leather matching the original 1955 pattern and grain.
Carried out under prior ownership before the car entered its current collection.

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