1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six OHC, direct fuel injection, dry-sump, 215 hp, four-speed manual
- Colour
- Fire Engine Red
A 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, chassis 6500044, originally delivered through the Mercedes-Benz distributor in Paris finished in Silver-gray metallic with a special-order interior. Among the roughly 130 Gullwings factory-equipped with the rare Rudge wheel option, it was later imported to the United States and spent nearly five decades with collector Jack Bart in Connecticut, during which it received a sympathetic restoration before passing to the Adderley Collection in 2012. The numbers-matching engine and original Rudge wheels are retained.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,655,000
- 1956-03-01 →Factory deliveryMercedes-Benz distributor in Parispartial documentation
Vehicle was delivered to the Paris distributor in early March 1956 with a special-order configuration including Rudge wheels and bespoke interior trim. The ultimate retail recipient in France is not identified.
- 1968 → 2012-03-01Acquisition unknownJack Bartpartial documentation
Long-term custodian based in Greenwich, Connecticut, who actively participated in the Gullwing Group International and eventually commissioned a sympathetic restoration by Lordship Restorations during which the car received its current red finish. Original mechanical components including the engine and Rudge wheels were retained throughout.
- 2012-03-01 →Private saleTerence E. Adderleypartial documentation
Acquired from Bart and kept in climate-controlled storage with minimal use. Prior to consignment, the car received detailing, fuel system service, and brake cylinder rebuilds.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationLordship Restorations
A careful, sympathetic restoration was carried out that included refinishing the car in its current Fire Engine Red color scheme, while retaining and refurbishing the numbers-matching engine, belly pans, and date-coded Rudge wheels.
Work was commissioned by Jack Bart; Lordship Restorations is located in Lordship, Connecticut, near Bart's Greenwich home.
- —Service
Pre-sale preparation encompassing a thorough detailing, fuel system flush, wheel cylinder rebuilds, and adjustment of the Bosch direct fuel injection system.
Carried out during the Adderley Collection's ownership in preparation for the auction offering.
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