1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six with lightweight sport camshaft (NSL spec), 230 bhp
- Colour
- Silver metallic
Chassis 6500206 is a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, completed in August of that year and originally dispatched to Manila in the Philippines — among a very small number delivered to that region. Optioned with the NSL sport camshaft and sport suspension, it develops 230 bhp, placing it within the roughly 300 so-equipped examples from the 1,400 produced. Originally blue over red leather, it was repainted silver early in its life. After passing through at least one U.S. owner, the car was imported to Germany in 2007 and subsequently acquired by the present vendor in 2017.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,581,250
- 1956 →Factory deliveryAugusto Santospartial documentation
First registered owner, based in Manila, Philippines. The vehicle was among a very small number of examples delivered to that region.
- → 2007Acquisition unknownSergio T. Naghiatpartial documentation
Owner based in Riverdale, New York; part of an interim period in the car's US history before it was shipped to Germany in 2007.
- 2009 →Acquisition unknownAustrian owner circa 2009partial documentation
Car was recorded in Austria around 2009; a restoration carried out in the mid-1990s was noted, and a new cylinder head with sport camshaft was fitted in 2008 for compatibility with unleaded fuel.
- 2017 →Private saleConsignorpartial documentation
Acquired on the Continent; an engine compression check conducted at the time of purchase confirmed sound mechanical condition, and the car has been kept largely in storage since.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUK-based ownerpartial documentation
Had the bodywork fully refinished in the current silver shade before the car was moved back to mainland Europe.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008Engine rebuild
A new cylinder head and sport camshaft were fitted to allow reliable operation on contemporary unleaded fuel.
- 2017Inspection
A cylinder compression test was performed across all cylinders, confirming satisfactory mechanical condition throughout.
Test conducted around the time of acquisition by the current consignor.
- —Bodywork
Very early in the car's life, the original Blue DB353 paint was replaced with silver metallic, before any change of ownership from the first owner is definitively documented.
Timing is described only as very early in the car's history.
- —Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out during the mid-1990s; no further detail on scope or workshop is provided.
- —Bodywork
UK owner had the bodywork fully refinished in the silver metallic colour the car currently wears.
Carried out during the UK ownership period, exact date not stated.
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