1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six OHC, fuel-injected, dry-sump, ~215–240 bhp
- Colour
- Strawberry Red Metallic
A 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing completed at the factory in August 1956 and delivered to a Düsseldorf dealership for its first owner, Prince of Salm-Salm, who specified graphite grey paintwork with blue plaid upholstery. The car later passed to an Indianapolis neurosurgeon and active Gullwing Group member, during whose long tenure it was refinished in Strawberry Red Metallic. A subsequent owner commissioned a full cosmetic and mechanical restoration by Canadian specialist Rudi Koniczek. A matching-numbers example retaining its original belly pans and fitted with period accessories including factory radio and colour-coordinated luggage.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,200,000 – US$1,400,000
- 1956-08-13 → 1961Factory deliveryPrince of Salm-Salmfull documentation
Car was specially ordered in graphite grey with blue plaid interior and delivered via the Düsseldorf dealership. The prince retained the car until 1961.
- 1961-03-02 → 2005Private saleDr. J. Theodore Lurosfull documentation
Neurosurgeon from Indianapolis who was an active Gullwing Group member. Had the car repainted in Strawberry Red Metallic after admiring that color on another example at a concours. Original title and a collection of Indiana registration cards survive.
- 2005 →Private saleLong-term Mercedes-Benz collectorpartial documentation
Experienced 300 SL enthusiast who commissioned a full cosmetic and mechanical restoration through specialist Rudi Koniczek at Rudi and Company in British Columbia.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Bodywork
Exterior refinished from the original graphite grey to Strawberry Red Metallic to match a colour the Luros family admired on another 300 SL at a concours event.
Carried out during Dr. Luros's ownership, prior to 2005.
- —RestorationRudi and Company
Comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration performed after 2005 by a team of craftsmen under the supervision of specialist Rudi Koniczek; work is supported by receipts from the previous two owners.
Workshop located in British Columbia, Canada; commissioned by the third owner.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.