1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six with overhead camshaft and mechanical Bosch fuel injection, 215 PS
- Colour
- Silver Grey Metallic
Completed on 8 March 1955, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (chassis 5500127) wears its original Silver Grey Metallic finish over a special-order red leather interior and retains its factory-correct matching-numbers drivetrain components, including chassis, engine, gearbox, and rear axle. Among its notable options are dated Rudge knock-off wheels. Delivered via Max Hoffman's New York distributorship days after completion, it later passed to a Massachusetts owner before entering a long-term German private collection in 1992.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €1,411,250 (≈ $1.55M)
- 1955-03-12 →Factory deliveryMercedes-Benz Distributors of New York (Max Hoffman)full documentation
The car was shipped to Hoffman's New York distributorship four days after factory completion, as the official US importer who had championed the road-car concept.
- 1992 →Acquisition unknownAumann Collectionpartial documentation
Collector based in Babenhausen, Germany, who repatriated the car to its country of origin and registered it locally in September 1992.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPeter Turchon Jr.partial documentation
Resided in Sherborn, Massachusetts; documented in Eric Le Moine's 300 SL ownership registry.
Competition
- 19521952 Mille Miglia2nd and 4th
Competitive debut for the W194 chassis that underpins the 300 SL road car; two cars finished in the top four.
- —Le Mans 24 Hours1st and 2nd
Part of a remarkable run of W194 victories; exact year not specified in the prose but contextually 1952.
- —Nürburgring race1st and 2nd
Another dominant 1-2 result for the W194 programme; year not precisely stated.
- —Carrera Panamericana1st and 2nd
Further 1-2 finish recorded for the W194 racing programme.
- —Bern Grand Prix1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Complete podium sweep for the W194 at Bern; year not specified in the prose.
Maintenance & restoration
No maintenance or restoration records.
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