1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six OHC, tilted 45°, Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 215 bhp (DIN) at 5,800 rpm
- Colour
- Black
Chassis 198.040-55 00295 is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé, delivered new in black with red leather to its first owner in Montreal, Canada, and retaining that original colour scheme today. The car remained in Canadian ownership until at least 1989 before passing through German hands. Following a comprehensive professional restoration, it shows only one kilometre on the odometer and has been verified by a 2016 condition report as a matching-numbers example, with bodywork carried out by noted specialist Karl Lindermüller.
Ownership
- 2019-09-29Auction saleEstimate CHF 1,100,000 – CHF 1,400,000
- 1955 →Factory deliveryAlfred Rogersfull documentation
Montreal-based first owner; factory data sheet dated June 1955 records the original delivery to him, confirming the black-over-red specification and various factory options.
- → 1993-08-01Acquisition unknownAxel Schuettepartial documentation
Sold the car to the current vendor in August 1993; no further details about tenure duration or how he acquired it.
- 1993-08-01 →Private saleCurrent vendorfull documentation
Commissioned a full professional restoration, after which the odometer read 1 km; a condition and valuation report from December 2016 confirms matching numbers and documents the high-quality work performed.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFred Wegnerpartial documentation
Based in Woodbridge, Ontario; known to have held the car by 1989, indicating it remained in Canada through at least that year.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJochen Hackbarthpartial documentation
Hamburg-based owner who held the car at some point after the Canadian period; no dates specified in the record.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2016Inspection
Independent condition and valuation assessment carried out after the restoration, verifying matching numbers, one kilometre odometer reading, and the quality of all bodywork, paintwork, brightwork, glass, interior, and mechanical components.
Report confirms numbers on chassis, body, and engine correspond to the original factory data sheet.
- —RestorationKarl Lindermüller
Full professional restoration returning the car to its original black over red leather specification, including complete glass replacement, full interior re-trim, plastic coating of the chassis frame, and overhaul of the engine and differential. Bodywork and paintwork carried out by specialist Karl Lindermüller.
A professional condition and valuation report compiled in December 2016 assessed the finished restoration, recording one kilometre on the odometer and confirming matching chassis, body, and engine numbers against the factory data sheet.
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