1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six, fuel-injected
- Colour
- Fire Engine Red
Chassis 7500079 is the final Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing produced, completed on 15 May 1957. Built as a special-order show car, it was displayed at the 1957 Poznan International Trade Fair before entering the US distribution network in September of that year. Finished in Fire Engine Red over full Crème leather with English instrumentation and Roadster-specification Kronprinz wheels, it has passed through only four recorded owners since new, retaining its numbers-matching drivetrain and factory colour scheme. A private restoration by its most recent long-term custodian earned third place in class at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$2,400,000
- 1957-05-15 → 1957-09-27Factory deliveryMercedes-Benz factory / exhibitionfull documentation
Retained by the factory as a show vehicle, exhibited at the Poznan International Trade Fair in 1957. Dispatched to the US distribution network in late September after exhibition duties concluded.
- 1957-09-27 →Factory deliveryUS Mercedes-Benz distribution networkpartial documentation
Car entered the American sales network after being released from show duties; subsequent early US ownership history described as relatively obscure.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent long-term private custodianpartial documentation
Held the car for over 25 years and personally carried out a multi-year restoration. Debuted the restored vehicle at Pebble Beach in 2004.
Competition
- 19571957 Poznan International Trade FairStatic exhibition
Car was displayed as a factory show exhibit; the fair concluded on 29 June 1957.
- 20042004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance3rd in Class
Debut appearance for the 300 SL Gullwing model at this concours; noted as the first time the model was accepted into competition there.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Comprehensive multi-year restoration carried out personally by the long-term private owner, completed to a standard that earned a class placement at Pebble Beach in 2004.
Work was done over several years prior to the 2004 concours debut; the car retained its factory colour combination and numbers-matching components throughout.
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