1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

198.040.6500100roadGermany

Engine: 3.0L inline-six with competition camshaft, elevated compression, and special fuel distributor, ~240 bhp
Colour: Silver Metallic (DB 180)

Chassis 6500100 is a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing delivered new on 8 May 1956 to US Army officer George H. Glass in Berlin, finished in Factory Red over black leather with the competition-specification NSL engine, sport suspension, and Rudge wheels. One of only 306 examples completed that year, the car spent decades with a single California owner before passing to the current consignor, under whose stewardship it underwent a comprehensive restoration by 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek. It retains its numbers-matching chassis, NSL engine, body, and axles.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$2,040,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1956-05-08 →Factory delivery
George H. Glass
full documentation
US Army officer stationed in Berlin at time of delivery; took possession there and registered under US Army Occupation plates. Departure from his ownership is undocumented.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Long-term California owner
partial documentation
Reportedly held the car for several decades until death sometime in the 1990s; prior repair invoices totaling approximately $70,000 USD suggest work conducted during this custodianship, including interior renewal and engine rebuild by a Fresno, California specialist.
Date unknownPrivate sale
Consignor
partial documentation
A personal acquaintance of the prior owner who purchased the car from the deceased owner's widow in the late 1990s; commissioned an extensive restoration through 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek, documented by invoices exceeding $92,000 CAD.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—Mechanical
German Auto Repair
300 SL specialist German Auto Repair of Fresno, California installed a fresh red leather interior, replaced the windshield and side glass, and rebuilt the numbers-matching NSL engine.
Work carried out during the long-term California owner's tenure; invoices totalling approximately USD $70,000 are on file.
—Restoration
Rudi Koniczek
Comprehensive no-expense-spared restoration by 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek, encompassing full disassembly, chassis and underpinning remediation, bodywork correction, re-chroming of trim, and gearbox rebuild, among other areas.
Commissioned by the current consignor; documented by invoices and work orders totalling over CAD $92,000. Car was refinished in Silver Metallic (DB 180) over red leather.

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