1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ - Owned by Thierry Dehaeck since 1992 - Very attractively presented, well-known car - Continuous history established by Eric Lemoine - Regularly maintained - Fitted from new with Rudge centre-lock wheels 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ With its spectacular red paintwork and sitting proudly on its Rudge centre-lock wheels, this Mercedes 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ is a credit to this iconic model, often considered the first supercar ever, thanks to its 3-litre 6-cylinder engine with direct fuel-injection derived from competition. As is confirmed in the 300 SL Register compiled by Eric Lemoine, this car was delivered new on 1 March 1955 to the dealer in New York, who sold it to its first owner Mr Wasser Rancho, from Santa Fe Springs in California. It sported white paintwork (code 50) with a black interior and was fitted from new with Rudge centre-lock wheels. As the Register confirms, during its time in America the original engine (no. 198.980.5500088) was replaced by the engine still installed in the car today (no. 198.980.7500521), which came from a 1957 300 SL Roadster. The car then moved on to its second owner, Mike Sines, from Hermosa Beach, and in 1989 it underwent a full restoration, carried out by Scott Restorations at Panama City in California. It was probably at this time that the car was repainted in its lovely shade of red. Carried out with great care, the restoration required three years’ work and cost a total of $150,000: the body and upholstery were completely restored and the car was also mechanically overhauled. In 1992, a year after this restoration, it was sold to Thierry Dehaeck through Harry Woodnorth, a specialist based in Chicago. When it arrived back in Europe, it joined the collection and has since been regularly maintained. In addition, it has been used frequently for rallies, exhibitions and top-flight international concours. It won first prize in the Mercedes Europa Rally concours d’élégance in 1993. It took part in in the Tour Auto in 1995, in the Louis Vuitton Concours d'Élégance in the Parc de Bagatelle in Paris in 1998, and in several editions of the Zoute Grand Prix at Knokke in Belgium. It also appeared on the Ploegsteert Rally, at the Hampton Court Concours in England and on the ‘Jubileum Tour’ to mark the anniversary of the 300 SL. It was displayed on several occasions at the Autoworld Museum in Brussels, in 2022 and 2026. In January 2024, it was exhibited at the head office of Mercedes Belgium, and in January 2026 at the Brussels Motor Show. It has appeared in several magazines, including the cover of the October 2024 issue of Rétroviseur, in which it was the subject of a major feature, together with the Roadster from the collection. As the vice-president of the 300 SL Gullwing-Roadster Club Belgium, Thierry Dehaeck has been very active with this 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, of which he is particularly fond. Very well maintained in its attractive shade of red with a tobacco-brown interior, it is equipped with two fitted suitcases, remade to the original specification and attached to the platform behind the seats, and fog lamps. Unusually, it is sold with its original floor covering. It comes with extensive historic documentation including a genuine owner’s manual, original promotional catalogues, numerous files of photographs (showing its restoration, import and events), several magazine articles, a FIVA ID card and a great many service bills going back to 1992. In the same careful and attentive hands for nearly 35 years and used regularly, this 300 SL will enable its new owner to take to the road without any worries and enter many events and concours, where it will receive a welcome befitting its prestige and pedigree.

Estimate:£1,096,144.4

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