1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe

Mercedes Benz has been on the forefront of automotive design for as long as any company.The idea of designing a car 1st for the race track & 2nd for the road is not a new idea either. Built by Daimler-Benz AG and internally numbered W198, the road version of 1952 was based on the company’s highly successful competition-only sports car of 1950, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W194) which had less power, as it still had carburetors. This model was suggested by Max Hoffman. Because it was intended for customers whose preferences were reported to Hoffman by dealers he supplied in the booming, post-war American market, it was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show—unlike previous models introduced at either the Frankfurt or Geneva shows. The 300SL was best known for both its distinctive gullwing or butterfly wing doors and for being the first-ever gasoline-powered car equipped with fuel injection directly into the combustion chamber. The gullwing version was available from March 1955 to 1957. In Mercedes-Benz fashion, the “300” referred to the engine’s cylinder displacement, in this case, three liters. The “SL”, as applied to a roadster, stood for “Sport Leicht” or “Sport Light”. This example is finished in DB180 Silver Gray Metallic with a beautiful Light Blue interior (originally it had a blue plaid). The serial # is 198.0405500274. The engine # is 198.9805500285. It has a 3.64 Rear Axle Ratio. It was delivered new to Count Erbach in Mannheim Germany in 1955. It then was sold to Robert Hinrichs. It then was imported by Clifford Zehner from Bellevue Ohio in the USA & # 550027 had 2 other owners in the Ohio area. It has just had a complete restoration done quite sympathetically keeping it as original as possible. It is in wonderful condition as well as being fully recommisioned for road use & now runs fabulous. It can be driven daily…weekly…or on any one of the great Rally Events all around the Country. Investment potential for these “Gullwings” are on a roller coaster on the way up.Grab this before they’re $500K. by the years end…