1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ chassis 198040-6500019 offered by Artcurial Motorcars at their Paris sake in January 27th. no reserve with an estimate of €2,000,000 to €5,000,000. Specification is extraordinary having NSL engine, Rudge wheels, sports springs and shock absorbers. Furthermore the car is highly original with the original ‘Graphitgrau’ Graphite Grey paint and original ‘Naturfarbe 1068’ Natural leather upholstery.
World’s Most Original 300SL with Artcurial Motorcars
Artcurial’s Automobile Legends auction in Paris concluded this week, with four vehicles going under the hammer for seven-figure sums. The most expensive car, a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, changed hands for a whopping €4.4 million (about $5.27 million at the current exchange ratings).
The German sports car set a new world record for Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of W198-code variety, surpassing the previous $3.41-million benchmark set by another 1956-model-year example in 2024. It’s also the first of its kind to exceed both the $4- and $5-million barriers.
I do need to point out that the record claim only applies to regular 300 SL models. A race-spec and much rarer Alloy version that sold for a whopping $9.35 million in October 2024 remains the world’s most expensive 300 SL Gullwing of any kind. Another Alloy car fetched $6.8 million in 2022. Overall, this non-Alloy Gullwing is the third most expensive unit ever sold at public auctions.
So, what made collectors throw millions of dollars toward this 1956 300 SL? Well, it has a lot to do with the fact that it’s the world’s most original example left. It’s one of 106 vehicles painted Graphitgrau and one of 30 delivered new in France, but it is the only one that’s still 100% original. Or at least that’s what the ad claims.
Delivered new to a Parisian industrialist and Olympic champion Claude Foussier, the sports car remained with the original owner through 1961. He sold it to former racing driver Roger Loyet, who sold it to industrialist Jean Piger only two months later. Piger held onto the car for a whopping 53 years.
Driven for only 34,255 km (21,285 miles) and carefully maintained for seven decades, the Gullwing still wears much of its original dark gray paint. It’s obviously weathered in places and was still covered in garage dust at the time of the auction, but still in great condition overall (especially given the car’s age).
The vehicle was reportedly inspected by specialist Klaus Kukuk, who discovered that the paint is all original except from slight touch-ups below the rear bumper and below the passenger doors. The body panels and the mechanical components were also verified as 100% original.
The original leather interior was never altered or cleaned, while one of the original two suitcases is still with the car. Other highlights include the super-rare exterior temperature gauge mounted in front of the passenger section, and the car’s very first license plate.
It’s unclear if the engine still runs, but based on how it looks, getting it up and running should be difficult. All 300 SL Gullwings were equipped with M198 3.0-liter) straight-six engines and four-speed manual transmissions. The first production car to feature a four-stroke engine with fuel injection, the Gullwing hit showrooms with 240 horsepower on tap.
The same auction saw a 1992 Ferrar F92A Formula 1 car driven and owned by Jean Alesi change hands for €2.9 million ($3.5 million). A 2006 Porsche Carrera GT sold for €1.6 million ($1.9 million), while a 1964 Lamborghini Miura P400 fetched €1.4 million ($1.7 million).
Hit the play button below to check out this stunning German time capsule.
