Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Its First Post-WW2 Race Car

In 1952, Mercedes-Benz unleashed the W194, its first post-WW2 race car. Powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six engine, the W194 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana against strong opposition from Ferrari and Jaguar. The W194 was succeeded by the 300 SLR in 1955, but its development also spawned a road-legal production model in 1954: the 300SL Gullwing.
 

Developed at Max Hoffman’s suggestion and aimed at the booming post-WW2 American market, the 300SL was designed to be as streamlined as possible and employed the W194’s gullwing doors. Not only exotic by design, the 300SL was capable of a top speed of 163 mph (262 kph), making it the fastest production car of its time.
 
The Gullwing relied on a water-cooled, 3.0-liter inline-six with dry sump lubrication. The mill delivered 240 horsepower and 217 pound-feet (294 Nm) of torque, pushing the 300SL from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in about nine seconds.
 
The coupe was discontinued in 1957, but that wasn’t the end of the line for the 300SL. That year, Mercedes-Benz began producing a roadster version. Production came to a halt in 1963 after 3,260 units were built, including two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes. At the time, the 300SL was considered a success.
 

Exactly 70 years have passed since the 300SL made its official debut in 1954, and the Gullwing is one of the most desirable classics wearing the three-pointed star. Produced in 1,400 examples, many Gullwings are worth millions of dollars nowadays. This green 1955 coupe is one of those rigs.
 
Scheduled to go under the hammer at Mecum’s Monterey 2024 auction on August 17, this Merc is estimated to fetch anywhere from $2 to $2.5 million. What makes it so expensive? For starters, it’s a finely restored example with documented history. Purchased by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation in 1973, the Gullwing was given a body-off restoration in the late 2000s. It’s been babied ever since and displayed in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum from 2015 to 2020.
 
The coupe also packs a numbers-matching inline-six under the hood. Paired with a four-speed manual gearbox, the engine was clean, bored, and honed by Schmidt Automotive Machine Shop, while the fuel injection pump was rebuilt by Pacific Fuel Injection.
 

Moreover, this 300SL is a one-of-one gem thanks to its color combo. Specifically, it’s the only known example delivered in Mittelgrun over green and gray leather. There is a catch, though: the interior was refinished in beige leather, so the dash is the only green element inside the cabin.
 
As much as I would have loved to see this 300SL sporting a factory-correct interior, I must admit it looks spectacular in its current setup.
 
It’s not the first time this Gullwing goes under the hammer. The car was previously auctioned off in September 2022 for $1.7 million. If it surpasses the $2-million mark, it will become one of the five most expensive 300SL Gullwings ever auctioned. The current record sits at $3.41 million.