“The Holy Grail of classic cars!” Jay Leno takes a deep dive into the very last 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing ever built—a car with impeccable provenance, iconic design, and a history that spans decades. Joined by Matt Malamut of RM Sotheby’s, Jay explores what makes this legendary fuel-injected, race-inspired machine one of the most desirable collector cars in the world. This isn’t just another Gullwing—it’s the final one to roll off the production line.
The Last Gullwing Ever Made! 1957 Mercedes 300SL | Jay Leno’s Garage
Mercedes-Benz started building the 300 SL Gullwing in 1954. It was a mesmerizing model that could by no means go under the radar. Once those gullwing doors opened, every head turned to look at it. The automaker halted production in 1957, and this example was the last Mohican to roll off the production line.
It is amazing to own the last of something. The last T-shirt Michael Jordan played with, the last glove Michael Jackson wore in a concert, or the last scarf that Elvis threw to spectators. Those are fantastic memorabilia that have grown in value over the years. But having the last car of a legendary production run is like having the Holy Grail in their own garage for collectors.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is the holy grail of its era, one that previews and defines the entire history of the brand. It was a car that had an impact and showed the car industry back then that Mercedes was way ahead of everyone else.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing made history, and it made headlines. It was a magnet, that’s how much attention it drew. Its sleek silhouette, those gullwing doors springing open, and the motor racing DNA turned the 300 SL Gullwing, code-named W 198, into an icon of automotive history. The two-seater was the fastest car at the time.
Light and fast and everything in between
Mercedes made it capable of reaching 162 mph (260 kph). That was because the 300 SL inherited much of the technical and aerodynamic elements of the 300 SLR racer, which featured an ultra-lightweight magnesium bodywork. Its engine generated 300 horsepower, which made car enthusiasts affectionately refer to it as “the world’s first hypercar.”
Built around a lightweight tubular frame, the model is set in motion by the 3.0-liter straight-six M198, which pumps out 240 horsepower (243 metric horsepower) and 217 pound-feet (194 Newton meters) of torque.
It may not sound like anything to write home about by today’s standards, but, hey, it was the mid-1955s, and the 300 SL Gullwing redefined the sports car segment. The M198, powering the two-seater, was the first production engine with a fuel injection.
Mercedes stopped the production of the Gullwing after 1,400 examples rolled off the production line, with only 29 of them sporting an aluminum frame. The last of its kind saw the light of day on May 15, 1957. Mercedes was making room for the Roadster.
That final car, chassis number 7500079, was completed on May 15, 1957. That last one is now in Jay Leno’s studio, filling it up with a commanding presence and taking up plenty of vertical space with its gullwing doors opened upwards. The 1957 model set wheels on American soil later that year, on September 27.
The restored 300 SL debuted at the 2004 Concours d’Elegance
With a few awards in its name, documented by the factory and on display at the 1957 Poznan International Trade Fair, the model sold at some point for $2.4 million through an RM Sotheby’s auction held in Las Vegas. All the proceeds went to charity.
The car stayed with its previous owner for 25 years. He was the one who restored by his own hand over the course of several years. When it was completed, he got an invitation to take it to the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. And what a debut that was! It went home with a 3rd in Class.
Now, Matt Malamut, an RM Sotheby’s specialist, represents the car that has had four owners over the years. Painted in its original Fire Engine Red (DB 534) over a special-order Creme leather interior, it is a number-matching automobile.
It sports the original chassis, engine, body, gearbox, and front axle. The rear axle, 7500024, is believed to be original as well. The model rides on a set of the wider 15 x 5.5-inch Kronprinz wheels, which were subsequently fitted on the Roadster starting in 1957.
Jay Leno owns a Gullwing himself, but says his is more worn out because it was used as a race car. You need to be in good shape to step over the huge sill that shelters the tubular chassis. However, snapping down the wheel and snapping it back up once you are seated might help a bit.
You sit low, close to the ground, in front of an old-school dashboard full of gauges and a two-spoke steering wheel. A horn in front of the passenger (or navigator!) reminds you of the racing DNA of this car.
It drives smoothly, is fast, and commands the road like the massive trucks and SUVs of today can’t do it. It delivers the power that you need in an elegant manner while gluing you to your seat on full load. “It doesn’t feel like a 1957,” Jay Leno concludes.
