Unveiled in 2021, the present-era Mercedes-Benz SL traces its roots to a race-bred coupe that has come to be extremely sought-following. The 300SL shocked the globe with its gullwing doors when it landed in 1954, and a 1-of-a-kind case in point is about to cross the auction block.
A person of the highlights from Mecum’s Glendale 2023 sale is a 1955 300SL assigned chassis variety 5500263. 1 of about 1,400 units created from 1954 to 1957, it’s reportedly the only instance completed in Mittelgrün (Medium Inexperienced) with a grey leather inside. Mecum notes that this SL was at first sent in New York. Although its first couple decades on the highway continue to be a secret, the coupe joined the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation’s assortment in January 1973 and stayed there for a extended time.
This just one-of-a-form SL is mentioned to have received a finish restoration in the late 2000s. The race track’s museum dealt with the bulk of the get the job done but some of the healthy and complete was outsourced to California-primarily based Mercedes-Benz specialist Scott Grundfor Enterprise. The record of get the job done performed contains honing the cylinders, rebuilding the gasoline-injection pump, and reupholstering the inside. New window seals were set up, the vibrant exterior trim pieces ended up polished, and the suspension procedure was overhauled. All told, this SL appears to be like as excellent as it did in 1955 (if not far better). It truly is not fully initial, however — the interior color was changed from grey to beige during the restoration.
A person exciting position is that early SLs were not always useful and sought-immediately after. There was a time period when they were just regarded as amazing old cars and trucks, and some ended up modified, driven into the floor, or both equally. This a single has seemingly been spared: Mecum promises it is however run by the unique, numbers-matching 3.-liter straight-6 that sends 225 horsepower to the rear wheels through a 4-speed guide transmission.
When the restoration work was completed, the SL returned to Indianapolis and was once in a while displayed in the track’s museum involving 2015 and 2020. It really is now searching for a new dwelling, and it truly is currently being bought with numerous files (which includes a duplicate of the factory establish sheet), pictures taken through the restoration system, and a handful of spare areas. Introducing a touch of environmentally friendly to your assortment will require forking about a substantial amount of inexperienced: Mecum expects that this 1955 300SL will offer for wherever amongst $1,850,000 and $2,000,000.
If which is also significantly, or if vintage Mercedes-Benz designs are not your cup of (inexperienced) tea, the auction catalog consists of something for every enthusiast. A different highlight is a 1990 Ferrari F40 with just 3,413 miles it could promote for as significantly as $3.5 million. How about a 1956 Ford flatbed? It really is supplied with no reserve, and you can help you save on transport by placing an additional common on the again just before driving household. American roadsters are well represented, there’s anything at all from a 1953 Chevrolet Corvette (that is the initially yr of creation) to a 2004 Cadillac XLR, and there’s a surprising selection of modern vehicles like a 2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Individually, I might acquire the 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto.
Mecum’s Glendale 2023 sale runs March 28 to April 1 in Glendale, Arizona.