This freshly restored 300SL Gullwing has been driven less than 300 miles since completion of “body-off” restoration in 2016. As a one owner car until 2012, dressed in its original colors of DB050 white over red leather interior, this 1955 Mercedes stands out for its comprehensive restored qualities, exceptional level of documentation and long term limited ownership history
SOLD
History
Hubert Martin Cook (Dallas, Texas): 1955-2012
Completed August 24th and shipped on August 26th of 1955 to Mercedes-Benz Distributors of Manhattan, New York, chassis 5500668 300SL was a special order vehicle born in DB 50 White with 1079 Red Leather. Hubert Martin Cook of Dallas, Texas bought this Gullwing new in 1955. Cook would go on to own and maintain the Mercedes until 2012, a 57 year ownership tenure characterized by an exceptional level of care and meticulous record keeping.
Mr. Cook, Regional Director of The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) and one of the very early members of the Gull Wing Group, was the very definition of a “300SL enthusiast”. At the 3rd annual convention of the Gull Wing Group, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the founding of the organization by Ernie Spitzer in 1961, 24 Gullwings and 5 Roadsters were lined up with the San Francisco Bay as the backdrop. One of them was Hubert Cook’s prized Gullwing, Chassis 5500668 offered here. Mr. Cook drove his Mercedes all the way from Dallas, Texas, the longest distance of any of the 29 300SL owners at the convention, a telling gesture of commitment indicative of his love for the iconic Gullwing. At the conclusion of the convention, Mr. Cook was able to take two Gullwings home, the one he drove 1,700 miles from Texas to reach California, and the 1/12 scale Renwal model kit he won while there. The Gullwing model remains with the car to this day, unopened as a memento.
Hubert Cook would own Gullwing 5500668 until his passing in 2007. At that time, his son, William Robb Cook, was entrusted with taking the car into the future carrying on the Cook Gullwing legacy. The 300SL was a prized possession of the Cook family for nearly 57 years (52 years with Hubert and 5 years with his son William), residing for the entire time in Dallas, Texas.
Second Owner (Texas): 2012-2018
The second owner of 5500668, (a private Texas based collector), purchased the Gullwing from William Cook in December 2012 with 66,000 original miles. At the time of purchase, the car was dressed in DB 190 Graphite Grey over Red Leather upholstery, an appearance the car had maintained since the 1970’s when Hubert Cook had done an earlier cosmetic restoration of the car.
Wanting the very best and most authentic of 300SL experiences, the car was treated to a three year comprehensive “Body-Off” restoration handled by Mercedes-Benz expert Bjorn Nordemo of Sports Leicht Restorations in West End, North Carolina. Between 2013 and 2016, the car was brought back to its original colors of DB 50 White with 1079 Red Leather Interior as per the Mercedes factory build documents. The fully documented (over 1000 photos plus over 43 pages of detailed work receipts) and meticulously implemented restoration work completed by Nordemo and Sports Leicht Restorations is part of a stunning 300SL package combining exceptional long term original ownership history, thorough record keeping and a finished car fit for the show field or the open road…a fitting tribute to the legacy Mercedes-Benz and Hubert Cook began in the 1950’s.
The Car Today
Since completion of the restoration in 2016, the Gullwing has been driven to the tune of less than 300 hundred miles. The one and only time it was shown publicly, at the 2016 Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance, it won the Mercedes-Benz Club Of America (MBCA) Award of Excellence.
As a testament to a lifetime of true enthusiast care, the chassis, engine, body, transmission and axle numbers all match the factory build sheet. All other parts of the Gullwing, including the belly pans and concave grill, have been fully restored to complete a 300SL of excellent quality.
This restored, two owner from new concours quality 300SL Gullwing is a true example of exceptionalism within the iconic 300SL line of Mercedes-Benz. Rarely does one get the opportunity to own a car that has been treated to such devoted long term ownership from new as this Mercedes has been the beneficiary of. The car today is in superb restored show quality condition and needs nothing more than to be enjoyed and well kept.
SOLD
