SOLD 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe - Scott Grundfor Company

This classically dressed 300SL was completed and shipped new to Manheim, Germany on May 4th, 1955, destined for the ownership of Count Erbach of Odenwald, a German legacy of nobility going back to the 1200’s. Best described as a no stories, high quality driver example well presented in its original and prototypical Gullwing color of DB 180 silver gray metallic, this lovely 300SL Coupe is ready for new driving adventures on the open roads under new ownership. Offered here is an exceptionally honest and very presentable matching numbers example of Mercedes’ most important and iconic production car.

Highlights

Chassis no. 198.040.5500289.

Engine no. 198.980.5500285.

Body no. 198.040.5500274.

Matching numbers

DB 180 silver-gray metallic paint

Blue Vinyl dash with Blue Leather

Known ownership history from new

Delivered new in Germany

Superb original fitted luggage

Englebert tires

Spare wheel and tire

Books

Jack

300SL Gullwing History

This classically dressed 300SL Gullwing was completed and shipped new to Manheim, Germany on May 4th, 1955. Originally delivered in the prototypical color scheme of DB 180 silver gray metallic, Mercedes-Benz racing department’s color of choice, with its interior furnished with a blue vinyl dash and blue plaid fabric covered seats. As per the Gullwing Group Registry, the consignee of record who first ordered this 300SL Coupe from the factory was Grafliche Rentkammer Erbach, noted as destined for the ownership of Count Erbach of Odenwald, a German legacy of nobility going back to the 1200’s. While it is unknown exactly how long the consignee of Count Erbach owned chassis 5500289, it is noted in both the Gullwing Group registry as well as the original service booklet for the car that early in the Gullwing’s life it was acquired Lt. Robert M. Hinrichs.

Chassis 5500289 would eventually make its way to the United States, where it would be owned by three Ohio based stewards, Clifford Zehner of Bellevue, John C. Fernyak of Mansfield and R. Gordon Black, also of Mansfield. In 2004, the car would come into the ownership of Marty Bradley of Coral Gables, FL and in 2006, it was sold to Ross Bleustein of Miami, FL. In early 2007, the cars most recent long term owners, Ben and Judith Reiling of Pasadena, Ca, purchased the car. During the Reiling’s ownership (2007 – 2020), the car has been kept in a large climate controlled collection of desirable blue chip classic cars and with this 300SL being used locally in the Southern California area.

Prior to the Reiling’s ownership tenure, the car had a respray in its original color of DB 180 silver-gray metallic while the interior was redone correctly as original with a blue vinyl dash but instead of blue plaid fabric seats, a well upholstered blue leather seat configuration was installed. The entirety of the exterior chrome appears to have been redone at the time of the repaint, with all facets of the interior restored as needed, including new carpets. Everything on the car has been done to a very nice driver quality level, and while never intended for concours show purposes, there is a sense of quality and correctness in the all around appearance. Today the body and paint show some wear from the driving adventures of the enjoyment of the Reiling ownership use, with expected patina noticeable in the paint and otherwise very little minimal wear in the interior which appears have been done more recently than the paint.

It is believed that the matching numbers engine was rebuilt at the time of the cosmetic restoration on the engine bay itself. The engine bay has been finished correctly and has been done to a high level of quality with appropriate finishes on all surfaces, creating a condition under the hood that matches well with the condition of the exterior and interior cosmetics. All tags are present in the engine bay, as well as the body tag in the interior, and all appear original to the car including the firewall ID tag, the firewall color tag and the original chassis tag on the front left frame rail. As with the original tags, all of the original stampings are present throughout in the appropriate locations, leaving this lovely Gullwing noted as a confidently asserted matching numbers example.

The undercarriage of the car matches the engine bay in its attention to a high level of care and detail. There are no signs of accident upon chassis inspection or any signs of major rust issues in the past. The underside is fully detailed and cosmetically restored and presents very well with obvious care and attention to paid to all aspects of the frame and undercarriage components. The trunk compartment is fully and correctly restored, containing the original restored jack and the original spare wheel with spare Englebert tire. A full set of period correct Englebert tires are currently on the car and appear as new. As a special accent of timeless original quality, this Gullwing Coupe comes with an exceptional and rare set of original tan fitted luggage located behind the seats and a set of original 300SL tools in a correct, new leather tool roll bag.

This classically dressed 300SL was completed and shipped new to Manheim, Germany on May 4th, 1955, destined for the ownership of Count Erbach of Odenwald, a German legacy of nobility going back to the 1200’s. Best described as a no stories, high quality driver example well presented in its original and prototypical Gullwing color of DB 180 silver gray metallic, this lovely 300SL Coupe is ready for new driving adventures on the open roads under new ownership. Offered here is an exceptionally honest and very presentable matching numbers example of Mercedes’ most important and iconic production car.

Highlights

300SL Gullwing History

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