With the same private owner since 1963 and just 21,674 miles showing on the odometer, this fully matching numbers W198 Coupe was born painted DB 40 Black and today retains its superbly-kept original 1079 Red leather interior befitting such an otherwise low mileage original car. Today, this 300SL Gullwing presents in DB 180 Silver Grey Metallic paint over said factory-installed 1079 Red leather with original headliner in place speaking to well maintained storage and care throughout its life. This Gullwing is one of the last unknown, true survivors in the W198 Coupe line and is an extremely desirable example born black over red.
Highlights
- Hidden for decades, never offered publicly
- Same private ownership since 1963
- Very low mileage and original example
- Delivered new in DB 040 Black paint
- Superbly kept factory-original interior
- Matching numbers
- Chassis no. 198.040.5500439
- Engine no. 198.980.10.5500462
- Body no. 5500422
- Fuel-injected 6-cylinder engine
- 4-speed manual gearbox
- DB 180 Silver Grey metallic paint
- Factory-installed 1079 red Roser leather
- Original belly pans
- Original books
- Original tools
- Copy of factory data card
- 21,674 original miles
Low Mileage With Patina To Match
Special order chassis 198.040.5500439 was completed by Mercedes-Benz on June 22, 1955, destined for import to the United States via Mercedes-Benz Distributors, Inc of New York. As per this Gullwing’s factory data card, in concert with information provided in the Official Gullwing Group 300SL Gullwing Registry, this W198 Coupe was supposed to have shipped from the Mercedes-Benz factory at Stuttgart Unterturkheim on June 29, 1955, but instead, for a reason yet known, shipped several months later on August 16, 1955. The car was painted new by Mercedes-Benz in DB 040 schwarz (black) and was upholstered in the very same 1079 red Roser leather that it presents with today. The car was equipped with instruments in English along with sealed-beam headlights and was furnished with a Becker Mexico radio.
Residing in the same private ownership in Port Orange, Florida since 1963 whilst having been hidden for decades from view, this 1955 300SL Coupe retains each and every one of its original factory installed numbered components in addition to its belly pans, books and tools. Prior owners to the most recent 60+ year tenure, as noted in the 300SL Gullwing Group Registry, include Anthony Sianni of Chicago, Illinois and also Richard E. Beckett of Mishawaka, Indiana.
As time goes by, fewer and fewer “unknown” 300SL Gullwings with such originality survive in a manner such as does chassis 5500439. The car very original outside of maintenance in the engine bay and one repaint in Silver decades ago, paint job completed over the top of the original DB 40 black paint originally put on the car in 1955 by Mercedes-Benz. Traces of the original black paint can be seen especially easily under the chromed dash handles in the interior and also in places around the exterior when peeling back the old rubber around the car. The repaint in Silver was done well, notably decades ago, but is patina’d today with nicks and dings present while the chrome appears to be completely original with flaws similar to that of the paint.
As a bonafide 21,674 mile example, a mileage number rarely seen on the ever-drivable W198 Coupe model in modern times, this is a particularly rare Mercedes. Not only does this Gullwing retain each and every original numbered component per its factory data card, it also notably retains perhaps the softest, non-cracking and still usable original leather interior that we have seen on a 300SL Gullwing in decades. What is particularly unusual about chassis 5500439’s interior is that the door sills and dash leather mirror the softness and completely non-dried-out nature of the original leather covering the seats.
To find an original interior on a 300SL Coupe is certainly wonderful and by no means supremely rare, but to find one in such a state of condition as seen here where the leather is not dried out in any serious or overt way is quite unique and special amongst any car of this vintage, let alone a 300SL Gullwing. Even the original cloth headliner remains in place on the insides of the doors and on the A-pillars of the cabin, in a condition well preserved enough that the cloth itself remains glued to the original surface, something almost never seen on a 300SL Gullwing interior. This unique example also retains, as noted above, all numbered original components as per its factory supplied data card including chassis, engine, body, transmission, steering box, rear end and front end spindles.
In addition to the retention of all of its factory-installed stamped components as per its factory data card, all original tags issued to the car when new by Mercedes-Benz are retained by chassis 5500439 including interior body tag, DB 40 paint code tag, riveted engine block tag, firewall chassis tag and frame rail chassis tag. To put a fine point on the comprehensive nature of this Gullwing’s originality of components, even the original engine cylinder head is still in place with the engine block’s compression ratio stamped (8,33:1) on it to match the same number stamped on the round pad located below the engine block tag on the engine block itself. The engine bay of the car and the undercarriage has seen some maintenance over the years as one would expect standard of a car now pushing 70 years of age.
All original parts and hardware (Kamax bolts, correct clamps, etc…) are in place or with the car otherwise with signs that cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment has been done over time as a matter of maintenance (not for correctness or show with respect to paint). The undercarriage is similar to the engine bay in its cosmetic appearance and condition, having been maintained but never restored. The car comes with a full set of its original belly pans and also has its original vinyl pop out window holder/protector.
Mechanically, the car has recently undergone a recommissioning process by Scott Grundfor Company to the tune of more than $50,000 in invoiced parts and labor. Work completed by Scott Grundfor Company includes but is not limited to replacing coolant hoses, replacing all brake hoses, installing all new wheel cylinders, installing a new master cylinder, replacing of ignition switch, rebuilding of the fuel injection pump, a rebuilt air controller, replacement of all non-original style clamps with ‘as original’ clamps, replacement of the brake booster, replacement of shifter bushings, replacement of hood weather stripping and hood foam pad, a full fluid change with service, new fuel filters and a complete tune up.
For the last 61 years, this 300SL Gullwing has essentially remained off the map of the collector car world. As a 21,674 original mile car delivered new in DB 40 Black that retains an impressive original 1079 Red leather interior, chassis 5500439 is a rare bird indeed. Very few unrestored 300SL’s remain to be found, especially ones with as much potential for preserved originality as is found in this particularly special W198 Coupe. For the person looking for something unique and special with long term ownership history and an unrepeatable set of intrinsic qualities, this example of Mercedes-Benz’ most iconic car is one that is hard to overlook.
