As chassis 53 out of a mere 70 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupes built in the final year of production, this rare and desirable 1957 W198 has a history of long term ownership tenures and presents today in 608 Ivory paint over 1079 Red leather with matching 2-piece fitted suitcases behind the seats. Always loved and taken care of and notable as one of the final 20 300SL Coupes produced, this special Mercedes is accompanied by original books and tools along with a copy of the factory data card.
Highlights
- One of the final 300SL Coupes built
- Two long-term owners in the last 60 years
- Special order vehicle
- Matching numbers
- Chassis no. 198.040.7500053
- Engine no. 198.980.7500058
- Body no. 198.040.7500051
- Transmission no. 7500029
- DB 608 Ivory paint
- 1079 Red leather
- Matching fitted luggage
- Becker Mexico radio
- Original tools and bag
- Original books
- Copy of factory data card
- 57,729 miles
The End Of Gullwing Production
As one of only 1,400 W198 chassis Coupes produced, 300SL Gullwing 7500053 was completed by Mercedes-Benz on April 10th, 1957, thus taking its unique place among the final 20 examples of the iconic model to be produced. To emphasize this particularl Gullwing’s rarity, a mere 5% of the total 300SL Gullwing production came in 1957, making this chassis 7500053 extremely desirable from a collectibilty standpoint. As per its accompanying factory supplied data card, when 7500053 left the factory in the spring of 1957, the car was painted DB 158 White-Gray with a 1079 Red leather interior. The car was options new with a Becker Mexico Radio, instruments in English and was fitted with Dunlop tires mounted on 5×15″ wheels manufactured by KPZ.
With only three private owners from new and the most recent two ownership tenures lasting the better part of 60 years, chassis 7500053 leaves a lifetime’s worth of well known East Coast lineage in its wake. According to the Official Gullwing Group Registry, this rare 1957 example of the 300SL Coupe was first owned by Robert Barden of New Jersey, USA. In the early 1960’s, the car came into the ownership of Robert E. Crane of Brick, New Jersey and was later bequeathed to family member Laura M. Crane, also a resident of Brick, in 1996. Then, in 1998 after almost 40 years in the Crane family, this W198 Coupe was purchased by its most recent private owner, yet another New Jersey native, a gentleman by the name of Melvin Weiss who calls Kinnelon home.
At the time that Weiss became owner of this 300SL Gullwing in the late 1990’s, it was still wearing its original DB 158 White Gray paint while also sporting its worn, yet original 1079 Red leather interior. The near completely original nature of the car at the time Weiss’ ownership tenure began is notable as a commentary on the overall purity retained by the car since it left the factory. Within several years of Melvin Weiss purchasing chassis Gullwing 7500053, the decision was made to do a cosmetic restoration of the car which included paint, chrome, interior and engine bay processes.
Because of the honest, rust and accident-free, original condition of the car at the time of restoration, this rare 1957 300SL Coupe was treated to a much preferred “body-on” style of restoration. During the “body-on” process, the chassis and body remain together which does a great deal to maintain the driving integrity of the car while also lending a very “as-original” feeling to the road going experience in general when behind the wheel. During the full cosmetic restoration, a well-prepped repaint was performed in the period correct Mercedes-Benz factory color of DB 608 Ivory while all of the exterior chrome trim was stripped and re-plated to a notably high standard of quality.
All rubber seals were replaced on the exterior of the car at this time as well, with all fits and finishes resembling that of the high-quality craftsmanship the car would have enjoyed when first shipped in the spring of 1957. The upholstery work performed during the restoration process included completely new 1079 Red leather hides on the seats, doors and dash with all new red German square weave carpets correctly installed. The headliner was also completely redone while the brightwork in the cabin was refreshed throughout.
The undercarriage of the car is largely original with only signs of maintance over the years with no signs of rust or accident, displaying the overt honesty supplied by this rare late production Gullwing. The entirety of the engine bay has been superbly restored to ‘as-original’ standards with every part having been attended to for an outstanding and correct level of finish throughout. The engine block itself retains its never removed original number tag with original rivets still in place while the firewall and left front frame rail still retain their original chassis number tags as well. The original engine block remains in the car as is proven via corresponding numbers on the factory data card accompanying the car. Also present and installed is the original transmission, making this W198 coupe complete in its original component status.
As one of only 70 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings produced in 1957, the final year of production, and one of the last 20 W198 Coupes produced in total, this superb driving example comes to market primed for new ownership for the first time in over 25 years, a truly top class Mercedes that comes accompanied by fitted matching luggage, original books and tools and a copy of the factory data card.
