1954 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Sure to Nab a Fortune at Auction

By Brett Foote - June 2, 2019

Upgraded and repainted, Fire Engine Red rarity is sure to be a hit at Silverstone’s July auction.

Few cars in history are as celebrated, revered, or coveted as the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. Easily one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the Gullwing’s iconic design is nearly matched by its period performance. The term “dream car” gets batted around a lot, but calling this Mercedes coupe a dream is as fitting as a fine tailored suit. Only 1,400 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwings were built in total, so owning one is certainly a rare privilege. Especially this interesting 1954 example headed to the auction block at the Silverstone Classic Sale, happening July 26-28 at Silverstone Circuit in Towcester, England.

This particular Gullwing is cool for what it isn’t. It isn’t a low-mile garage queen, nor a 100% original concours restoration. In fact, it isn’t even painted its original color. This particular classic Mercedes was imported to the U.K. from the U.S. back in 1989, at which point someone had painted it Fire Engine Red in lieu of its original color, Racing Silver.

Along the way, this Gullwing was also fitted with a few upgrades. They include a stainless steel exhaust, sport camshaft, and electronic power steering. Perhaps more shockingly, it’s also been driven quite a bit. It has participated in a number of European and Scottish road tours, visiting several different countries along the way.

That might seem shocking to some, but we actually appreciate the fact that this rare Mercedes-Benz was driven regularly. After all, that’s what they were built to do. And we all know that classic cars like this only benefit from regular use. So if you’re looking for a Gullwing you won’t feel guilty about driving and enjoying, this bright red beauty should easily clear your conscience.