by Mike –
In the collector car world the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Roadster have become the very symbol of collector cars. A major car collection is not complete without one and preferably one of each.
They have sky rocked in value over the past few years along with the collector car market yet they are really not rare cars in the collector car world. There were 1,400 300SL Gullwings made and 1,856 300SL Roadsters made between 1954 and 1963.
No collector car auction of any reputation will dare hold a classic car auction at a place like Monterey without at least one of these icons in the line up.
In mid-August of this year in Monterey there will be at least twelve up for auction. I say “at least” because that is the number announced so far by the auction companies and they are not yet finished signing up cars to be sold during Monterey Car Week.
If you like the Mercedes 300SL then you will love Monterey this August – here are the twelve 300SLs that have been announced so far for auction.
RM Auctions
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – Without Reserve
The owner is taking a chance offering this 300SL without a reserve price. It will be interesting to see what happens.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
This is the rare one – only twenty-nine alloy bodied 300SL Gullwings were made – look for this to be very expensive.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
I like the Roadsters better than the Gullwing myself and this color looks great.
Gooding
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
The estimate is $1,400,000 – $1,800,000. Wow prices are still going up.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
The estimate is $1,400,000 – $1,700,000 – near the Gullwing above yet Gullwings have typically sold for more than Roadsters.
Mecum
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
2003 Lonestar 300SL Roadster
OK, this is not really a Mercedes 300SL. I am not sure what it is.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Bonhams
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
The ex-Pat Boone, one owner since 1958 – Without reserve. There are no photos on the Bonhams web site.
Does Pat Boone ownership do anything for the price?
Rick Cole Auctions
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Purchased new by film director Howard Hawks.
Does Howard Hawks ownership do anything for the price?
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
A factory hard top – very nice, I think this can boost the price.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
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Mike,
A great article on the 300SL automobiles being offered this year at Monterey. A great selection for every taste. So I will get the discussion going.
The 300SL is among my favorite sports car of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Technically advanced for it’s day, I have been a fan since the early 1970’s, when I discovered them as a 14 year old kid. Having worked at a restoration facility that specialized in the 300SLs back in the mid 1980’s, I became very acquainted with them and the subtle differences among the Gull Wings and the Roadsters. I was given the opportunity to find homes for several excellent examples, like a couple of “Alloy” Gull Wings and several disc brake, alloy engine Roadsters. The “Alloy” Gull Wings in restorable condition were bringing about $300,000.00 and early, unrestored 300SL Roadsters were bringing about $60,000.00. I also found a few that lay dormant for many years. There were several 300SL Gull Wings and Roadsters that may have been over priced at the time, like a Rudge Wheel, Gull Wing in show condition for $350,000, which found a new home not long after it was posted for sale. Times were different back then, especially with no internet. Today, the prices are in the stratosphere and there is no end in sight. The 300SL in both versions enjoy a world-wide market, because of their birth and heritage, which is largely responsible for their tremendous appreciation. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, there are many that I contacted back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s that are kicking themselves for not buying a 300 SL from me. A couple of years ago, an opportunity presented itself to own a 1957 300SL Roadster project car. It has been fun collecting some of the rare parts to make this Roadster complete once again. The original colors from the factory were DB 40 black exterior with 1097 white leather interior and black painted rims. My Uncle Tommy left me a small inheritance, and that is where the money went. It’s what he would have wanted, thanks Uncle Tommy.
David,
Good choice – I think black on white is beautiful, I like the body colored rims and as I said I like the Roadster better than the Gullwing.