1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Audrain Collections

• This is the street version derived from the legendary W194 race car, which brought Mercedes-Benz back to victory in post-war competition.

• This is a preservation class car with only 12,000 miles from new.

• First production application of gasoline direct injection in a four-stroke engine; capable of immense performance.

• Advanced tubular truss chassis necessitated the use of the unforgettable gullwing doors, due to the high door jamb.

This extraordinary Mercedes, one of the outstanding Grand Touring cars of all time, together with its roadster cousin had an outstanding career in long distance competitive road rallies. Several 300 SL’s ran in the Monte Carlo Rally in period, and the 220 and 220S sedans, which were big immensely strong four door sedans were very competitive indeed.  Walter Schock and Ralf Moll won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1960, their Works teammates were second and third, and a private entry was fifth.

When the 300SL Gullwing was first introduced it was thought that it was too light, expensive, and specialized a competition car to achieve much success in the long arduous European Championship Rallies, but Mercedes used the cars wisely in events for which the cars were suitable.

In 1955, Engel won the Adriatic Rally outright and took fourth place in the Liege-Rome-Liege of the same year, while a privately driven 300SL won The Liege-Rome-Liege outright and another privately entered 300SL won the Tulip Rally in Holland. In 1956  Walter Schock used factory prepared 300SLs to win the Sestriere and Acropolis Rallies, the latter considered the roughest and most demanding event in Europe. He also finished strongly in the Geneva  and Wiesbaden events and won the European Rally Championship.

An outstanding result in this period was by the American driver John Fitch who won the Grand Touring category In the Mille Miglia in Italy, the 1000-mile open road race from Brescia to Rome and back in a 300SL.

While all the competition success was being achieved the 300 SL was building a reputation as one of the most desirable sporting road cars on the planet , as spectacular on the Via Veneto as it was competitive on the rough dangerous stages of the Peloponnese.

Specifications:

Engine: 3.0 liter inline-6, overhead valve, fuel injection

Horsepower: 215hp @ 5800 rpm

Torque: 202 ft/lbs @ 4600 rpm

Transmission: Synchromesh 4-speed manual

Top speed: 155 mph

Weight: 2851 lbs