Yes, Of Course You Need This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé

They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé has transcended its cult classic status and become a silhouette recognisable by even non-petrol heads. Quite simply one of the greatest cars of all time, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé is known for its namesake ‘gullwing’ doors that open upwards rather than outwards.

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A post-war marvel, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé was designed at the behest of Mercedes-Benz’s American importer Maximilian Hoffman, who convinced the German company’s conservative management to convert their successful 300SL race car into a daily driver, with the 300SL itself being a derivative of the marque’s wildly successful W194 sports racers. 

Emerging at a time when only a few modifications were required to make a race car street worthy, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé is driven by a 3.0-litre inline-six engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Boasting 215 bhp, it was able to travel from 0 to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds and had a top speed of 259km/h, making it the fastest production car of its time. At the time, the use of the 3.0-litre inline-six marked the world’s first four-stroke engine to utilise direct fuel injection; something that’s now quotidian. 

Coupled with a lightweight space-frame chassis, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé was seminal in influencing a new automotive era defined by performance and handling prowess. Though undeniably the most aesthetically recognisable feature of the vehicle, the gullwing doors were born of necessity rather than appearance; the wide tubular frame and wide, high sills means conventional doors weren’t able to be attached. So, gullwing doors—formerly employed on the W194 race car—were used in their stead.

Produced between 1954 and 1957, this 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé is just one of 1400 examples built. Representing a fine example of a thoughtful and historically sympathetic restoration, the vehicle underwent a meticulous nut-and-bolt restoration by the mechanical legends at German outfit HK Engineering in 2018. Undertaken with the intention of safeguarding the model’s historical integrity, the restoration refurbished the vehicle to its original paint colour and outfitted it with a period correct interior, defined by a creamy colour palette with plaid upholstery — the result of the previous owner’s request to tailor the vehicle to Mille Miglia specifications. This also entailed upgrading the front brakes to discs, removing the bumpers, and modifying the side exhaust to allow for enhanced power output.

A seminal car in its time and quite simply one of—is not the most—elegant vehicles of all time, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé is a paragon of automotive and aesthetic excellence.

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé is available via Classic Driver, with price on request.


Words by John Deckard