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a silver mercedes 300sl is parked in a parking lotan image of a silver sports car parked in a parking lota silver car parked in a parking lot with trees in the backgrounda silver car parked in a parking lot with trees in the backgroundan old mercedes sports car parked in a parking lotan image of a silver sports car parked in a parking lota silver car that is parked in a parking lotan image of a silver mercedes sports car parked in a parking lota silver car that is parked in a parking lota silver mercedes 300sl is parked in a parking lotan image of a silver sports car parked in a parking lotthe mercedes 300sl roadster is parked in a parking lota silver car that is parked in a parking lotan image of a car with the door opena close up of a car ' s dashboard and steering wheela black and white car with a steering wheel and dashboarda black and white car with a steering wheel and dashboarda silver sports car with its open hood openthe interior of a classic sports car is clean and ready to be drivena close up of a car ' s dashboard and steering wheela close up of a car ' s dashboard and steering wheela close up of a car ' s dashboard and steering wheela steering wheel and dashboard of a classic cara dashboard of a car with a steering wheel and a dash boarda dashboard and steering wheel of a classic carthe steering wheel and dashboard of a classic car with a speedometera steering wheel and dashboard of a vintage cara silver car with a surfboard on top of it ' s trunka silver mercedes 300sl is parked in a parking lota white car with its door open and a black seatan image of a black and white car with leather seatsa black seat in the back of a white cara black and white photo of a car with its door opena close up of a car ' s interior with the door opena dog that is sitting in the back seat of a cara black suitcase sitting on top of two black leather seatsa close up of a car ' s interior with the door openan overhead view of a car with its engine in the trunka silver car with its hood open on the streeta close up of a car ' s engine with its hood opena close up of a car ' s engine with its hood opena close up of a car ' s engine with its hood opena close up of the engine of a car with its hood opena silver car with its door open sitting in a parking lota close up of a car engine with the hood opena close up of a car ' s engine with its hood opena close up of a car engine with a lot of wires attached to ita close up view of the engine of a motorcyclea close up of a metal plate on a motorcycle
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38 - 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’
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Estimate €1,100,000 - €1,500,000
Sale commission
Description
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ Guido Hommel Collection – A life dedicated to motoring German registration certificate Chassis No. 198.040 5500620 Engine No. 198.980 5500660 Body No. 198.040 5500600 - Fully documented history from the factory by Eric Lemoine - One of approximately 400 examples delivered from the factory with Rudge wheels and an optional suitcase - Original engine and exterior colour - In the Hommel collection for 27 years - Purchased directly from Mercedes-Benz Classic in Felbach - Has competed in the 1000 Miglia Historique three times Formerly owned by the famous racing driver Klaus Ludwig Of the 1,400 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing units produced, few can boast a historical record that allows each period of their life to be traced with precision. It is precisely for this reason that Guido Hommel, after patient research, purchased chassis 5500620 from Mercedes-Benz Classic in Felbach in 1999. Assembly of this car was completed on 10 August 1955, and on the 16th it was taken to the port of Bremen to be shipped to Mercedes-Benz Distributors Inc. New York, USA, as confirmed by its factory delivery note. This valuable document confirms that it was light grey metallic (code DB180) with a ‘standard’ blue chequered fabric interior (code L1) and fitted with the highly sought-after optional Rudge wheels, with which fewer than 400 cars were originally equipped, as 300 SL historian Eric Lemoine has reminded us. As for options, this fine ‘butterfly’ also featured a bespoke travel case, which is still present in the car. Delivered new to Earl Umland in Chicago, it was quickly resold to Loeber Motors in Chicago, before passing into the hands of Frank F. Ball in Indiana. Ball kept the car for nearly 20 years and had it restored in 1974–75: a full repaint in the original colour, restored upholstery in black leather and light grey fabric, refurbishment of the engine and transmission by Mercedes-Benz, and refurbishment of the fuel injection pump by Bosch. Two period photographs show the car fresh from restoration in 1975. In January 1978, the car underwent a minor service at Gullwing Service Company, then was sold on 25 April 1979, with 44,300 miles on the clock, for $30,000 to Alex Dearborn, a specialist in 1950s Mercedes, who resold it the very same day. It then passed through the hands of three successive owners, the last of whom was from New York, before the 300 SL was exported to Switzerland on 3 May 1985. Hans Huerlimmann acquired it in 1987, without registering it, and sold it on 28 April 1989 to Mr Kai Schwanke, who imported it into Germany and kept it for five years. ER Sportwagen then continued to look after it, and in 1998, via Mercedes-Benz Classic in Felbach, 5500620 was purchased by the famous German racing driver Klaus Ludwig, who that year celebrated his FIA GT World Championship title in a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. It is worth noting that Ludwig, in addition to three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and three more at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, was a three-time DTM champion, a two-time DRM champion and boasts one of the most impressive track records in world motor racing. Finally, in March 1999, Guido Hommel acquired it through Mercedes-Benz Classic. The car is in remarkable condition, showing a slight patina, still in its original paintwork, with a well-aged interior that was refurbished in the mid-1970s. Having always been well maintained, it is fitted with its original engine, and the five Rudge wheels it is fitted with date from July 1955, which is consistent with the date it left the factory. Although this car has clearly seen very little use since its restoration, it will nevertheless undergo a full service at the collection’s workshop before taking part in the 1000 Miglia Historique in 2000. On that occasion, upon returning from the event, our collector confessed to us that he had reached 240 km/h with disconcerting ease! Performing superbly in this event, the 300 SL was entered again in the 2003 and 2019 editions. The centrepiece of the collection, this 300 SL has been meticulously cared for and maintained, ensuring it is ready to hit the road in all conditions – something we were able to verify during a long test drive with the owner. With its finely tuned mechanics, the car handles superbly and its performance remains breathtaking. Few 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ models combine such a uniform patina with such a pleasure to drive; these qualities are the hallmark of a car that has led a peaceful life, with knowledgeable and respectful owners who were aware that they held a true work of art in their hands. Will you be the next one?
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About the sale Cars on the Champs
Auction location
Auction time 10/25/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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