Back in the 1970s, before the internet and specialized collector car magazines dominated the scene, enthusiasts relied on sources like the Sunday New York Times classifieds. For a young medical student with a passion for automotive history and design, these pages were a treasure trove, albeit often filled with vehicles financially out of reach. While grand Duesenbergs were listed, their hefty price tags exceeding $50,000 placed them firmly in the realm of unattainable dreams for someone on a student budget. The desire was for something more practical, yet imbued with the sporting heritage and design elegance that had been instilled from a young age by an appreciative father.
The influence of his father, a family doctor who served his community from a modest home office, was profound. Despite a modest income, the father cultivated an appreciation for cars with history and character. Patient logbooks from 1956, reflecting $3-$4 patient visits, illustrate the era’s economics and the sheer volume of patients seen daily. Before office hours, house calls were common, often followed by visits to local junkyards and used car lots. In the mid-1950s, cars from the 1930s were just twenty years old, and even then, the father recognized the potential future importance of these vehicles, especially those with classic sporting lines that would eventually captivate discerning collectors.
It was in the pages of the New York Times that an advertisement appeared, promising a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. This particular 1970s Mercedes Benz Gullwing, advertised by a suburban gentleman, boasted fewer than 30,000 miles and desirable Rudge wheels, all in excellent condition. The seller, a pool builder, had acquired the car in trade for his services but discovered it was not well-suited to his wife’s preferences – deemed too unwieldy, hot, and impractical for daily errands.
Fortuitously, this period coincided with a low point in the Gullwing’s market value. A phone negotiation led to a deal at the asking price of $3,500 in cash. A call to girlfriend Jackie secured transportation, knowing the return trip would be behind the wheel of the newly acquired 1970s Mercedes Benz treasure. The transaction was swift, and the car, remarkably, remains in excellent condition to this day, having avoided any significant mishaps. It became a daily driver, parked on city streets, and even survived the theft of its Becker radio while briefly left unattended during a hospital emergency. Through it all, this classic 1970s Mercedes Benz endured the subsequent decades remarkably well.
When proudly presented to his father, the reaction was understated. While words were few, the absence of disapproval spoke volumes, particularly since the purchase was self-funded.
A few months later, chance intervened again. Passing by Jerry’s Used Cars, a dealership in a less affluent part of town, another Gullwing, this time a gleaming black example, sat incongruously amongst more commonplace American cars. Mentioning this discovery to his father during a visit, the response was a gentle, “Well, we don’t need two of them.” A reasonable sentiment, it seemed.
Life continued with the first Gullwing as the daily companion. Then, about two months later, the black Gullwing at Jerry’s was gone. A casual inquiry to Jerry about its fate elicited a sly reply: “Your dad bought it!”
Returning home, the revelation was confirmed. The father, anticipating discovery, led the way to the garage where he had already begun lavishing attention on his new acquisition. Its original black paint was in such pristine condition it appeared factory fresh. The bill of sale, however, revealed a purchase price of $4,750—significantly more than the $3,500 paid for the first car, creating a moment of lighthearted one-upmanship.
As it transpired, the father derived even greater enjoyment from his 1970s Mercedes Benz Gullwing. While medical studies consumed his son’s time, the father dedicated himself to restoring and showing his car, proudly earning first prize at the 1971 New Hope Auto Show.
Today, both of these remarkable 1970s Mercedes Benz Gullwings stand as testaments to a shared passion and a bygone era of car collecting, proudly displayed at the Simeone Automotive Museum, a legacy born from a father’s influence and a son’s pursuit of automotive dreams.
*Note: $3,500 in 1970 is equivalent to approximately $21,000 today; $4,750 is roughly $28,000 adjusted for inflation.
