“The 300 SL is prophecy incarnate. It’s a pace-setter, a style-setter, a design conception that is bound to influence the world’s automotive industry for many years to come… Literally, the 300 SL is a car of the future that can be possessed today…it’s just about impossible to duplicate what the 300SL has to offer at any price.”
—Griff Borgeson, Sports Cars Illustrated, April 1956
For collectors and automotive enthusiasts, owning the “last” of a significant series represents a unique pinnacle. It’s about possessing something irreplaceable, a tangible link to history. In the realm of vintage automobiles, the pursuit of such a final example can span decades, demanding immense dedication and resources, assuming it’s even accessible to private ownership and not enshrined in a museum.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing transcends mere collectibility; it’s an automotive icon. Celebrated as the “sportscar of the century,” it’s a symphony of breathtaking aesthetics, groundbreaking engineering, and exhilarating performance. Within Mercedes-Benz’s illustrious history, the 300 SL Gullwing stands as arguably their most significant and universally admired creation, a beacon of automotive excellence that continues to captivate generations.
The allure of “The Last Gullwing” isn’t just about owning a car; it’s about inheriting a legacy. This singular vehicle embodies the culmination of the 300 SL’s achievements: its victories, its glamour, and its enduring greatness, connecting its future custodian to an unparalleled automotive heritage.
The Pervasive Presence of the 300 SL Gullwing
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing’s impact on 20th-century culture extends far beyond motorsport. Its influence is amplified by its relatively substantial production run. Between 1954 and 1957, Mercedes-Benz manufactured 1,400 Gullwings, with a significant number seeing competitive action on racetracks worldwide.
The 300 SL Gullwing became instantly recognizable due to its striking and unconventional design, dictated by its lightweight spaceframe chassis—an innovation derived from the victorious W194 and W196 racing sports cars of 1952 and 1954. This road-going marvel seemed omnipresent, gracing the silver screen, cruising Mulholland Drive, parked along the Champs-Élysées, and even venturing to the Arctic Circle. It was equally at home as a pristine motor show exhibit or claiming victory in a grueling race. Unlike many exclusive mid-century exotics from Ferrari, BMW, Lamborghini, and Jaguar, the Mercedes 300 Sl Gullwing achieved remarkable ubiquity, enhancing its iconic status.
Its close technical and visual kinship with the dominant 300 SLR racing sports car of 1955 further solidified the 300 SL’s legendary reputation. If the production Gullwing is considered the “first supercar,” then its 3.0-liter SLR counterpart earned the title of “first hypercar.” The 300 SLR, with its ultra-lightweight magnesium body and 300-horsepower engine, effortlessly exceeded 180 mph, setting unprecedented speed benchmarks. In a landmark 2022 auction, RM Sotheby’s sold the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe for an astounding $142 million, affirming its position as the most valuable car in history and further elevating the 300 SL lineage.
Beyond racing circuits, the mercedes 300 sl frequently graced the pages of entertainment publications, becoming synonymous with socialites, business magnates, Hollywood stars, and royalty. The Gullwing also served as a canvas for personal expression, offering owners a spectrum of color combinations and a wide array of factory options to tailor their vehicle to individual tastes.
The technologically advanced mercedes 300 sl secured countless victories in premier sports car races and numerous amateur championships. Remarkably, the Gullwing achieved these sporting accolades while simultaneously establishing itself as one of the most elegant, sophisticated, and coveted automobiles of the 20th century – often hailed as “a spacecraft on four wheels.”
“The Last Gullwing”: A Unique Piece of Automotive History
On May 15, 1957, Mercedes-Benz completed chassis 7500079, “The Last Gullwing.” This marked the end of an era for Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic model, a car whose legendary status remains unchallenged.
“The Last Gullwing” commenced its journey as a special-order Standwagen, initially showcased by Mercedes-Benz at the 1957 Poznan International Trade Fair. Subsequently, on September 27, 1957, it was dispatched to the United States via the Mercedes-Benz distribution network. While details of any interim appearances between the Poznan Fair’s conclusion on June 29th and its American shipment remain undocumented, it’s known that by the time 7500079 was released from exhibition duties, the Mercedes-Benz factory had already commenced production of its successor, the 300 SL Roadster.
Intriguingly, factory data card copies reveal that “The Last Gullwing” was originally specified in Fire Engine Red (DB 534) with a special-order full Crème leather (1060) interior. It also featured English instrumentation, sealed beam headlamps, bumper covers, and, owing to its extended factory stay, wider 15 x 5½ -inch Kronprinz wheels, typically reserved for the 300 SL Roadster.
Despite its profound significance and unique status, “The Last Gullwing” spent its early years in America in relative obscurity. However, this exceptionally original and meticulously preserved example has enjoyed a fortunate existence, cherished by a select lineage of only four documented owners since new. “The Last Gullwing” retains its factory-correct color scheme and boasts matching numbers for its chassis, engine, body, gearbox, and front axles. Its rear axle, numbered 7500024 (though data card copies record “324”), is also believed to be original.
After more than 25 years under the stewardship of its most recent private collector, who meticulously restored it over several years, “The Last Gullwing” debuted at the prestigious 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This marked the first time the model was accepted into this highly exclusive event. The judges and attendees lauded 7500079, awarding it 3rd in Class – a remarkable achievement and a testament to the quality of its restoration.
The mercedes 300 sl Gullwing’s enduring appeal stems not just from its Hollywood glamour, racing victories, or striking beauty, but from its embodiment of an ideal: the pursuit of perfection. “The Last Gullwing,” unrivaled in provenance and significance as the final embodiment of the famed super-leicht, offers an opportunity that transcends mere ownership. To be associated with this Gullwing is to be linked to greatness, and to the legacy of success it represents.
Much like Michael Jordan’s final game jersey or Babe Ruth’s last home run ball, “The Last Gullwing” embodies a transcendent ideal of collecting. Possessing the “last” of something that defined an era is akin to holding a piece of history itself, a tangible link to a golden age of automotive innovation and design embodied by the mercedes 300 sl.
