This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of 1,400 Gullwing coupes built during a three-year production run and was completed on June 16, 1955.
Finished in silver over blue leather, it is powered by a 3.0-liter M198 inline-six that features Bosch direct fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication.
Additional equipment includes a replacement four-speed manual transmission, servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes, four-wheel independent suspension with a rear swing axle, and a Becker Mexico radio.
The 3.0-liter M198 inline-six utilizes mechanical direct Bosch fuel injection to produce a factory-rated 215 horsepower at 5,800 rpm.
Canted at an angle to allow a lower hood profile, the engine also features dry-sump lubrication, an aluminum cylinder head mated to an angled block surface, a single overhead camshaft, and sodium-filled exhaust valves.
A January 2023 service by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center included the installation of a rebuilt mechanical fuel pump, repair of a leaking oil cooler hose, draining of the fuel system, replacement of the spark plugs, and fluid changes.
Power is sent to the rear wheels by a replacement four-speed manual transmission.
The independent front suspension incorporates coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, as does the dual-joint swing axle out back.
Engine number 198.980.5500427 is shown stamped on the block and engine tag above, matching the number listed on the factory build sheet.
Chassis number 5500418 is shown stamped on the frame and chassis tag where additional stampings can be seen including body number 5500401, rear axle number 5500434, left and right front axle numbers 5500429, and steering box number 438.
The transmission pad is not stamped with a number.
This example is one of 44 coupes to leave the factory finished in Ivory (DB608) in 1955 and was refinished in its current shade of silver at some point prior to the mid-1960s.
Additional features include front and rear bumper guards, a driver-side Talbot mirror, pivot-out door handles, wheel-arch “eyebrows” without welting, and fender louvers with twin horizontal aluminum spears.
The front turn signal lenses are larger than the original units.
Silver-painted Rudge wheels secured by two-eared knock-offs are listed among options on the car’s factory build sheet.
Dunlop SP Sport tires measuring 185VR15 were mounted at each corner and on the matching trunk-mounted spare in January 2023.
The servo-assisted hydraulic braking system utilizes aluminum-finned drums all around, with duplex actuation at each front wheel.
The cabin is trimmed in blue leather (333) as specified on the factory build sheet, with color-matched loop carpeting covering the center tunnel and rear shelf and a cream headliner that meets the leather trim at the top of the A and B pillars.
Features include latch-and-link lap belts, black rubber floor mats, an aftermarket shifter and boot, a dash-mounted rearview mirror, and a Becker Mexico radio.
The two-spoke, ivory-color steering wheel can be pivoted downward at its hub to facilitate entry and exit for the driver.
A body-color dash fascia hosts VDO instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a windup clock, and gauges monitoring fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and oil temperature.
The five-digit odometer shows 79k miles.
