1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

This 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of 1,400 Gullwing coupes built during three years of production and is noted to have left the factory on September 24, 1956, for initial delivery in Los Angeles, California. Chassis 6500242 reportedly remained in the state under the care of three different owners through the selling dealer’s purchase two years ago. Subsequent service performed in 2025 totaled over $101k and involved re-sealing the four-speed manual transmission, resurfacing the flywheel, fabricating a dual-point distributor, and replacing the fuel tank and tires. The hood and 15″ wheels were refinished, the hubcaps and bumpers were removed, and the seat cushions were re-trimmed in blue leather and plaid cloth. The car was then campaigned in the Colorado Grand and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Classic, with the director of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA, Mike Kunz, at the wheel during the former event. Wearing an older repaint in black over black leather, the coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter M198 inline-six that features Bosch direct fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication. Servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes and four-wheel independent suspension with a rear swing axle are further appointments. This W198 is now offered by the selling dealer in Newport Beach, California, with recent service records and an Arizona title.

The 300SL was developed upon the suggestion of US importer Max Hoffman that Mercedes produce a sports car to entice American buyers. The model was inspired by the company’s W194 sports racers, from which it inherited its upward-opening doors made necessary by the high sills of its lightweight tubular space frame. Introduced at the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, the production version of the 300SL utilized steel bodywork with aluminum panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, rocker panels, and floorboards.

This example is noted to have left the factory in Hellblau Metallic (DB 353) and has since been repainted in black with white number 8 roundels on the hood and decklid. The bumper guards have been removed, and Colorado Grand and 300SL Classic decals are adhered to both sides. Features include a driver-side Talbot mirror, pivot-out door handles, wheel-arch “eyebrows” without welting, fender louvers with twin horizontal chromed brass spears, and a diamond-mesh radiator screen. The hood was stripped and refinished in 2025, and flaws in the finish are shown in the gallery.

The 15″ wheels were stripped and refinished in black in 2025, at which time the hubcaps were removed and 185-series Dunlop SP Sport tires were mounted. Further work performed at that time involved sealing and refinishing the finned aluminum brake drums as well as re-lining the brake shoes and replacing the front wheel cylinders and brake hoses.

Originally delivered with red leather, the cabin has been refreshed with black leather over the seats, dash, sills, and center console. The seat cushions were re-trimmed in blue leather and plaid cloth in 2025, at which time the seat rails were cleaned and seat belt retaining brackets were installed. Features include black rubber floor mats, a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror and ashtray, and an ivory-color shift knob.

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 21k miles, approximately 2k of which have been added by the selling dealer.

Canted at an angle to allow a lower hoodline, the 3.0-liter M198 inline-six utilizes Bosch direct mechanical fuel injection and features dry-sump lubrication, an aluminum cylinder head mated to an angled block surface, a single overhead camshaft, and sodium-filled exhaust valves. Output was factory rated at 215 horsepower at 5,800 rpm. Service completed in 2025 included fabricating a dual-point distributor as well as refreshing the fluids and replacing the cold start thermostat and spark plugs. Fuel system repairs performed at that time involved servicing the sending unit as well as replacing the tank and filters.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transmission that was resealed as part of the work completed in 2025, which also included machining of the flywheel. Four-wheel independent front suspension incorporates a double-wishbone front arrangement and a dual-joint rear swing axle, with both ends utilizing coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. Additional work completed under current ownership involved replacing the U-joints, rear axle boots, driveshaft oil seal, and exhaust hangers.

A document provided by the selling dealer lists build details and is viewable in the gallery below.