The last of a legendary breed: 1957s Mercedes-Benz 300SL with gullwing

Nowadays, you can spot many supercars and incredibly powerful cars on the road, and how major automakers have been actively involved in producing electric and hybrid performance cars to be in tandem with the green environment initiative and also to ease the cost of rising fuels.

Though the coupes from yesteryears did not have such technological advantages as the cars would have these days, the 1957s Mercedes-Benz 300SL with gullwing doors have been considered the last of the legendary breed, the rarest of all Gullwings, and among the most difficult to acquire today.

This example going on auction was first introduced in 1954 and it was most distinguishable by the shape of its upward opening doors. Under the hood, the car is powered by a 212 horsepower, direct injection straight-six engine, making it the fastest production car of its time. It comes as no surprise that why some sources would cite the 300SL as “the world’s first supercar.”

In 2017, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL with “gullwing” in metallic black finish was sold for over $1.3 million in a top classic car auction held by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey. This year, the auction house will put up another similar lot, which is a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL with “gullwing” doors for sale, except that it’s complete in bright red finish.

This car only had three owners in its life, and only four more of these were built after this bright red example came off the production line, plus it had the last change of owners in 1967.

The classic car had been largely unrestored with the majority of its original paint still intact and the most original example remained with just 36,375 miles (last clocked in 1968), and no more have been added over the last 40 years. Also, much of the black colour has faded away from the leather seats over the years and the same leather that came with the car originally, is no longer available.

(Source: RM Sotheby’s)