Universally recognized as a design and engineering masterpiece, the Mercedes- Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe firmly ranks among the finest postwar European sports cars and was based upon the W194 competition coupes which convincingly returned Mercedes-Benz to racing and dominated the 1952 international racing season. In 1954, when New York-based importer Max Hoffman announced the refined version of the 300 SL race car that would soon be available to the public, orders flooded in. The interest was not only from sportsmen with an eye toward a serious competitive edge on local racetracks, but in large part from well-heeled members of society looking for something sophisticated and completely new to stand apart.

This Gullwing, chassis 7500075, the fifth from the last to be built, was originally finished in Weissgrau (White-Gray, DB 158) over a red leather interior. The car’s first recorded owner was Priscilla Jackson of Texas, but its next owner, Richard Wibbelsman, believes that she was likely widowed and assumed ownership following the passing of her husband. Mr. Wibblesman recently fondly recalled his time with 7500075, having nicknamed the Gullwing “The Thunderbus” – a humorous reference to the car’s tendency to come alive above 3,000 rpm. In 1973, the Delaware resident discovered a classified advertisement for this Gullwing for sale in Colorado. Securing the potential deal with a $1,000 deposit, he excitedly made the trip to the Rocky Mountains. Smitten with the car as expected, which had been repainted in a forest green metallic, but still with its Weissgrau dash, he completed the purchase. With a friend along, they spent the next 27 hours driving – at speeds often topping 110 mph – back to Delaware, with six cases of Coors beer on the parcel shelf. In those days, the now ubiquitous brew was not yet available east of the Mississippi River. Mr. Wibbelsman and his wife kept the Gullwing until 1978, when it was sold for $15,000, nearly doubling its purchase price.

The Gullwing soon made its way to Southern California, where it was enjoyed by three enthusiasts; first, Michael Wallace of Hollywood refinished the car in red and had the interior retrimmed in black. It was then enjoyed for four years by Herb Wiener and his son Marty, who sold it to Horst Osterkamp of Beverly Hills in the early 1980s. In his care, Osterkamp added a set of fitted luggage, and entrusted the car to the respected 300 SL specialist Scott Grundfor for several months-worth of restorative work. Mr. Osterkamp recently relayed his enjoyment of driving the car around Los Angeles, as well as regret over having sold the Gullwing in 1988.

Sports Car Market records its sale at auction in April 1999, still finished in red over black, to its next private owner, with whom it would remain for more than a quarter century. In 2008, the Gullwing was sent to Legendary Motorcar Company of Ontario, Canada for an extensive, body-off restoration including an engine rebuild and a retrim of the interior, returning it to its originally specified red leather. Following the work, the 300 SL was occasionally displayed by the owner, before a long period of private display and storage.

A recent review of the Gullwing’s stampings indicates that it retains its matching-numbers engine as well as its numbered rear end and front axle carriers, as they match its factory build record, though the gearbox was replaced with another 1957 unit at some point in the car’s life. In the hands of the current owner, the Gullwing has been substantially refurbished, again by the experienced specialists at Legendary Motorcar Company, which included a color change to Dunkelblau (Dark Blue, DB 904), which perfectly accents the red leather interior. The work has addressed most every cosmetic aspect of the car, including a thorough refresh of the engine bay, suspension, brightwork, and the underside, which is fitted with a beautifully finished set of belly pans. The wheels are finished in body color to the outer lip and shod with Michelin XWX tires, giving the Gullwing the perfect sporting stance. Superbly presented and sparkling throughout, this extremely late-production 300 SL Gullwing is a true standout, available publicly for the first time in 27 years.