If you haven’t yet seen this internet sensation, you probably will have no idea what the headline or name is associated with; the image likely won’t help. Sure, it’s got Gullwing doors and the rough profile of a C124, but what’s going on here? Well, in an effort to make the C124 even cooler, Hartmut Boschert threw the Mercedes-Benz parts bin and some trick components at one. This was the result; an R129-borrowed front and and seats grafted on to the 300CE, a relocated C-pillar, and…oh yeah, those doors. Not done, Boschert added two turbochargers to the motor. The result is one of the craziest – and coolest – period modded Mercedes-Benz models not sporting an AMG badge.
Mercedes-Benz has an interesting habit of giving names to the colors but having them look nothing like you would expect. Just recently I looked at a 2005 S600 finished in Designo Graphite Green Metallic but as you can see, there is nothing in that shade of color that shows green. It is all graphite for sure, but green? Nothing. Today, we have another one of those colors with this 2013 SLS AMG GT that is finished Designo Cashmere Pearl. Just looking at the color, I’m not seeing anything that would tell me that is cashmere or pearl. Strange, right? Well, this one might have an explanation.
Fewer cars assimilate better in a (literal) sea of eight-figure yachts and apartments than the winged wonder itself, the 300SL Gullwing. Anyone in Monaco can buy an Aventador, 812 Superfast, or Veyron, ride around the entire time in first gear, and call themselves a connoisseur of fine automobiles. The exact opposite of that is true in those cases, and a very quick remedy of that is today’s car, a 1956 300SL Gullwing in Strawberry Red Metallic. This is a car with style and taste, although the exhaust doesn’t backfire and shoot flames when driving past various casinos. Also, it is extremely expensive to purchase, maintain, repair, insure, and really hard to get in and out of wearing anything other than athletic clothes. Still, it is worth all those sacrifices and more.
Over 65 years later, this 300SL continues to amaze. There is a reason why it is the only car with a production number over 1,000 that commands seven-figure price tags. Each one of them is special in their own way and some will argue it is up there with the greatest cars ever produced. These cars are not for the faint of heart or those with the tight wallet. Despite having full factory support from Mercedes-Benz and a very active community, they don’t change hands all that often. Public sales are few and far between given the production numbers, and when they do sell, it’s usually in the headlines.
This 1955 up for sale in California is said to have been been in private hands for the past 40 years and taking a look at it, I could buy it – the story, at least. This is not a restored car or even an all that well maintained one judging by the description, but that doesn’t seem to deter this well-known dealer asking the moon for it.
Here is a special one. This is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing AMG. You are probably thinking to yourself that ”300SL Gullwing” and ”AMG” don’t go together and up until the year 1996, you would be correct. That is because in 1996, AMG began taking original W198 Gullwing and Roadsters, and putting modern AMG drivetrains and interiors in them. Who thought this was a good idea? The Royal Family of Brunei. Remember him? According to AMG, 11 of these cars were produced from 1996 to 2008 with five going to the Royal Family and the other six going to qualified AMG customers. The rumored price tag at the time was over €1,000,000 thanks to AMG literally having to rebuild these cars from a bare metal shell.
This 1955 model that was converted in 2000 is one of only two right hand drive cars built. It was imported to Japan when the conversion was wrapped up and has been with its only owner ever since. Now it is coming up for auction in Tokyo, Japan soon. But first, lets take a look at what exactly a 300SL Gullwing AMG is:
