MercedesGullwing

Gullwing Builds 'Em Like They Used To

Some say "they don't build 'em like they used to", but Gullwing GmbH does. The German company is still producing the classic Mercedes 300SL from the 1950s, only updated with some modern twists. Although the car looks entirely faithful to the original, underneath the chassis has been completely redesigned and fitted with a modern Mercedes 5.5-liter V8. With 405 horsepower, that's considerably more than the 215hp inline-six used in the original. But if you're a stickler for authenticity, Gullwing is working on a six-cylinder version as well, with a classic manual transmission in the place of the 7-speed automatic on the V8 model. A roadster version is likewise in the works, but Gullwing doesn't seem overly rushed. Not when the car they're building is over half a century old. They'll produce no more than 30 each year, and each example takes 10 to 18 months to build. They sell for €165,000 ($220k) apiece, which may seem like a lot compared to the $11,000 list price in 1954, but it's a relative bargain compared to the prices at which original examples are trading hands these days.

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Tags: classic gullwing, ClassicGullwing, gullwing, gullwing gmbh, GullwingGmbh, mercedes, mercedes gullwing, mercedes-benz, MercedesGullwing, retro gullwing, RetroGullwing

Benz, Bugatti & Jag at Meadow Brook Auto Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

On August 2nd, RM Auctions will sell of a stunning selection of classic cars, including a coveted Mercedes-Benz Gullwing (above), at the annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Élegance in Michigan. The event takes place at Meadow Brook Hall, the historic 110-room Tudor Revival mansion built in the 1920s by auto heiress Matilda Dodge Wilson. In May, RM set a world record by selling the 1961 Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn which we wrote about for $11 million.

The Mercedes, a beautiful black 1956 300SL, is estimated at $575,000 - $675,000. We prefer it to the other, slightly more expensive Mercedes on offer, a 1936 500K three-position drophead coupe by Corsica, est. $600,000 - $750,000. Also included in the stunning sale: a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe, est. $475,000 - $575,000; a 1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan by Castagna, similar to the one featured in Sunset Boulevard, est. $400,000 - $600,000; and a 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster, est. $80,000 - $110,000. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: RM Meadow Brook