Pristine 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing goes up for grabs at the RKM Classic Car Auctions event in Abu Dhabi.
[Not a valid template]We’re back with another über desirable model from the upcoming RKM Auction in Abu Dhabi: a pristine 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. And let’s not beat around the bush, this particular Mercedes will cost you at least $1.6 million to take home. I’ll wait a second for your eyes to stop watering…
Yes, this Mercedes-Benz 300SL will leave most bank accounts trembling with anxiety, but there are several good reasons why this Gullwing would make a good investment. Firstly… well, I mean, look at it: the 300SL is no dog. And alongside those beautifully slick bodylines, striking front end ‘grin’, vibrant red leather interior and iconic doors, this ’54 model is optioned with pretty much everything, including a Nardi steering wheel. The original owner – one Leopold Poldi Bentley – saw a market for this kind of bling in America, to where he had relocated from Vienna in 1938. And if you’re going in, why not the deep end? Only Rudge wheels failed to make the list, Poldi having never seen the design before and deciding instead to stay stock.
Second, there’s the rather natty Mercedes 2996cc M198 SOHC inline-six under that enormous bonnet. Mated to a four-speed transmission, only the Sound of Music would compare favourably to the dulcet tones emanating from the exhaust. Mind you, considering the ’54 has only 45,687 actual miles (around 73,500km) on the clock, we can’t imagine the classic has been ragged that much. ‘One careful owner’ indeed.
And finally, given its near 60-year lifespan, the 300SL comes with a rich history. Having used the coupe to kickstart a Mercedes-Benz Distributor West Ltd dealership in Vancouver, Canada, Poldi passed on the Merc to a new owner in Western Canada, with whom it stayed for half a century. Between then and now, the Gullwing has received the appropriate TLC for any classic car, including a full repaint and leather overhaul from traditional Mercedes hides – as well as the occasional polish – from noted 300 SL restorer Rudi Koniczek and his team at Rudi and Company in Vancouver.
We’re sure any doubts you had of signing on the dotted line at the RKM Auction at Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on 2 November have dwindled…
For further details and lot numbers, check out the RKMCCA homepage.
