1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing estimated at $5m+ in UK auction

The ultra-rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is one of just 29 ever made

A stunning example of the highly-coveted 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is to feature in a October 31 auction in London.

The original 300SL (Mercedes W194) race car first appeared at the 1952 Mille Miglia, where it secured second and fourth places. In the same year it brought overall wins in the Le Man 24 Hours, the Eifelrennen at the Nurburgring and in Mexico's Carrera Panamericana - remarkable feats given that it produced just 175hp, far less than the other competing cars.

The successes of the car in racing, combined with its fantastic looks, soon led to the production of a road car for the post-war US market. With the roadster released in 1954, the Gullwing version became available from 1955-1957.

The alloy-bodied Gullwing at auction is the 20th of 29 examples built by the factory, and is in fantastic condition after being meticulously restored. Originally delivered in white to a Swiss industrialist, it is now finished in sought-after silver and boasts the classic red leather interior. It is expected to sell for between 2.5m and 3.2m ($4m-$5.1m).

The sale comes following Bonhams' Goodwood Revival sale on September 15, where a 1928 Mercedes S Type sold for 2.8m ($4.5m).

Also featuring in the auction will be a 1969 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Berlinetta "Tour de France", chassis 1335GT, which will sell with a 1.8m-2.4m estimate. Ferrari has seen some remarkable results at auction this year, with 14.91% increase in value in August alone according to the HAGI Top 50 Index.

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