Rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Sold for Record $6.825 Million at RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale Auction

An ultra-rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing soared to new heights last week as it sold for $6.8 million at the RM Sotheby's Scottsdale auction in Arizona, setting a new record for the iconic model.

Although bids for the prized coupe failed to reach the low pre-auction estimate of $7 million, the final hammer price was still enough to vault the rare 300 SL example into the top spot for Gullwings. It easily defeated the previous record of a fellow '55 Alloy Gullwing that netted $4.2 million at the Gooding & Company's Scottsdale auction back in 2012.

The record figure is to be expected given the four wheeler's rarity. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz Alloy Gullwing, which holds a Chassis number 5500332, is nicknamed the "Weckerlé Alloy." The Aluminum-bodied coupe is one of only 24 that were built by Mercedes-Benz in the year 1955 and is considered to be one of the rarest production cars of all time. Mercedes-Benz chose to use an aluminum body for this coupe to reduce its weight to gain an advantage in racing competitions.

Auctioned Gullwing retained most of its original features

What makes this vehicle even more rare is that it is one of only a handful to retain most of its original features. The auctioned Gullwing has the authentic alloy body and factory-correct livery, and also sports a high-speed 3.42 rear axle, numbers-matching 3.0-liter NSL inline-6 engine, front spindles and Rudge wheels. Its gearbox, however, has been replaced with an identical unit from a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

The Weckerlé Alloy also underwent a meticulous restoration by Paul Russell & Company which was completed in late 1979. Apart from refreshing the body and mechanical components of the car, the team added new gaberdine upholstery as well as a matching set of luggage to the Gullwing.

Paul Russell & Company was later recognized because of its impeccable work in restoring the Gullwing. The revamped Weckerlé Alloy was named "Best Gullwing" at the Gullwing Group's 1980 National Meeting. The vintage Merc went on to appear at shows, rallies, and events all across the country.

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What makes this Gullwing such a prized catch?

While all 24 Alloy Gullwings that were made in 1955 still exist right now, very few of them come to market, making this Weckerlé Alloy a prized commodity for buyers. That is the main reason why this aluminum variant is nearly five times more valuable than its fellow standard steel vehicles. For example, a steel-bodied 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL sporting its original engine sold for just $1.7 million at the same RM Sotheby's auction, a far cry from the winning record bid for the Alloy Gullwing .

To put the Gullwing's $6.8 million price into perspective, its original cost back in the 1950s was just $6,820, which is around $71,000 when adjusted for inflation. That means the coupe's value has jumped nearly 10,000 percent.

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