1955 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Papillon"

• Factory installed aluminium engine block and sport camshafts 

• One of the best driving Gullwings there is 

• Incredibly documented (racing!) history 

Let’s be honest. For every kid who once sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through glossy car magazines and dreaming of speed, this was the one. The spaceship on wheels. The poster on the bedroom wall. The machine that didn’t whisper performance — it shouted it. Loud and proud. With doors that opened like the entrance to another world. Even at a standstill, the 300 SL Gullwing looked like it was moving. And when those iconic doors swing upward? Time stands still. Hearts race. In that moment, you’re not stepping into a car — you’re stepping into a dream. But make no mistake — this 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing doesn’t just look the part. It lived the part. This is no pampered garage queen. This is a machine with stories to tell. Of racetracks and long-distance rallies. Of passionate custodians who knew exactly what they had. With one of the most complete and fascinating histories we’ve ever seen, this Gullwing isn’t just legendary — it’s alive. 

Completed at the factory on January 10th, 1955, it was originally delivered in Fire Red (DB 534) over a black interior — a bold, captivating combination it still proudly wears today. And while many Gullwings come with impressive specs, this car’s story is what sets it apart. In 1971, under the ownership of Herr Hermann Quint in Connecticut, a defining decision was made. Rather than settling for a routine service at the local shop, Quint did the unthinkable: he sent the car back across the Atlantic, straight to Stuttgart — the very heart of Mercedes-Benz. Why? Because he understood that a car of this calibre deserved nothing less than factory-level care. The result? A full rebuild by Mercedes-Benz themselves, including — as confirmed by the original invoice — the installation of a lightweight aluminium engine block and sport camshafts. No compromises. Just excellence. 

Fast forward to 1978: enter M. John Olsen, editor and publisher of the SL Market Letter — one of the most respected voices in the Mercedes-Benz world. The fact that Olsen, a connoisseur in every sense of the word, chose this Gullwing speaks volumes. But Olsen wasn’t just a writer — he was a driver. A purist. A man who believed in the soul of a car. He didn’t just own this Gullwing — he lived it. He drove it. He raced it. He bonded with it. His handwritten letters, still accompanying the car today, speak of a relationship measured not in specs, but in emotion. Under his stewardship, this Gullwing earned a motorsport résumé that reads like a greatest hits album. In 1983, it crossed the U.S. in the legendary Cannonball Run, finishing third overall — behind only two modern machines. In 1986, it thundered through Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historic Races, finishing second out of thirty 300 SLs. And in 1987, it conquered the Mille Miglia with Tom Warth, founder of Classic Motor Books, in the passenger seat. It made headlines — literally. Then came 1988. The car moved into the hands of yet another figurehead in the Mercedes-Benz world: Alex Dearborn, founder of the Dearborn Automobile Company. Yet again, a true enthusiast who had to have this Gullwing. Drawn, no doubt, by its provenance, pace, and undeniable aura. Without hesitation, Dearborn entered the car in the Elkhart Lake Road America 300 SL Grand Prix — and won. First place. Proof, once more, that this was no museum piece. It was, and is, a racer. By 1990, it was acquired by Herbert Chambers, whose prestigious collection focused on cars with both pedigree and soul. The original sales invoice is still on file — part of an extensive archive that accompanies the car to this day. That archive includes race photos, judging sheets, press clippings, service history, and, perhaps most special of all, Olsen’s personal correspondence. A documentation package as rich, credible, and complete as the car itself. Today, the Gullwing resides in Belgian hands. Its current custodian ensured that the car received the attention it deserves before being offered for sale. Our in-house workshop carried out a complete mechanical overhaul worth over €10,000 — including a full brake system rebuild (master cylinder, servo, pumps, lines), a restored generator, four new tyres, and a comprehensive service. The result? A Gullwing that feels every bit as thrilling as it looks. From the moment the engine fires, the car comes alive. The lowered stance. The firm sport suspension. The metallic snarl of that alloy block. This is no sleepy classic. It’s tight, alert, responsive — a mechanical symphony in motion. Behind the wheel, it’s not just a drive. It’s a dialogue with history. 

But what truly sets this Gullwing apart isn’t just the provenance or the condition. It’s the way it makes you feel. The adrenaline. The grip of the wheel. The howl of the engine climbing through the revs. That rare, electric combination of mechanical brilliance and childhood wonder.This isn’t just a Mercedes-Benz. It isn’t just a 300 SL. It’s an icon. A legend. A living piece of motorsport history — ready for its next chapter. For the dreamer. The purist. The driver who never stopped believing — your moment is now. Available at Rock ’N Roll Classics.