How patina works - the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL pair from the USA
06/01/2017
"I got them from my father in 1964, I didn't drive them much, I just kept them," says the now eighty-year-old owner of his two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs. In fact, they are probably the only pair of 300 SLs (Gullwing and Roadster) that are still first-hand (family-owned) and have never been restored, but have been kept in working order.
Gooding has the privilege of offering them in the Pebble Beach auction. And to announce this little sensation, the folks at Gooding & Co made a nice little movie worth watching:
The gullwing dates back to 1955 and was purchased directly from Max Hofmann in New York. With its British Racing Green paintwork and beige leather interior, it embodies a rare color combination. The gullwing was rarely driven, presumably the owner simply got too hot in the warm climate in the coupé, so that today it only has 16,000 miles on the clock.
The roadster was bought new two years later, silver-blue metallic and with a gray interior. It even has the original Karl Baisch luggage tailored to the car in the trunk. The roadster has covered 38,000 miles in exactly 60 years to date.
For high-gloss fanatics, the two 300 SLs would of course be a horror, as they look very weathered and could probably have been better preserved with continuous care. They have obviously suffered under the circumstances, but they are extraordinarily authentic and original. In comparison to some Concours SLs, on which hardly a single screw from that era remains, these cars are exactly as they were when they left the factory in Sindelfingen. It goes without saying that some of them have had to be repaired from time to time.
And how much do they cost? The Gullwing was estimated at USD 1 to 1.3 million, the Roadster at USD 800,000 to 1 million. However, it is very possible that significantly more could be offered for the two cars on August 18/19, 2017. And actually, they should neither be separated nor restored, as the current owner would like.
P.S. The pictures were taken by Brian Henniker for Gooding & Co.
