Car restorers crave the opportunity to get their hands on a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. And understandably so, only 1,400 were built and if done right, a great restoration can make your career in the restoration world. But for some who attempt a restore on the iconic Mercedes, it can create a backlash from those who don’t believe in straying from the original.
One of the latest resto/mods was done on a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, heading to the auction block at RM Auctions in Monaco on May 10 wasn’t done by a third party, it was completed by Mercedes AMG themselves.
AMG didn’t just give the iconic Gullwing an overhaul, paintjob and a new set of wheels, they did complete reworking of every mechanical system on the car. Gone are the awkward rear swing-arms, replaced instead by a new five-link suspension system from a modern SL. Disc brakes all around, necessary to contain the 380 hp, 428 lb-ft 6.0-liter V8. The 6.0-liter engine likely came from a SL60 AMG while the brakes, along with the Bilstein shocks, were taken from a C63 AMG. Not left out of the update were the wheels, replaced with five-spoke AMG wheels with low-profile tires.
The vintage leatherwork or tartan fabric on the 300 SL has been removed to make way for a set of new Recaro seats.
It leaves us wondering, why did Mercedes decide to restore and modify the SL in such a modern way instead of sending it over to the Mercedes-Benz Classic for a restore? Looks like credit goes to the Sultan of Brunei who ordered a half-dozen resto/mod 300 SL’s. AMG then sold another five to other buyers.
For more info on the auction, visit RM Auctions.
