The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing needs no introduction; it has been a favorite among automotive enthusiasts, competitive drivers, and a vast majority of the general public around the world since it was first introduced 70 years ago. It has been included on countless Top 10 lists of the greatest automobiles of all time, and its radical, timeless design has come to utterly define the essence of a sports car. Author and preeminent automotive historian Griffith Borgeson wrote of the 300 SL for Sports Cars Illustrated magazine in 1956: “After exhaustive road testing of a standard 300SL, after driving impressions in a race-tuned version and interviews with several owners and specialist technicians, I’m ready to haul off and make a flat, unequivocal statement: This is the finest production sports car in the world. No exceptions, no qualifications. On all critical counts, it scores.”

Just 1,400 examples of the Gullwing were built for public enjoyment, with the vast majority being imported to the US where an enthusiastic public swarmed Mercedes-Benz agencies to catch a glimpse. A far smaller subset was fortunate to take one home; among those was Dr. Glen Smith Harman of California, who bought the example offered here, together with a 300 S, on the same day in December 1955. A physician residing in the San Francisco Bay area, Dr. Harman drove his Gullwing regularly. According to the service book stubs, he accumulated some 44,000 miles by the end of the 1950s, and over 130,000 miles by the end of 1967. His exacting nature – so crucial in his professional life – is mirrored in the care he afforded his 300 SL, and he kept fastidious records of services performed along with hundreds of receipts for factory parts, large and small, purchased from his local Mercedes-Benz dealer over the decades. His detailed notes are compiled chronologically, with procedures and technical tips handwritten with dedication. Charmingly, his medical training led to his use of the terms anterior and posterior when referring to the ends of a particular part.

An engine rebuild in 1973 was performed by local 300 SL expert Rudi Geipel, and retrimming of the red leather interior was lovingly done by fellow Gull Wing Group member Chad Hunt at his home-based upholstery shop. In 1986, the Gullwing was repainted in its original White (DB 50), and records indicate that the exterior chrome was replated during this period as well. In short, Dr. Harman was the consummate Mercedes-Benz owner, and it is obvious he firmly believed that the proper maintenance of a quality item would enable it to provide a lifetime of faithful service. Doctor Harman continued to enjoy his prized Mercedes-Benz until his passing in 1999.

In 2003, his wife Lillian hand-chose the car’s next caretaker, someone who she knew would treat the Gullwing with the same reverence and respect it had received since it was new. She entrusted the car to nearby Gull Wing Group member and accomplished mechanic Robert West, who would be its caretaker for the next two decades, enjoying it sparingly for club events. Mr. West gathered an additional set of rims for the car from a 300 “Adenauer,” which would allow for the installation of tubeless tires, and also made improvements to the braking system. He had a standing order that no shoes were allowed to be worn in the car, and each of his family members were instructed to drop the doors, hood, and trunk lid from a height of no more than 6" above their jambs. An insider’s test to the quality of any Gullwing; the alignment of the panels and installation of the rubber moldings should be precise enough to allow their soft closure.

The 300 SL is still wearing its pair of California black license plates (DHW 486), that were assigned to it in the early 1960s following the recall of the earlier yellow-and-black plates of the 1950s. Never offered for public sale, this 300 SL is a true standout among the examples that have come to market in years past. It retains the essence of a well-maintained Gullwing as one might have found in the early 1970s. Its survival in this state for a further half century is a testament to its inherent quality and those who have had it in their care.

Presented with its tools, manuals, the aforementioned volumes of documentation, its original steering wheel and road wheels, its delicate concave-star grille, as well as a beautiful set of original Karl Baisch fitted luggage, this California-from-new Gullwing is worthy of your closest inspection and utmost respect.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled by its engine number.