
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
€1,073,750 EUR | Sold
Offered from the Poster Car Collection
- Offered from the Poster Car Collection
- The first Gullwing delivered to Sweden; amongst the first customer Gullwings delivered worldwide
- Campaigned in events in Scandinavia when new, including the 1955 Helsinki Grand Prix
- Highly original, including its original engine and bodywork
- Arguably the most compelling Gullwing offered in recent memory
This early Gullwing benefits from a fascinating history and retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and body. Thanks to research compiled by 300 SL historian Eric Le Moine and Björn Tiedemann, the rich history of this early Gullwing, chassis no. 4500034, has finally been uncovered. The first 300 SL delivered to Sweden, this car was amongst the earliest Gullwings delivered to a private customer. It was finished in silver paint over an interior of Tissu blue (L1), the iconic blue leather with plaid fabric inserts, before being distributed in late October 1954 to Philipsons Automobil in Stockholm.
Its first owner was Olle Perssons, and the car was registered W 32800 in January 1955. Mr Perssons entered the Mercedes-Benz in numerous races, including the Rally of the Midnight Sun and the 1955 Helsinki Grand Prix. That same year, Perssons set a Swedish ice record with the Gullwing on Lake Varpen, achieving 188.8 km/h. Later that year Perssons purchased a second Mercedes-Benz that became his primary racing car.
By the winter of 1956, Perssons sold the Gullwing to Sölve Relve of Gothenburg, who registered the car in early December 1956 as O 72706. Chassis no. 4500034’s third owner was Harry Tilgmann, also of Gothenburg, who purchased the car from Sölve Relve’s estate following Relve’s tragic passing in a car accident. The car was painted ivory, and at one point it was involved in a road accident in the late 1960s in his ownership and was shipped to Germany to be rebuilt.
In 1972 the Gullwing was exported out of Sweden by David Piper along with the Ferrari 750 Monza chassis no. 0500M and sold directly Hans Hürlimann of Wil, Switzerland. Four years later it returned to Sweden when it was purchased by Fleming Uziel, who used the car in events in both his native Sweden and Germany. Uziel owned the car until 1989, when it passed to Kjell and Mirre Gustafsson of Gothenburg, who owned the car for four years.
Returning to Germany, the Gullwing successively passed through the collections of two German enthusiasts, initially Guenter Kalthoff of Grainau, and then Hans Kleissl of Polling, a principal of HK Engineering (where the car was comprehensively restored during the 1990s). Afterwards, it participated in the Mille Miglia Storico on two separate occasions. In late 2012, the Gullwing was acquired by its current owner, a collector in the UK who commissioned a freshening that included the installation of new wheel cylinders, a new under-tray set, and a new gearbox.
Thanks to extensive research, chassis no. 4500034 is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating Gullwings offered in recent memory and would be a thrilling addition to any collection.


