Here’s a clear case of last but not least.
A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, which was the final example of the iconic model to roll off the line, will be auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s later this month in Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, the “Last One,” as the red coupé has been dubbed, is expected to draw a seven-figure sum.
There are few cars in automotive history that have mixed beauty and brawn like the 300 SL. Built on the same lightweight spaceframe chassis as the legendary W194 endurance racer, and utilizing a modified version of its six-cylinder engine, the model was basically a road-going race car topped with one of the most elegant bodies of all time. To top things off, only 1,4000 examples of the coupé, the most memorable version of the model thanks to its gullwing doors, were built during the three years it was a production, a number small enough to make this the most coveted Merc of all time.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing “The Last One”
Forsythe Fotography/RM Sotheby’s
The “Last One” rolled off the line on May 15, 1957. Chassis no. 7500079 was a special order that would go on display at that summer’s Poznan International Trade Fair before being shipped to the U.S. in the fall. It left the factory in Fire Engine Red over Créme leather and retains the color striking color combo to this day.
The car has clearly been kept in good shape over the year, as seen by the fact that it’s still home to its numbers-matching chassis, engine, gearbox, and front kingpins, according to the auction listing. The mill is a 3.0-liter straight six that produces 240 hp and 217 ft lbs of torque, all of which is sent to the rear axle by a four-speed manual. It can accelerate to 62 mph in under 10 seconds and tops out at 163 mph should its new owner feel like pushing it to the max.
Inside the 300 SL Gullwing “The Last One”
Forsythe Fotography/RM Sotheby’s
The “Last One” is scheduled to go up for bid on Friday, November 24, during amfAR’s Gala at Wynn Las Vegas. RM Sotheby’s, which is overseeing the sale, has high hopes for the gorgeous speed machine. The auction house expects it to sell for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million. That’s certainly a lot, but that wouldn’t even make this the most expensive 300 SL sold this fall.
Click here for more photos of the final 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
Forsythe Fotography/RM Sotheby’s
