This Bonkers Custom Mercedes-Benz 300CE With Gullwing Doors Could Be Yours for $300,000

Brabus has nothing on Hartmut Boschert.

In the market for a late-1980s Mercedes-Benz 300CE that stands out? What about an extremely rare custom example with gullwing doors? You’re in luck because RM Sotheby’s is auctioning off a Boschert B300 Gullwing late next month in Munich.

The outrageous coupe is the handiwork of Hartmut Boschert. After becoming enamored by tuner Styling-Garage’s 500SGS Gullwing from earlier in the decade, the German engineer decided to make one of his own using the Bruno Sacco-designed W124-generation 300CE. The project involved more than just grafting a new set of doors on the vehicle, though. In addition to performing major surgery on the vehicle’s roof structure, the engineer also shortened its wheelbase by nearly 10 inches and replaced its front end with that from an R129 SL Class.

The resulting B300 Gullwing was then finished in a coat of sparkling Bornite and adorned with special Boschert badging to make sure no one mistook it for a stock Mercedes. The engineer also made some tweaks to the interior, swapping out the front seats for those from the SL-Class and covering them and the rear bench in two-tone purple leather.

Boschert also applied his subtle touch to the powertrain. The B300 Gullwing is still powered by the 300CE’s 3.2-liter inline-six, but it’s been outfitted with twin turbochargers that boost output from 180 hp to 283 hp, according to the auction house. No mention of a transmission is made, but the stock 300CE came with a five-speed manual gearbox. It appears to be in excellent condition, having been treated to around $30,000 of repair and detail work earlier this year.

Boschert took the B300 to the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show in an attempt to drum up interest in his creation. It doesn’t appear to have worked, though. The engineer had planned to produce 300 examples of the B300, but only ended up building a handful, of which this is believed to be the only one with gullwing doors. This exclusivity may help explain why RM Sotheby’s expects the car to fetch between $265,000 and $315,000 when it crosses the auction block on November 25. That may sound like a lot to some, but it’s a lot less than a more famous Mercedes gullwing goes for.

Click here for more photos of the Boschert B300 Gullwing.