Sometimes black, often silver, almost never green. Those were our exact thoughts when we came across this fine piece of automotive history on the Classic Driver Market. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is perhaps the finest of all collectable sports cars. A Ferrari 250 GT Lusso may be faster, and a Porsche 356 might be easier to live with, but nothing even comes close to the sheer elegance and decadence of this mid-50s machine.
This particular example has to be one of the very few that left the factory finished in DB 274 Light Green, a subtle hue of the renowned unlucky shade that extenuates the curvaceous bodywork perfectly. In certain angles, the paint gives off almost a matte finish, allowing the chrome accents peppered around the exterior to gleam even brighter, something the SL was famous for back when it was launched in 1954. An extremely expensive car even in its standard configuration at launch, this SL’s original owner clearly wanted it all, and opted for the Rudge centre-locked wheels, a $350 optional extra back in 1955, that’s nearly $4,000 in today’s money!
Whilst we could sit and stare at the exterior all day, it’s the interior of this example that took our breath away. Lift those famous gullwing doors and you'll be greeted with a jamboree of leather, chrome and ivory. One would assume green on both the exterior and interior could be too much for such an elegant car, but the Gullwing’s unique steering wheel placement and the haberdashery of dials help the verdant leather cabin to feel inviting and effortlessly stylish. If the intoxicating sound of the M198 straight-six becomes too much, occupants have the option to fire up the original Becker Le Mans stereo, also a costly optional extra when the car was new. However, we’d want to take in every sight and sound of this golden-era gran tourer!
Another addition that makes this particular Gullwing even more special is the optional luggage set that is fitted within the car. There are few cars that ooze style quite like a 300 SL Gullwing, so to find one in such a unique colour combination is a real rarity. If your collection is missing some greenery, or you want to experience Mercedes’ finest hour in motoring, this is the one to have!
