1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for Charity
Presentation
This 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of 1,400 Gullwing coupes built during three years of production and was completed in January 1956 before being delivered to Hamburg, Germany, as dealership inventory or for demonstration use. One month later, chassis 5500869 was returned to the factory for the addition of radio equipment and a windshield washer before being shipped to Montevideo, Uruguay, where it is said to have been displayed at the International Automobile Show of Montevideo. The car was then delivered to its first private owner, a member of Uruguay’s Terra family, who is said to have retained it until its 1973 sale to a Uruguayan collector and vintage racing driver. A subsequent refurbishment performed over 30 years with the same owner is said to have included an overhaul of the 3.0-liter M198 inline-six to NSL specification, the addition of 15” Rudge wheels, conversion of the rear axle to a 3.64:1 ratio, removal of the bumpers, a color change to silver, and the installation of a mahogany and aluminum steering wheel. After being imported to the US in 2002, the car was purchased in 2005 by marque specialists Rudi & Company, who performed further refurbishment work including an additional repaint in silver, the application of blue decals in the style of a period factory team livery, and a re-trim of the interior in blue vinyl and plaid cloth. It was then purchased in 2008 by its current owner, who has since driven it in events including the Drive of Champions benefiting the Calgary Police Youth Foundation. Additional features include Bosch direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, a four-speed manual transmission, servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes, and four-wheel independent suspension with a rear swing axle. This W198 is now offered at no reserve by the seller, a BaT Local Partner, on behalf of its owner in Calgary, Alberta, with copies of its factory data cards, invoices from current ownership, a two-piece matching luggage set, and Alberta registration. The winning bid, including the BaT buyer’s fee, will be donated to the Trellis Society and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Development of the 300SL was spurred by US importer Max Hoffman’s suggestion that Mercedes produce a sports car appealing to the American market. The model inherited several design elements from the company’s W194 sports racers, including upward-opening doors made necessary by a high-silled lightweight tubular space frame. Introduced at the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, the production version of the 300SL utilized steel bodywork with aluminum panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, rocker panels, and floorboards.
Originally finished in light blue metallic, this example was repainted in silver during the refurbishment that was initiated in the 1970s, at which time its bumpers were removed. The car was again repainted in silver during the 2005 refurbishment by Rudi & Company in Victoria, British Columbia, which also included the application of blue vinyl spears over the fenders and a Mercedes-Benz laurel logo on the hood inspired by liveries used on the W194 factory team racers. A cosmetic freshening performed in 2026 by Coachwerks Restoration, previously Rudi & Company, included a repaint of the hood and one of the rocker panels following repairs to the latter. A paint protective film was then applied, and the vinyl decals were refitted over the film. Features include pivot-out door handles, wheel-arch “eyebrows,” and fender louvers with twin horizontal aluminum spears.
Rudge wheels were added during the refurbishment performed beginning in the 1970s and were refinished in silver during work performed by Coachwerks Restoration in Victoria, British Columbia, in 2026. Michelin XWX tires measuring 205/70VR15 are mounted at each corner, while a matching spare housed in the trunk is wrapped in Dunlop rubber. The servo-assisted hydraulic braking system utilizes aluminum-finned drums all around, with duplex actuation at each front wheel. The wheel cylinders were replaced in 2023, while the driver-side rear brake line was replaced in 2024.
The cabin is said to have been re-trimmed in black leather in lieu of its original gray shade during the refurbishment started in the 1970s and was again re-upholstered in its current combination of blue vinyl and blue plaid cloth in 2005. Additional features include blue square-weave carpeting covered by black and tan Coco Mats, latch-and-link lap belts, and a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror and ashtray.
The mahogany-rimmed, aluminum-spoke steering wheel is said to have been supplied by Nardi and installed during the refurbishment performed beginning in the 1970s along with a matching mahogany shift knob. A body-color dash fascia hosts VDO instrumentation including a 270-km/h speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a windup clock, and gauges monitoring fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and oil temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 7k kilometers (~4,300 miles), approximately 6,500 of which have been added under current ownership.
Seller Video
Bids & Comments
EpicMC 1407
Nov 1, 2026 · 21:35
Does the installed radio work?
EpicMC
Bid
Nov 1, 2026 · 21:00
Bid in the amount of $1,001,000
Nov 1, 2026 · 03:51
To the owner, thank you! Greed and selfishness abounds all around and then you see this! I wish I had the money, not only to bid the just price but to add a matching contribution to this worthy cause!! Reality strikes, reminding me to settle down, drive my 190SL as if it was a gullwing ( I really should not complain!)
This posting should inspire all to give, even if just a little, to worthy causes all around us. And what a great 300SL. My lifelong dream
This posting should inspire all to give, even if just a little, to worthy causes all around us. And what a great 300SL. My lifelong dream
Oct 31, 2026 · 03:49
@Hoppy18 My "opinion" was just a matter of practical accounting.. Perhaps it was not essential to the potential bidders of million dollar cars, but I thought it was applicable. Although I have owned a 300SL, these bidders are probably more knowledgeable than me regarding tax matters.
Oct 31, 2026 · 01:42
We love our Canadien neighbors!
Oct 30, 2026 · 14:45
“Lift pump” is more commonly known as the mechanical fuel pump attached to the side of the injection pump. Its an expensive part!!
lromanosky (The Seller)
Oct 30, 2026 · 10:42
@Dover1112. We have the belly pans, but apart from that, the auction contains just what you see in the photographs. The other parts are probably in still in Uruguay somewhere...
Oct 30, 2026 · 09:15
@seller indeed I am watching. To get to values comparable to the one last week, that we all (except one person), thought got “all the money” well before the final bid, we will need the original bits - wheels, 5 lug drums, bumpers just from what I can see. Are those available?
lromanosky (The Seller)
Oct 30, 2026 · 08:05
lromanosky (The Seller)
Oct 30, 2026 · 08:04
Gentlemen, you missed the last one so here is another chance at glory... @Go433Loops
@motorcar_collector
@MMurgado
@shalizi
@motorcar_collector
@MMurgado
@shalizi
Oct 30, 2026 · 07:42
WOW! Nothing but pure class from the seller here! Cheers mate!!
Oct 30, 2026 · 04:57
To the owner: you are not just making a great action giving this car for charity, you are also inviting others to do the same. World needs more people like you.
Oct 30, 2026 · 00:47
Oct 29, 2026 · 03:40
@the_car_museum: Canadian tax rules are different than the Florida example you gave. Unless you have an exceptionally high income, a gift like this wouldn't be done for tax reasons. It's done because you believe in helping others and are in a position to do so.
Oct 29, 2026 · 02:42
I've had the good fortune to have put in a few hours behind the wheel of this car and can say it's a wonderful car to drive. The new buyer will not be disappointed. I know the owner well and can confirm, he is a absolute gem of a human being and two exceptionally worthy causes are going to benefit from his generosity.
lromanosky (The Seller)
Oct 29, 2026 · 00:03
@55RYX I had a chance to carefully examine the gearbox, take photos of the markings, and do a bit of research... I am not a 300sl expert, but it looks like there is a later 300sl Roadster gearbox in this car. The casting date appears to be 12 62 and the gearbox number is in sequence with late 300sl Roadster production. The Roadsters had similar gear ratios to the Gullwings but used helical gears for quieter operation. The GWs used semi-straight cut gears that were known to be noisy in the first 3 gears. We are not sure about why the gearbox was changed - preference or warranty/service replacement - and there is no mention of it in the documentation we have. It works well though.
lromanosky (The Seller)
Oct 28, 2026 · 23:09
@sl600sl560. The data card indicates an original colour combination of (DB)353 which is a light blue metallic and 955 for the interior which is light grey leather.
Oct 28, 2026 · 19:09
Incredibly generous donor, and for some great causes. Canadians are very fortunate to have such a tremendous and caring health care system, as well as the tremendous and caring people like this who support it.
Oct 28, 2026 · 10:15
I donated and raffled off one of my motorcycles for victims of the wildfires in Fort McMurray in 2016, and I did the same with a considerable part of my whisky collection for victims of the Jasper wildfires in 2024. The best part of those experiences was the people that I met along the way. Some wanted to thank me, some wanted to commiserate and some just wanted to chat. It was great. I decided that being a philanropist must be the absolute best career, and I sure would like to be in a position to donate a multimillion dollar car for a good cause. I just need the multimillions... Huge respect to the owners for offering the much needed funds to such worthy organizations.
Oct 28, 2026 · 09:32
was this originally DB353??
Oct 28, 2026 · 05:47
Great cause, thank you from a fellow Calgarian for doing great work for our city :)
Oct 28, 2026 · 05:02
I come here for car information, not accounting information.
Oct 28, 2026 · 04:38
Can we get a clarification on the Import duties and tariffs please?
Oct 28, 2026 · 02:06
Absolutely stunning! The light interior really makes it pop compared to the normal black. The plaid seats and primary photo make me see taking this car on an afternoon picnic drive through a personal vineyard.
Oct 28, 2026 · 01:58
Outstanding to have C.P.A.'s on board for wisdom and counsel....
Oct 28, 2026 · 01:19
One more tax issue to consider. If you purchase this over its actual value, you cannot write off the extra amount you paid on your US taxes as a gift to charity unless you have as much income as you intend to write off that was earned in Canada. Oh, how many of us wish we were in that tax situation on a car that likely will top $2M...!
Oct 28, 2026 · 00:19
Well, here's the next contestant!
Oct 28, 2026 · 00:18
@trusted_one Funny, I do happen to have an extra 300SL Gullwing just laying around lmao
Oct 27, 2026 · 22:24
Hats off to the person bidding in seven figures and handing out free tax advice before their second coffee on a Friday morning.
Oct 27, 2026 · 19:43
Awesome car and awesome gesture to donate the proceeds to charity. Hope it brings multi-millions $$$.
Oct 27, 2026 · 18:50
@the_car_museum - I hear you. I used the term because IMCARS used the term in his original post.
the_car_museum
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 18:18
Bid in the amount of $1,000,000
Oct 27, 2026 · 18:16
@Ohdannyboy It bothers me when people minimize someone’s generosity by saying, “He gets a write-off.” In the U.S., donations are a deduction of gross income, not a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. I don’t know Canadian tax law, but take a Florida example, where there’s no state personal income tax. Say he paid $600,000 in 2008 and sells for $2 million. Scenario 1- Keep the proceeds: About $445,000 in taxes on the $1.4 million gain, leaving roughly $1.55 million before selling expenses. Scenario 2- Donate the entire proceeds: About $680,000 in tax savings, less the $445,000 tax on the sale, leaving a net tax benefit of roughly $235,000. The charities receive the FULL $2 million. ( minutes sales expenses)
That’s approximately $1.32 million the seller gives up compared with keeping the money. Calling it “a write-off” shouldn’t take away from that generosity. Beautiful car and a very generous gesture. I hope it brings a great number for the charities.
That’s approximately $1.32 million the seller gives up compared with keeping the money. Calling it “a write-off” shouldn’t take away from that generosity. Beautiful car and a very generous gesture. I hope it brings a great number for the charities.
Oct 27, 2026 · 17:25
Absolutely phenomenal Gullwing with such a wonderful provenance 👍…@hoppy18….@lincolnsandcaddies
Oct 27, 2026 · 16:35
@motorcar_collector maybe you do actually need another Gullwing..
Oct 27, 2026 · 15:17
great listing for a greater cause... its a win-win for buyer and seller.
Oct 27, 2026 · 11:08
The Rudge wheels and bumperless setup really suit it. GLWTA
Oct 27, 2026 · 09:15
Getting a bit over anxious for such early days guys! How much is the latest cross border tax or tariff? If you don't know could be a in for a shock! Is a Canadian charitable donation deductible in the USA? If you don't know could be a huge shock to find out! I do not bellieve the steering wheel is a Nardi? iI looks like the traditional wheels of the MB "Werkes" race cars like the one in the famed $135M auction Neubaur (sp?) 300SLR ( 1of 2 ). Likely made at Merecedes racing by an apprentice mechanic. Teaching the proper attitude and respect for The Company only 10 years after WW2 over and already building the best cars in the world -- again!
5F08K
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 09:00
Bid in the amount of $750,198
Oct 27, 2026 · 07:22
@IMCARS 25 years helping non-profit charity car donation programs, I can say this is one of the most common questions I’m asked. To receive the “big write off” charitable tax credit you must DONATE money or something material. If you have an extra 300SL Gullwing you could donate it to the charity of your choice and receive that nice tax credit. Otherwise Trellis Society is the winner here along with the donor. The lucky winner can get a tax donation credit should they bid over the fair market value of the Gullwing but only for the amount over that value which may be north of a million - I hope for all parties!
Oct 27, 2026 · 07:12
@IMCARS - the seller donated the car (and its proceeds) to charity, so the seller gets the write-off. ;)
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:41
Lovely car! Would you be able to confirm if this a matching gearbox or not please? Thank you.
55RXY
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:38
Bid in the amount of $500,000
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:35
Does the buyer make the donation directly to the charity and get the write off? Orrr does the seller? Lmk i need a big write off for year end lol.
IMCARS
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:34
Bid in the amount of $305,000
5F08K
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:15
Bid in the amount of $300,198
who1
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 06:10
Bid in the amount of $150,000
Oct 27, 2026 · 05:53
A stunning Gullwing, unique provenance, two great causes. Bid accordingly.
Oct 27, 2026 · 04:54
Stunning automobile with the proceeds going to a great cause. The seller is a class act and I expect nothing but the best for this auction. Out of my price range but a guy can dream! GLWTA
Oct 27, 2026 · 04:47
In Calgary! Amazing
Oct 27, 2026 · 01:56
I'd yank the big Merc sticker off the hood and then drive this as much as possible for the rest of my life.
Mehrdad22
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 00:31
Bid in the amount of $100,000
Oct 27, 2026 · 00:30
A philanthropist with amazing taste! Rare indeed!
DENRampRat
Bid
Oct 27, 2026 · 00:24
Bid in the amount of $10,000
Oct 26, 2026 · 23:11
Silver with plaid interior and fitted luggage…epic! Add Rudge wheels and history to back up the aura and it doesn’t get any better. Lord it is gorgeous…
Ochladdie
Bid
Oct 26, 2026 · 22:26
Bid in the amount of $1,956
Oct 26, 2026 · 21:35
The 300SL Gullwing is one of the and/or is THE best looking car in the history of the world. This particular specimen definitely is absolutely stunning, comes with a fascinating history, is here at No Reserve, and, most importantly, is here for some amazing causes. GLWTA!
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