If I could choose one car to call my own, it would be the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing in Silver Gray Metallic over blue gabardine and vinyl. This exact example was sold by Sotheby’s in 2022 for just over 6.8 million dollars. Even so, it feels less like a collector’s trophy and more like the definition of what a great car should be.
The Alloy Gullwing was the purest form of the SL. Mercedes built only twenty-nine of them, each fitted with an aluminum body, plexiglass windows, and a competition-tuned 3.0-liter NSL engine. The lighter construction and higher compression gave it sharper performance and a livelier response on the road. It was still a road car, but one capable of genuine competition pace.
This particular car was ordered new by Joseph Weckerlé, the Mercedes-Benz agent in Casablanca. It was the only Alloy Gullwing delivered to Africa, finished exactly as it appears today in Silver Gray with a blue interior, Rudge wheels, and a high-speed rear axle. It was built for long-distance driving rather than display, the kind of car meant to be used often and well.
By the early 1960s, it had made its way to the United States. In 1975, it was restored by Paul Russell’s workshop in Massachusetts, a name that has become synonymous with the highest standard of 300 SL care. The restoration was meticulous but respectful of originality. The alloy body survived with only minor repair, which is unusual since many of these cars were raced and suffered corrosion or damage over the years. When the work was complete, the owner at the time, Jack Bryan, drove the car home from Massachusetts to Dallas. That small act captures what these cars are about. They were not museum pieces; they were built to be driven.
In 1982, the car was acquired by Hyatt Cheek, a long-time Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and national president of the Gullwing Group. He kept the car for more than thirty years, taking it on road rallies like the Colorado Grand and the Texas 1000. He treated it as it was intended to be treated, as a machine that thrives on use and rewards care. Under his ownership, it was maintained by the same workshop that restored it decades earlier, which kept it mechanically sound and beautifully preserved.
What I admire most about this car is its honesty. It reflects a kind of engineering that values purpose over show. Every element exists for a reason, from the compact proportions to the upward-opening doors that solved a structural problem rather than created a visual gimmick. It is light, efficient, and enduring. Even standing still, it gives the impression of movement.
The 300 SL Alloy Gullwing represents a period when performance and elegance were not opposites but partners. It was designed in an era when progress came from clever thinking, not excess. The aluminum body, space frame chassis, and mechanical fuel injection were cutting-edge at the time, yet there is a calm simplicity in how it all comes together. Nothing shouts for attention. The car just works.
When I think about dream cars, I look for a balance of engineering, history, and quiet confidence. The 300 SL Alloy Gullwing has all of that. This example, especially, tells a complete story. It was built for speed, lived a full life, and remains as it was meant to be. Some cars never lose their ability to mesmerize, even from a distance. This one still does.
Read more about cars here.
