Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Without the Gullwing is Now for Sale

This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing may not have the famous doors anymore, but it has plenty of upgrades to make up for it.

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. It is widely considered the first modern supercar. It became iconic thanks to the stirring performance as well as the absolutely striking design. Putting an original in your garage today will cost you well into the seven-figure range. What stands out most about the car is its wild gullwing style doors. It made the car look like nothing else in 1955, and in 2024 it still looks like nothing else. However, one 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing owner decided that he didn’t want the gullwing doors. In fact, he didn’t want any doors at all. So, he contacted the folks at S-Klub LA who are used to building high-quality automobiles with an artistic perspective.

They did the unthinkable and ditched the top and doors from the original 1955 300SL Gullwing. The car is known as 1955 SL Speed “Cursed” and S-Klub LA has it listed for sale on their website. Is this custom car worth more or less than an original 1955 car? That is difficult to say since no price is provided. However, if you are truly interested in the car, you should be prepared to write a very large check. I saw this car in person at the 2022 SEMA show. I can tell you that the craftsmanship and quality of the build is top notch. The original Gullwing car is incredible, but Mercedes-Benz did build about 1,400 of them. If you buy this car, you will own a one-of-a-kind.

The Style

This car appears to be from the past and the future at the same time. It is clearly a Mercedes-Benz SL, but with a level of customization unlike anything you have seen before. The huge fender flares cover a set of five-spoke HRE wheels. The car is painted in Nardo Gray with a stunning Petronas Blue interior. The tiny windshield was taken from a Porsche 356 Speedster. Just look at this thing. Mercedes-Benz purists may cringe, but it is tough to argue with the end result. This car stops traffic.

Mechanical Modifications

The original and quite lovely 3.0-liter, single overhead cam straight-six, is gone. In its place is a 3.2-liter V6 from a SLK 32 AMG. Horsepower figures are not provided but in the original trim this engine made a stout 349 horsepower. Helping to slow you down is a set of Brembo brakes. The car is clearly not original, but the team did use a lot of authentic Mercedes-Benz parts to build it. Things like the headlights, fog lights, grille, and badges were purchased from Mercedes-Benz.

Triumph or Tragedy

Mercedes-Benz is not building anymore new 1955 300SL Gullwings. So, taking an original and cutting it up to make a custom car may give you chest pains. On the other hand, the car you see before you is a real stunner with style and performance that the original car can’t match. Of course, for most of us it really doesn’t matter either way because we can’t afford either one.

Images: Joe Kucinski; S-Klub LA

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it’s driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.