A Real Gullwing

[Russ U.]

I understand a member would like to see a thread about real Gullwings, so here it is.

I love MBZ Gullwings. As much as Corvettes. Maybe more.

I walked into a local repair shop in my home town (Mill Valley, CA) one day a few years ago. I about fainted. The repair shop had 5 Gullwings in it. I gather some of them were being prepped for the Monterey hisotrics. Every now and then I take a peek inside the shop and see a Gullwing.

I attended the Marin-Sonoma Car Show earlier this year. A very nice Gullwing was there. Click here for about 20 pics.

Anybody know the going rate for Gullwings these days? Roadsters?

Russ

[Steven B.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Russ, Rudges & competition seats! 'Belly pans, too?
300SL roadsters have been advertised in the $400,000 - $500,000 range and Gullwings in the $700,000 - $750,000 range for nice ones (Second Flight types).

[Mark K.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Russ, Rudges & competition seats! 'Belly pans, too?
300SL roadsters have been advertised in the $400,000 - $500,000 range and Gullwings in the $700,000 - $750,000 range for nice ones (Second Flight types).

Yikes! If I have to pay $700K+ for a gull wing, I'd prefer one of these:

[John H.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

The 300SL had direct cylinder fuel injection - the industry went almost 50 years before the next production car had direct injection a few years ago.

[Edward M.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Not too bad of a replica was made about 15 years ago out of fiberglass. Starrted out with Chrysler slant 6 engines, then progressed to Mercedes inline 6 cylinders.

I visited the factory in Sourthern California in 1992.

I see them come up for auction every so often in the $70K range.

[Steven B.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Yikes! If I have to pay $700K+ for a gull wing, I'd prefer one of these:

'And this is the Mustang I would get;

Mustangs and Warbirds --> Air to Air

[Bill M.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

I have to post a picture of my father's pride and joy...1977 in front of our house in Troy, MI. He drove it from Rockford, IL...not a trailer queen!

[Douglas C.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Back in the early 80's when I lived in Albuquerque, there was a local guy that drove a dark blue 300SL Gullwing as his daily "grocery getter". The paint was noticably chipped along the sides due to door dings. I suppose there's something to be said about throwing your car door into a 300SL!

Used to park my '70 Barracuda next to his car at the Piggly Wiggly, but was at least careful with my door.

--Doug (13644)

[Bill M.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Back in the early 80's when I lived in Albuquerque, there was a local guy that drove a dark blue 300SL Gullwing as his daily "grocery getter". The paint was noticably chipped along the sides due to door dings. I suppose there's something to be said about throwing your car door into a 300SL!

Used to park my '70 Barracuda next to his car at the Piggly Wiggly, but was at least careful with my door.

--Doug (13644)

That's funny. I was back to Rockford to visit my brother in 2005. He had an all-original, green (one of one?) gullwing in his shop for fuel injection work, and we took it to the local grocery store for a beer run.

A local's comment "I like your car."

[Mark K.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

The 300SL had direct cylinder fuel injection - the industry went almost 50 years before the next production car had direct injection a few years ago.

I think the differential is closer to 40 years. We (when I was a Ford) were looking at DI Mitsubishi engines as early as 1996 (making it closer to 40 years). The problems with DI were cost/benefit from a customer perspective for the North American market. But the technology has been either utilized somewhere in the world or sitting on the shelf for the last 15 years or so.

[John H.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

The SL at the time had a valve system that did not use valve springs. The cam assembly pulled the valves up and the compression sealed the valves to the seats.

[Bill M.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

The SL at the time had a valve system that did not use valve springs. The cam assembly pulled the valves up and the compression sealed the valves to the seats.

John:

That was the 300SLR, not the 300SL. (I think only Ducati uses desmodromic valve gear in production...neat stuff!)

Bill

[Thomas N.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

This month's Hemmings (September 2009) has a pretty good 4 page article, including pricing on the 300SL's that start on page 28.

[Russ U.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

This month's Hemmings (September 2009) has a pretty good 4 page article, including pricing on the 300SL's that start on page 28.

I will have to get a copy of Hemmings, although the prices quoted by Steve are pretty much what I was expecting.

Assuming I win the lottery for a moment, I'm not sure what 300SL I would get - the gullwing or the roadster. I might go for a silver roadster with red interior. I think that is the all-time best color combo. And I do love top-down driving.

I purchased my first sports car 24 years ago - a silver 230SL with red leather interior. Neat car. German version - with the huge bulb headlight covers. I loved that car, but it was a complete rust bucket. Attached is the best pic I have of the car - my wedding day in 1987.

Russ

[Gary C.]

Re: A Real Gullwing

Russ, as the say in the service "this is no s***"' 1962 on TDY in Germany a couple of us were touring different areas including race tracks. We came across a 300 SLR and recall it was a '55 for sale for $5500 bucks. Drooled and touched, sat in it, etc. It was complete. Heck we didn't hardly have 55 cents to our names, much less $5500 bucks. Always wondered what happened to that car. Gary....