Beschreibung:

Mercedes-Benz returned to post-war competition in 1952, fielding two of its new 300 SL (W194) sports cars in the Mille Miglia. The pair finishing an creditable 2nd and 4th overall in this most difficult of events and this promising start was followed up by a win in the challenging Carrera Panamericana. For the Le Mans 24-Hour Race in June a trio of ‘Gullwing’-doored coupés was entered. Karl Kling and Hans Klenk duly brought their ‘Silver Arrow’ home in first place and the 300 SL was on its way to becoming part of motor sporting legend. Launched in 1954, the production 300 SL retained the spaceframe chassis and lightweight aluminium-alloy bodywork of the W194 racer while its mechanical underpinnings, like the latter’s, owed much to the contemporary Mercedes-Benz 300 luxury saloon. A 2,996cc overhead-camshaft inline six, the 300 SL’s engine was canted at 45 degrees to achieve a low bonnet line and produced 215bhp (DIN) at 5,800rpm using Bosch mechanical fuel injection. A four-speed, all-synchromesh manual gearbox transmitted power to the hypoid bevel rear axle. Suspension was independent all round: by wishbones and coil springs at the front, with swing axles and coil springs at the rear. The company’s U.S. distributor, Max Hoffman, decided that there was a market in America for a fast, sensual Mercedes-Benz coupe, and a production version of the racing 300 SL (complete with the fascinating gullwing doors) would be it. This stunning early 300SL Gullwing was a special order for Hoffmann via a Mercedes Dealer in Grand Rapids, Michigan who ordered the car on behalf of a Mr. Herbert L. Levinson of Indianapolis, Indiana. Levinson was a larger than life character; during the war he was stationed in the Pacific with the Fourth Marine Corps, returning to the U.S. to build up several businesses in the Indianapolis area, notably Dorothy’s Women’s Apparel which he ran with his wife for nearly 40 years. The Levinson’s had a penchant for jazz, sports in general, and of course sportscars in particular. An XK120 tried but failed to maintain their interest, so they approached a contact in Grand Rapids to place a special order for the exciting and newly launched Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. The order was placed in the autumn of 1954, in the special paint option of DB158 “Weissgrau” with a complimenting blue “Plaid Cloth” and vinyl interior. Hoffman placed the order (with the Mercedes Benz commission number 664 078) and was assigned the chassis number 300SL/198.040–4500158. Due to a backlog in processing orders final completion and acceptance of 4500158 took place on 8th January 1955, the Levinsons taking formal delivery a month later. Several other interesting vehicles came and went through their hands over the years, but the prized 300SL remained with them until they finally decided to sell the Gullwing in order to buy a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast. The 300SL was sold to William “Bill” Russell Bryant, a prominent socialite who lived less than an hour away in nearby Muncie, Indiana, joining a 1957 Fuel-Injected Corvette that he also owner. At the age of 67, and suffering from a heart condition, Bryant joined fellow Mercedes Club of America members for a gathering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The club was invited to tour the track with the understanding that a strict top speed limit of 85 mph would be adhered to. Bryant however decided his one and only foray onto a track would be remembered well by all who attended, so he put his foot down and hit nearly 140mph on the front straight. A mob scene saw Bryant being pulled from the car and hoisted on the shoulders of fellow club members who doused him repeatedly in champagne! Not long thereafter, Bryant put the 300SL up for sale, and it was bought in early 1973 via the Mercedes Star Letter by Bernard “Beano” J. Sheridan. Sheridan was a decorated Air Force pilot who flew photo reconnaissance missions over Germany in 1954/55. On one particular mission, he buzzed the autobahn near Stuttgart and encoun