300SL / The Crittenden Automotive Library

300SL
Vehicle Model

A sports car produced by Mercedes-Benz. Produced from model years 1954-1957.

It is often referred to as the Gullwing, a name that comes from the top-hinged doors.

Awards and acknowledgements include:

Among "The 25 Most Beautiful Cars of All Time" by Automobile, September 2006

Photographs

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 79KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 58KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 84KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

1955
Door Mechanism
I don't think there is a single part in our 2004 Mazda 3 that is as polished as this hydraulic doodad.
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 67KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
I don't know who this guy is, but clearly, homie loves his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupes.
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 74KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo, 73KB

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Dashboard Photo courtesy of Image*After
View photo, 857KB

Custom Mercedes-Benz 300SL Model Car Custom
Built by Frank LuQue
Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden
February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature
View photo, 3,451KB

Custom
Built by Frank LuQue
Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden
February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature
View photo, 3,576KB

Quotations

"Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways." Alfred Neubauer, after checking the rules, answering Mercedes-Benz's concern that the doors may cause the car to be challenged if the car won races

Sales Records

Records of first sales of 300SL models. Incomplete list.

Commission # Engine # Registration # First Owner Delivery Date Country

654 558 198 980-45 00201 WPF 8 Mr. Grant February 1955

654 559 198 980-45 00199 PLE 3 P.F. Scrutton February 1955

655 384 198 980-45 00189 PYE 704 Sir Jeremy Boles February 1955

656 572 198 980-45 00124 PAR 1 Gordon Claridge March 1955

659 266 198 980-45 00091 Mr. Potts January 1955

659 267 198 980-45 00155 ROB 2 R. Walker

659 258 198 980-45 00022 RGO 30 Compton & Ecclestone May 1955

659 701 198 980-45 00003 PLB 23

682 292 198 980-55 00075 Taylor & Crawley March 1955

682 293 198 980-55 00076 Standard Wharves, Ltd. March 1955

682 294 198 980-55 00106 Raymond Way (Motors) March 1955

682 296 198 980-55 00170 2 DMY V.D. Yates April 1955

682 301 198 980-55 00263 RGW 66 W. Machlow May 1955

669 798 198 980-45 00184 David Brown January 1955

682 295 198 980-45 00157 PYN 1 Mr. Bourner March 1955

682 297 198 980-55 00194 HJT 11 Lt. Cmd. Home Kidston April 1955

682 298 198 980-55 00332 RGO 28 Sir James Scott Douglas June 1955

682 299 198 980-55 00156 AEL 1 W.G. Riley May 1955

682 300 198 980-55 00382 RGW 78 R.S. Wilkins June 1955

682 301 198 980-55 00263 RGW 66 W. Macalow May 1955

682 302 198 980-55 00383 RGW 79 C.C. Lawrence June 1955

682 303 198 980-55 00392 SVF 10 R.C. Lawerance June 1955

682 304 198 980-55 00486 RLT 8 A.R. Marsh July 1955

682 305 198 980-55 00503 RLT 9 Chalwyn Lamps, Ltd. July 1955

682 306 198 980-55 00422 MLT 3 P.F. Scrutton June 1955

753 870 198 980-55 ????? LXN 5 Ishmael May 1955

753 871 198 980-55 ????? ZZ 3636 The Rt. Hon Lord O'Neill August 1955

753 973 198 980-55 00372 RLD 4 W.J.F. Tillyard July 1955

754 792 198 980-55 00338 A. Keiller May 1955

754 793 198 980-55 00362 RLD 7 Mr. Aitkins

755 099 198 980-55 00389 RLX 9 H.J. Hyams July 1955

755 326 198 980-55 ????? RLW 8 E. Read-Ostler August 1955

755 328 198 980-55 00647 H.G.H. Russel August 1955

758 906 198 980-55 ????? H.M. King of Jordan August 1955

758 907 198 980-55 00593 T. Arendale September 1955

758 908 198 980-55 00632 Ministry of Supply October 1955

758 909 198 980-55 00661 RLX 442 H.C. Bentley, Ltd. September 1955

758 910 198 980-55 00648 YPE 3 W. Lockley Cook October 1955

758 911 198 980-55 00692 RXW 14 Mercedes September 1955

760 266 198 980-55 00723 Everett October 1955

761 439 198 980-55 00731 RLX 11 J. Whitaker Ellison September 1955

762 128 198 980-55 00682 DYK 5 Earl Howe February 1956

763 581 198 980-55 00861 MON 6 W. Headlam November 1955

764 150 198 980-55 00831 RYN 9 D. de Ferranti November 1955

764 294 198 980-55 00848 NVN 1 Mill Garages (London) February 1956

764 295 198 980-55 00869 BY 1 Taylor & Crawley November 1955

765 266 198 980-55 00857 TVF 642 A. Fountaine December 1955

765 913 198 980-55 07881 YPL 300 F.P. Massy-Dawson January 1956

765 914 198 980-55 00872 RYT 28 Mercedes January 1956

765 915 198 980-55 00867 SL 300 E.C. Matheson February 1956

766 081 198 980-55 00885

767 036 198 980-55 00801 SLR 1 Mr. Atkins December 1955

767 037 198 980-55 00800 ROB 2 Mr. Rob Walker December

767 091 198 980-55 00811 RXW 25 H. Collinson December 1955

767 597 198 980-55 00905 YPK 808 Barnet Instruments March 1956

768 137 198 980-65 00031 SLE 42 C.D. Potts March 1956

768 138 198 980-65 00040

804 544 198 980-65 60082

811 543 198 980-65 00103

Commission #	Engine #	Registration #	First Owner	Delivery Date
654 558	198 980-45 00201	WPF 8	Mr. Grant	February 1955
654 559	198 980-45 00199	PLE 3	P.F. Scrutton	February 1955
655 384	198 980-45 00189	PYE 704	Sir Jeremy Boles	February 1955
656 572	198 980-45 00124	PAR 1	Gordon Claridge	March 1955
659 266	198 980-45 00091		Mr. Potts	January 1955
659 267	198 980-45 00155	ROB 2	R. Walker
659 258	198 980-45 00022	RGO 30	Compton & Ecclestone	May 1955
659 701	198 980-45 00003	PLB 23
682 292	198 980-55 00075		Taylor & Crawley	March 1955
682 293	198 980-55 00076		Standard Wharves, Ltd.	March 1955
682 294	198 980-55 00106		Raymond Way (Motors)	March 1955
682 296	198 980-55 00170	2 DMY	V.D. Yates	April 1955
682 301	198 980-55 00263	RGW 66	W. Machlow	May 1955
669 798	198 980-45 00184		David Brown	January 1955
682 295	198 980-45 00157	PYN 1	Mr. Bourner	March 1955
682 297	198 980-55 00194	HJT 11	Lt. Cmd. Home Kidston	April 1955
682 298	198 980-55 00332	RGO 28	Sir James Scott Douglas	June 1955
682 299	198 980-55 00156	AEL 1	W.G. Riley	May 1955
682 300	198 980-55 00382	RGW 78	R.S. Wilkins	June 1955
682 301	198 980-55 00263	RGW 66	W. Macalow	May 1955
682 302	198 980-55 00383	RGW 79	C.C. Lawrence	June 1955
682 303	198 980-55 00392	SVF 10	R.C. Lawerance	June 1955
682 304	198 980-55 00486	RLT 8	A.R. Marsh	July 1955
682 305	198 980-55 00503	RLT 9	Chalwyn Lamps, Ltd.	July 1955
682 306	198 980-55 00422	MLT 3	P.F. Scrutton	June 1955
753 870	198 980-55 ?????	LXN 5	Ishmael	May 1955
753 871	198 980-55 ?????	ZZ 3636	The Rt. Hon Lord O'Neill	August 1955
753 973	198 980-55 00372	RLD 4	W.J.F. Tillyard	July 1955
754 792	198 980-55 00338		A. Keiller	May 1955
754 793	198 980-55 00362	RLD 7	Mr. Aitkins
755 099	198 980-55 00389	RLX 9	H.J. Hyams	July 1955
755 326	198 980-55 ?????	RLW 8	E. Read-Ostler	August 1955
755 328	198 980-55 00647		H.G.H. Russel	August 1955
758 906	198 980-55 ?????		H.M. King of Jordan	August 1955
758 907	198 980-55 00593		T. Arendale	September 1955
758 908	198 980-55 00632		Ministry of Supply	October 1955
758 909	198 980-55 00661	RLX 442	H.C. Bentley, Ltd.	September 1955
758 910	198 980-55 00648	YPE 3	W. Lockley Cook	October 1955
758 911	198 980-55 00692	RXW 14	Mercedes	September 1955
760 266	198 980-55 00723		Everett	October 1955
761 439	198 980-55 00731	RLX 11	J. Whitaker Ellison	September 1955
762 128	198 980-55 00682	DYK 5	Earl Howe	February 1956
763 581	198 980-55 00861	MON 6	W. Headlam	November 1955
764 150	198 980-55 00831	RYN 9	D. de Ferranti	November 1955
764 294	198 980-55 00848	NVN 1	Mill Garages (London)	February 1956
764 295	198 980-55 00869	BY 1	Taylor & Crawley	November 1955
765 266	198 980-55 00857	TVF 642	A. Fountaine	December 1955
765 913	198 980-55 07881	YPL 300	F.P. Massy-Dawson	January 1956
765 914	198 980-55 00872	RYT 28	Mercedes	January 1956
765 915	198 980-55 00867	SL 300	E.C. Matheson	February 1956
766 081	198 980-55 00885
767 036	198 980-55 00801	SLR 1	Mr. Atkins	December 1955
767 037	198 980-55 00800	ROB 2	Mr. Rob Walker	December
767 091	198 980-55 00811	RXW 25	H. Collinson	December 1955
767 597	198 980-55 00905	YPK 808	Barnet Instruments	March 1956
768 137	198 980-65 00031	SLE 42	C.D. Potts	March 1956
768 138	198 980-65 00040
804 544	198 980-65 60082
811 543	198 980-65 00103

Last edited March 2010

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Disclaimer, Liability and Legal Information

	1955 Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 79KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	1955 Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 58KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	1955 Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 84KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	1955 Door Mechanism I don't think there is a single part in our 2004 Mazda 3 that is as polished as this hydraulic doodad. Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 67KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	1955 I don't know who this guy is, but clearly, homie loves his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupes. Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 74KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	1955 Photo by Joe Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 2005 View photo, 73KB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
	Photo courtesy of Image*After View photo, 857KB
	Custom Built by Frank LuQue Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo, 3,451KB
	Custom Built by Frank LuQue Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo, 3,576KB