1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

I drove one cross-country and did four straight hours in Nevada at 110 mph. With the car singing through its original mild-steel exhaust system, the sound is as unique as the rest of the car

In the collector car world, there is no more immediately recognizable sight than a 300SL with its doors open. Introduced in 1954 as a coupe with signature “Gullwing” doors, the legendary 300SL was conceived as a high performance street machine that was really a thinly veiled racing car. It was fast, solid, and handled well, and it quickly developed an enviable reputation, both on the track and in the streets. This particular example has a fabulous history, as it was supplied new on November 27, 1956, to S. Agustin Legorreta of the Mexican banking dynasty, and stayed within the same family until early 2004. This Gullwing is one of only a handful that was ever supplied new for export to Mexico. The original invoice confirms that the car was supplied through the Mercedes-Benz agents Delta, for the princely sum of 161,617.85 pesos (approx. $13,000). It came in “Rojo Tapiza” with natural beige leather interior, and special Conti-Super-Record 6.5- by 15-inch tires...