Only 1,400 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupes were produced between 1954 and 1957, making surviving examples exceptionally rare. Chassis 5500316 was built on May 17, 1955, and originally delivered to Manhattan, later owned by Frank Spring, the Hudson engineer who designed the Hudson Italia. The coupe later passed through long-term California registration, entered Adam Levine's ownership in 2019, and was relocated to Switzerland. The current owner re-imported the car to the United States in 2024, completed extensive mechanical and cosmetic overhauls, and holds a clean Montana title with comprehensive historical documentation. The car is offered in Northwest Wisconsin with bidding exceeding $1 million.
The car currently offered is no ordinary Gullwing. Chassis 5500316 left the factory on May 17, 1955, destined for Manhattan, New York, before being purchased by Frank Spring, the chief engineer at Hudson responsible for designing the Hudson Italia. Over the course of its nearly 70-year lifespan, the coupe has passed through notable owners, including Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, and has seen careful restoration work that preserves both its originality and functionality.
From the start, this 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL had a distinguished pedigree. Delivered through Mercedes-Benz Distributors of Manhattan, it found its first home with Frank Spring, whose influence in American automotive design gave the car an immediate connection to mid-century engineering brilliance. After decades registered in California, the coupe eventually became the property of Adam Levine in 2019, before being relocated to Switzerland.
The current owner re-imported the car to the United States in 2024. Since then, it has undergone a meticulous series of mechanical and cosmetic overhauls, ensuring the car is ready to be driven and shown at the highest levels. The Gullwing's history alone elevates it beyond a collector's item-this is a cultural artifact that bridges German engineering, American design influence, and modern celebrity ownership.
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