A very rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL will go under the hammer (22 photos)
In mid-March, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in a special version - the Alloy Gullwing - will be auctioned at RM Sotheby's. Price expectations are not published as the auction will be closed, but three years earlier this same 300 SL changed hands for $6,825,000. 
During development, Mercedes-Benz equipped gullwing prototypes with aluminum body panels, but switched to steel for series production. Nevertheless, a small number of 300 SL with aluminum bodies still appeared on public sale. In 1955, 24 cars were assembled, the next year - only five.
In addition to a lighter body, the Alloy Gullwing featured plexiglass glazing, different suspension settings and a slightly more powerful engine. It is generally accepted that these 300 SLs were built on special orders from amateur racers.
The 13th car in the lot is up for sale. Auctioneers claim that this is not only one of the best-preserved cars of this model, but also a 300 SL with one of the most transparent histories and an unusual biography. This is the only gullwing in the world built for shipment to Africa - the coupe's first owner was a dealer from Casablanca.
Later, the car changed owners more than once, but spent most of its time in the collection of the head of the American club of Mercedes-Benz fans, Hiatt Chick, who owned it from 1982 to 2013. The rarity has been restored several times, so it is now in excellent condition, suitable for participation in classic car competitions. 
