by A rare 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing has been put up for auction in Paris. The car has not been used since 2003 and requires restoration, but the Artcurial auction house estimates its value at up to 5 million euros ($5.2 million or UAH 218 million). This is reported by Focus.
The coupe was once ordered by six-time Olympic shooting champion Claude Foussier, who was also the importer of Coca-Cola in Europe and a Knight of the Legion of Honour. The athlete chose the car’s maximum configuration.
The 1956 Mercedes 300 SL Belongs to an Exclusive Series with an Aluminum Body
This example is part of a series of only 29 cars with a lightweight aluminum body. The car is equipped with a more powerful 235-horsepower engine with direct fuel injection and a sports suspension. Foussier also ordered a rare graphite body color and a set of custom luggage.
The first owner sold the supercar in 1961. The next owner possessed the car until 2014 but rarely drove it. Since 2003, the Mercedes has not been on the road, standing idle for 23 years.
70-Year-Old Supercar with Original Components
The current owner purchased the coupe in 2024. It turned out that he lives in the same house where Claude Foussier resided in the 1950s.
The car is covered in a thick layer of dust and requires a complete restoration. At the same time, it has retained its original paint and leather interior, with no signs of corrosion. The odometer shows only 34,255 km, confirming minimal use over the decades.
