VIN: the 1955 London Motor Show Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Gullwing chassis 198.040.4500012
/ Ben Tyer
HISTORY OF CHASSIS 198.040.4500012
Completed on September 24th 1954, chassis 4500012 was ordered by Mercedes-Benz to serve as a ‘Standwagen’ or show car. Accordingly, it was configured in trademark Silver Grey Metallic paint over a blue vinyl and blue plaid fabric interior – the same colour scheme used by most of Mercedes’ works racing cars.
Wearing a handsome set of optional Rudge centre-lock wheels, chassis 4500012 made its public debut at the London Motor Show (October 20th to 30th) having been driven over from Stuttgart in the days prior. A sister Gullwing (chassis 4500019) served as a demonstrator at the event.
While on display at Earls Court, chassis 4500012 was spotted by heir to the Johnnie Walker whisky fortune and race team patron, Rob Walker.
Walker concluded a deal to purchase chassis 4500012 from Mercedes-Benz GB at the show, however, on a subsequent shakedown north of London, one of the British distributor’s engineers lost control in slippery conditions and the car went backwards into a tree.
Chassis 4500012 was sent back to Germany for repairs and Rob Walker went on to take delivery of chassis 4500141 instead (which was later followed by an Aluminium-bodied example: 5500840).
Having returned to England in effectively a brand new state, chassis 4500012 was registered RGO 30 in May 1955.
The Gullwing served as a demonstrator for Mercedes-Benz GB until January 1956, at which point it was sold to Carr’s biscuit heir, Noel Carr. He kept it until August 1956 when chassis 4500012 was sold to Charles Gardner, a Sussex apple farmer, with whose family it remained until 2024.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Mercedes-Benz - https://www.mercedes-benz.com
