VIN: the Rob Walker Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Gullwing chassis 198.040.5500840
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HISTORY OF CHASSIS 198.040.5500840
Chassis 198.040.5500840 was the second of four W198 300 SLs purchased by renowned race team owner, Rob Walker. A White aluminium-bodied example riding on Rudge wheels, this latest machine followed chassis 198.040.4500141 which had been the first Gullwing delivered to the UK.
As heir to the Johnnie Walker whisky fortune, Rob Walker was able to indulge his passion for fast cars and motor racing. The Rob Walker Racing Team was founded in 1953 and, between 1958 and ‘69, took nine Formula 1 World Championship race wins, the most of any privateer outfit.
“Early in 1956 Daimler-Benz contacted me. They had two lightweight models that had been made for the American market, but had not been taken up… these were the last word in 300 SLs, or any other car for that matter. The other one was bought by a friend of mine, Tommy Atkins (a fellow private entrant of Formula 1 racing cars), and we went together to Stuttgart to pick them up.
As the car was new I enquired about running-in and was told to keep it down to 100mph for the first 500 miles. Unfortunately, mine had the incorrect speedometer for the axle ratio and I found from Brussels to the coast I average 100mph. Mercedes immediately sent a man over to London to fit the right speedometer.
We then took it to Aston Martin ahead of a trip to the motor manufacturers’ test circuit, MIRA near Nuneaton in the Midlands, to get some accurate figures on it. We went through the electrical timing strip at 147mph, but you could not get the maximum there as the banking was quite tight.
We timed 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and 0-100mph in 14.9 seconds.”
After the MIRA tests, Walker entered the white Gullwing, which was registered on his private plate ROB 2, for a couple of races.
The first was an eight lap contest for Saloon cars at the Aintree 200 Formula 1 meet on April 21st. Reg Parnell was down to drive the white Mercedes, but arrived late for what was the first event of the day. Rob Walker thus took the wheel for the warm-up lap and fortunately Parnell was waiting by the line as the cars pulled up to the start.
Parnell lined up on the front row of the grid along with the Jaguar XK120 of J.G. Maude and Jo Bonnier in an Alfa Romeo 1900 C SS Zagato Berlinetta. Having navigated the first corner safely, Parnell was subsequently unchallenged and set fastest lap en route to victory.
Five months later, Rob Walker arranged for Tony Brooks to drive the white Gullwing in a race for GT and Saloon cars at the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting on September 22nd. Brooks started from pole ahead of Ivor Bueb’s Jaguar XK140 and the Aston Martin DB2/4 of Patsy Burt. Once again, the Gullwing led from start to finish and set fastest lap.
With nothing left to prove, and as the white Mercedes was his personal road car, Rob Walker retired it from racing duty. He sold the Gullwing in 1958 and replaced it with a second-hand 300 SL Roadster previously owned by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
Chassis 198.040.5500840 was later registered XYN 215 and re-painted red. It was sold by Christie’s at Donington in December 1988 direct from 25 year ownership.
Notable History
White with Black upholstery
Aluminim body
Rudge wheels
Sold to Rob Walker, Somerset
Registered ROB 2
21/04/1956 IND Aintree 200 Saloon Car Race (R. Parnell) 1st oa, 1st 2.5+ class (#87)
22/09/1956 IND Oulton Park Gold Cup GT & Saloon Car Race (T. Brooks) 1st oa, 1st GT class (#115)
Sold in 1958
Later registered XYN 215 and re-painted red
December 1988 sold by Christie’s
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
