VIN: A Gullwing for Rallye & 250 Monza for track - Hans Tak's Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL chassis 198.043.5500194
History of chassis 198.043.5500194
As denoted by its ‘043’ VIN prefix, chassis ‘5500194, was one of the 29 W198 300 SL Gullwings produced with an aluminium as opposed to steel body.
It was ordered in Silver Grey with Rudge wheels by amateur Dutch driver Willem Johan Jacob Tak who typically went by the name Hans as there was already another family member named Willem.
In anticipation of the 1955 season, during which he also campaigned a Ferrari 250 Monza (chassis 0420 M), Hans Tak had his Gullwing specially prepared at the factory. Shortly after delivery, Tak embarked upon the maiden event with his new new Mercedes, the 1955 Tulip Rally, which alongside navigator W.C. Niemoller, the ‘5500194’ took a famous victory.
For circuit racing, Hans Tak ran his Ferrari throughout 1955 while the Mercedes was reserved for long distance road events. That year, ‘5500194’ was used for outings on the two-day Rallye de Dieppe (result unknown), the 300km Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti (eighth overall and third in the over two-litre GT class) and the 3500km non-stop Liege-Rome-Liege Rallye also known as the Marathon de la Route (22nd overall).
In 1956, Hans Tak took on twice as many events with the Mercedes than during the previous campaign. Although he was unable to retain his Tulip Rallye crown, the Dutch driver notably placed a creditable 39th in the season-opening Rallye Monte Carlo, finished ninth overall and first in the Grand Touring class at the Bari GP, sixth overall and second in class at the Giro delle Calabria and won a race at Zandvoort.
More strong results were achieved in 1957 when Tak and the Gullwing placed second on the Tulip Rally and won the arduous Scheveningen-Luxembourg-Scheveningen Rallye that went through the Ardennes, Luxembourg, Lorraine to Verdun and back through Belgium, Eindhoven and Baarle-Nassau to Scheveningen.
In 1958, Hans Tak also began to compete with a 300 SL Roadster. In what is believed to have been his sole outing with the Gullwing that year, he and navigator A. Hilarius took victory on the Scheveningen-Luxembourg-Scheveningen event.
1959 saw Tak contest the Monte Carlo Rallye with a Mercedes-Benz 220 S while his trusty old Gullwing was wheeled out for one final outing on the Tulip Rallye (DNF) and a circuit race at Zandvoort (finished second) after which it was retired from frontline duty.
Notable History
Aluminium body
Sold new to Hans Tak, Holland
Registered SG-10-77
30/04-07/05/1955 Tulip Rallye (H. Tak / W.C. Niemoller) 1st oa (#2)
21-22/05/1955 Rallye de Dieppe (H. Tak) ran (#??)
10/07/1955 Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti (H. Tak) 8th oa, 3rd GT 2.0+ class (#125)
17-21/08/1955 Liege-Rome-Liege Rally (H. Tak / Kokkes) 22nd oa (#22)
16-23/01/1956 Rallye Monte Carlo (H. Tak / F. van der Vlugt) 39th oa (#296)
24-28/02/1956 Rallye del Sestriere (H. Tak / ???) DNF (#6)
06-12/05/1956 Tulip Rallye (H. Tak / W.C. Niemoller) DNF (#1)
21/05/1956 Zandvoort Easter Races (H. Tak) ran (#67)
08/07/1956 Rouen GP (H. Tak) DNF (#46)
22/07/1956 Bari GP (H. Tak) 9th oa, 1st GT class (#68)
29/07/1956 Giro delle Calabria (H. Tak) 6th oa, 2nd GT 2.0+ class (#??)
07/08/1956 Zandvoort (H. Tak) 1st oa (#31)
6-11/05/1957 Tulip Rallye (H. Tak / W.C. Niemoller) 2nd oa (#1)
04/08/1957 Nurburgring Rheinland (H. Tak) ran (#34)
??/??/1957 Scheveningen-Luxembourg-Scheveningen Rallye (H. Tak / A. Hilarius) 1st oa (#??)
12-14/06/1958 Scheveningen-Luxembourg-Scheveningen Rallye (H. Tak / A. Hilarius) 1st oa (#??)
27/04-02/05/1959 Tulip Rally (H. Tak / J. Swaab) DNF (#1)
05/07/1959 Zandvoort (H. Tak) 2nd (#66)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ben van Meerendonk / AHF, IISG Collection - https://www.flickr.com/photos/iisg/ & Mercedes-Benz - https://www.mercedes-benz.com
