A rare 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Alloy” Gullwing, offered as part of RM Sotheby’s The Junkyard: The Rudi Klein Collection auction, has just sold for a staggering $9,355,000 USD. This car, one of only 29 Alloy Gullwings ever produced and the only example said to be finished in black with a red leather interior, carries a significant history tied to legendary Ferrari importer and Le Mans champion Luigi Chinetti.
It is thought that Chinetti, who reportedly ordered the car in 1956 through Milan’s Saporiti dealership, may have intended to compare it against his stable of Ferraris. The car eventually found a new owner in 1976 when it was purchased by Rudi Klein, who kept it virtually hidden for nearly 50 years. Notably, Klein never drove or displayed the car outside his private yard, preserving its original interior, body, engine, gearbox and other key components.
The Alloy Gullwing, with its lightweight aluminum body and a more powerful NSL engine, was initially designed as a racing variant of the celebrated 300 SL, featuring sports suspension, Rudge knock-off wheels and a Plexiglas rear window. Produced for only a year due to high costs and competition from established racing manufacturers, the model became a highly sought-after rarity.
With just over 45,000 miles recorded, this car’s authenticity is evident through its preserved original parts and meticulously documented history. RM Sotheby’s described it as “spectacularly genuine” and one of the most unique examples of the model.
