---

Kling in the 300 SL at the Swedish Grand Prix, 1955 (above, left)

1955 World Rally Championship
Werner Engle & Co-driver / Mechanic at a stop during the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally with Gullwing prototype racer (above, center)

Kling, Fangio & Moss at 1955 Swedish Grand Prix, where the car won first place. (above, right)

Werner Engle & Gullwing prototype at speed, rounding a bend in the Alps during the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally (left)

---

1953/4 300SL GULLWING PROTOTYPE chassis#8627198071/7. Pre-production prototype handbuilt by the Mercedes Benz Experimental Department engineers and craftsmen in 1953/4 as a practical design exercise to determine the final configuration of the eventual production Gullwing. After its use as a design vehicle, it was used for promotion and display. Its picture is found in early promotional literature, as early on this was the only Gullwing Mercedes had to photograph or display. In 1955 it was updated to more standard configuration and used as a Mercedes Benz Works supplied racer in many sporting events:

• Winner WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 1955 driven by Werner Engle.
• Winner GRAND PRIX OF SWEEDEN 1955 driven by Karl Kling.
• MILLE MILLIA 1955 Practice vehicle driven by Stirling Moss

We decided to restore the car to its final configuration (that of the vehicle that won the World Rally Championship in 1955). Many SL’s were raced, but I have never seen another one restored as a rally vehicle.