The Motorclassica Concours d’Elegance held in Melbourne had an ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz 220 SL roadster prototype from 1957, one of just four experimental W127 cars built and this one was the only known example left in the world. Celebrating 60 years since the 300 SL ‘gullwing’ coupe and 190 SL convertible were unveiled at the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific arranged for the 220 SL classic prototype to be displayed alongside a special 60th anniversary edition of the latest SL-Class coupe-convertible.
Mercedes-Benz 220 SL
The SL prototype on display was the only version of the six-cylinder roadster ever built in right-hand drive and belongs to an Australian collection.
Its rarity is recognized by the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, which confirmed the model never went into series production and that only four experimental cars were built.
The whereabouts of the other three W127 220 SLs built – all left-hand drive – remains unknown.
