Prototype Mercedes Gullwing found in storage unit! | Barn Find Hunter - Ep. 32

[@thebigpicture2032]

So great to see an original unrestored Gullwing. Thanks to the owner for saving it all these years. It’s like opening a time capsule.

[@caribman10]

As an old man who has old vehicles of his own, I'm just gonna step in here. There's always some kind of mania involved when you find ANYTHING really valuable where the owner lets it deteriorate into near-junk but makes no effort to properly use, preserve, restore and/or pass it on. Always. I've been involved when there's a vehicle that's just on the brink of you-don't-want-it but the owner will not part with it, improve its storage, repair/restore it - or even use it when that's possible. It's enough some times to make you cry with frustration. This vehicle, a few years ago (if all the parts are really there AND usable) could have been put back on the road for $100k. Sounds like a lot, but cheaper than the see-them-everywhere current MB "sports cars", which are all German Thunderbirds, and I don't mean that in a good way. Now you're looking at a half-million dollars and probably twice as much time. You could have been DRIVING the damn thing! Now it just sits and rots. I'm sure, as I've seen before, some day someone will restore it into unrecognizable newness. But it could have been a very valuable, very original driver. What a shame.

[@ericson26savannah86]

My father had a gullwing it was a cool car for a kid to be in this was 56 years ago I love to see them. Thanks for showing that.

[@GearScar]

If you look at the facts presented, driven for 2 years, disassembled and primered, tire choice, interior no radio option, body damage (small dents here and there), it would strongly suggest the car was bought and used for racing. I would bet somewhere there is photos of it on a track with a number painted on the hood and doors

[@marcoreis6609]

licence plate inside the car says year 65.

[@victorgojocco1716]

that's one hell of a barn find!!! How i wish I could afford it as is, and it would be a life time restoration for me!!!!!

[@igkgigoh]

"Imma restore it one day" No, you won't, sell it

[@jameswsolinger5276]

Looking for a 49 Ford custom club coup stock and a 53 Mercury moter stock and a 50 Ford bisines club coup stock

[@neorev01]

One day when he's 120 years old? He's definitely already well past his prime

[@andrewazzariti]

You guys need to promote this channel more. I watch a lot of various car related KZbin channels and this has to be in the top 5. I don’t know how you don’t have over a million subscribers.

[@there_is_nothing_here]

Priceless car Keeps it in a rental storage with various junk

[@paulletchworth8127]

What’s wrong with people sell it so it can be restored and enjoyed by someone

[@markw5805]

Paul Letchworth you would have to sell it for less than it is worth to break even on the restoration.

[@paulletchworth8127]

True , just sad it’s setting going to the bad

[@markw5805]

Paul Letchworth agreed...some people like just knowing they have things. There have been a few BF episodes that the people save them from the crusher just to let them rot in a yard. For all we know this person can’t afford 500k to restore, therefore letting it go means they trade possession of the car, for cash. Lots of people have $900k...only one person has 1954 gullwing #43.

[@marcryvon]

The car is obviously in dry South California, in a "sealed" container, away from sun and ozone. Everything that could rot is already toast. The car won't get any worst. I agree that it should be in good hands and get a full resto. Shame.

[@Swordie100]

These cars can be restored even with profit, these are fucking expensive.

[@robertjensen4525]

Mercedes makes the most iconic vehicles made I enjoy the search that is done and enjoy learning about the history.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

A friend of mine in high school worked at a foreign car repair shop in Tampa in the late 60s. The owner, an ex-pat German, had one of these (ice blue, white leather) and asked us to go pick up some parts for him one time. We drove it like two old men afraid of their shadows, most of the way.

[@mwhitelaw8569]

The 43rd gullwing made Fantastic find Thanks for showing it to us

[@yamahaxs6501]

what a colossal waste. so sad that someone is just holding onto it to "have it" while it further deteriorates. these are the worst kind of "collectors".

[@RiggyRonnie]

Not ur car bro if he wants he can lift it and go off roading

[@MrGlenspace]

yamahaxs6501 if not selling at least restore it. As the years roll by it will only need more work. All the rubber molding and wiring will have to be redone. That is just for starters compared to the amount of work an expert restorer would have to do. It is like taking a great painting and putting it in storage where nobody get to appreciate it and it decays.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

What's sad is that it's parked in a damn storage facility. I'd have this thing parked at my home so I could at least look at it every day. Sitting in primer since the late 50s? Insanity. Imagine the fun and enjoyment that could have been had with this car over the past 60 years.

[@MLC...]

@@RiggyRonnieWith cars like these you also own the responsibilty of looking after it to preserve it for future generations. While not against the law to treat it badly, the morality of the owner is questionable.

[@guysmalley]

yamahaxs6501 you will see when you’re older

[@BrianDFugate]

I cannot stand how people will let things like this just rot away just simply to be selfish and greedy

[@MerkMacheen]

It's not being selfish and greedy. It's called LOVE, maybe PASSION, maybe bragging rights, maybe sentimental, maybe even keeping it to hand off to the next of kin, or child/grandchild!!. It could be a magnitude of things!!!!!. It's NOT always some old rich guy rubbing his hands together, laughing evil like, saying HAHA, I have it!!, and NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE IT!!!.. There's much more complicated reasons why people would keep hold of old cars like this

[@sv_cheats1970]

@@MerkMacheen if I was an old gentelmen with a car like that I would surely keep it in good running condition and decent aesthetic condition. It would kill me to see something I love be in that condition.

[@maxboya]

@@MerkMacheenyou are either deeply confused or incredibly wrong about a love for a vehicle. If you love a vehicle you preserve it, take care of it. This is called neglect and abuse. Even if he’s keeping this for best of kin then why allow it to further fall apart? So they can pick up all the slack from the current owners neglect and lack of motivation to do anything?

[@thor8640]

Wow, but why? It would be awesome to know what the story of this car is. Why was it parked and primed so many years ago? Why after only 2 years on the road? These cars deserve so much more than a storage shed in an industrial park. Somebody save this Gullwing for the love of cars!!!!

[@serz1885]

probably something broke down and no funds or possibility to fix it because he is broke ass ... or hard to get parts or hard to get who can fix it. than he cant sell it because owner thing that he will get money before he will die to restore it instead of sell it for reasonable price

[@fullthrottlemetric]

Sucks to see it like this .. dude needs to sell it to someone to get it on the road

[@thomaspaine4670]

It's clear to me the old guy showing the car is the owner. He knows why to much about the car to have only seen it once or even several times in his life. He knew the bumper was bent slightly on the top as well as other very specific facts about it.

[@gotham61]

The factory fitted luggage straps onto the rear parcel shelf behind the seats inside the cabin. If you were to open the trunk, you'd see that there is little room for anything besides the spare tire. The two hood bulges are not just styling elements, they provide clearance for the engine cam cover and intake runner on the tilted engine.

[@ChaosZero.]

What a waste. If it truly is the 43rd out of the assembly line and it's a 1-owner car, the owner himself is a moron. Apologies for being harsh, but seeing this car in such a sorry state is just depressing. If you don't have the will or the money to restore it yourself, sell it to somebody that can take care of it, one way or another. To just leave it there and rot into the ground for 60+ years, then you don't deserve to own it.

[@jimmygrant3212]

ChaosZero ノブ it’s literally being stored safe in a dry storage unit stop worrying about a car that’s not yours.

[@marcd7332]

ChaosZero ノブ Maybe stop telling people what to do with their possessions? There’s more than monetary value but you seem too superficial to notice that.

[@foadrightnow5725]

ChaosZero - I'm in total agreement with you! While I feel people obviously have the right to do whatever the hell they want to with their own possessions, up to and including letting them become one with the Earth again, I make an exception to that viewpoint when I see such sacrilegious treatment of such a rare and iconic automobile! The person who owns such a caliber of vehicle has a moral obligation, nay a duty, to ensure its longevity for future automotive enthusiasts to appreciate and enjoy! For they are but temporary stewards of it! And I think more than a few car enthusiasts would agree! Either restore it, or sell it to someone who will!

[@marcd7332]

FOAD RIGHTNOW No he doesn’t have a moral obligation, it’s his property not a museum piece and the only person that he must preserve this for is him, I’m pretty sure this has more sentimental value than monetary value to him, and the car is not under a tree rotting away it’s inside a enclosed container.

[@ChaosZero.]

If it truly had "sentimental value", an owner attached to his possession wouldn't let it rot like that for 60+ years. If you treasure something, you don't leave it in such a sorry state for that long. You take care of it, if it has value to you. Take your sentimentalistic views elsewhere. This is clearly not the case of a person "loving" his car.

[@MegaNoroc]

After all these years, I'm just noticing how this car influenced the styling cues of the '56-'57 Corvette. The exterior designs are undeniable. Everything from the hood, fenders, single-headlights and the hubcaps are a direct copy. Beautiful car!!!!!

[@natenasty6292]

I have an old Tomica toy of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and this whole video I was holding it and looking at it in the same angles as you were showing in the video. I've had this toy since I was 4 years old in 1987 it's silver with the red interior and it's all been chipped up over the years. So neat to see a real version of my toy almost exactly

[@jared5021]

I had that same toy as a kid. No clue what happened to it though.

[@natenasty6292]

Jared Kostka I only have a couple of hot wheels from my collection that I was given by an old family friend back in 87 I can't believe I still have them

[@Follett2121]

Although it doesn’t have the things that normally add value, it makes up for it with the fact that it’s such an early car!

[@barryrudge1576]

This car is a unique and valuable reference point for all gull-wing Mercedes of the same era.

[@BlueHaze7024]

The owner seemed uneasy when the dust was rubbed off the window to reveal a decal. Very secretive too; would not even say what city it previously was located in stored in the second story of a building. I doubt anything will be done as long as he has a say. Probably good as a reference to see how they were when original although with 35K miles some things must have been changed. Fascinating series.

[@atarijawa462]

The owner of the car wasn't even there with them. How do you know if he was uneasy or not?

[@BlueHaze7024]

OK, the owner's agent or whatever he is. They were not clear how he is connected but he said he first saw the car in 1956-57 at 16 so that makes him about 78. Obviously he has a connection to the car and a story but is unwilling to share and that is okay. "This is original dirt, you don't see that very often" sounds like he does not want the dust disturbed. I fully understand that too.

[@michaelball7440]

And yet it would not be impossible to find this car. We know the number of the storage unit. We know the number of the storage unit across from it. We see subtle details around the area. we know it is on the north east coast of America. I bet we could use Google earth to narrow the search to a few cities and a few hundred businesses. LET THE HUNT BEGIN!

[@AndrewAMartin]

Probably Florida, not the Northeast. Amelie Island is on the Gulf side of Florida...

[@AndrewAMartin]

And check out the palmettos in the very beginning...

[@JA-sm9zf]

Thank you. The jealousy point was thought provoking and unexpected. Thank you and God bless.

[@erickcarlson9245]

"A 100% untouched car!" (he immediately touches the car)

[@GTE_Channel]

Untouched and yet completely dismantled, bigger mistery then the Pyramids!

[@markanthony3275]

WOW ! Every week it's a new barn find of an ultra rare exotic beast...it almost seems like more are being found than were actually made!

[@storminator60]

The bumps in the good were functional. They are there so the top of the engine will fit under the hood. The engine is installed with a slight cant to make it fit. Watch the video on Jay Leno's Gullwing. Bernard tells you about it. The transmission is also used only in the Gullwing because of the cant of the engine.

[@labrd41]

Did I get this right? Car has a value of $900K as it sits, restoration is estimated at $500K and Hagerty's concourse condition value is $1.3M.

[@labrd41]

Mike Burnett Well we learn something everyday. Can I blame my spellcheck or not?

[@chrisrea7347]

Agree with others, what a waste having it locked up and unrestored and not driven!!

[@placeholdername3206]

1:03 I know exactly where that storage is lol. Hey oldtimer, don't worry your secret is safe

[@randysrestoration]

Total waste. Nearly a million $ just getting destroyed by elements. Might as well be a toy model of one. Cannot imagine $ spent on storage fees for 60+ years. Makes no sense why it was torn apart when 2 yrs old. Story does not add up.

[@GETUPANDGO]

Yeah, sad to see it like that

[@jimmygrant3212]

Not your car not your problem… don’t get comments disabled like episode 30.

[@DarthSpaceBall]

EcoBoost EngineSwap “it’s a free a country” No, it’s KZbin.

[@jimmygrant3212]

EcoBoost EngineSwap 1st amendment doesn’t apply to KZbin

[@randysrestoration]

Jimmy Grant if anything it’s people like you that will lock comments. Get a life..

[@garthlocklin6355]

There used to be a building on the west side highway in NYC that had dozens of old cars covered in dust with really dirty windows. I got in there briefly in 1986 when I was a helper for an elevator repair co. Old Jags, MB's, Chevys, all pre 1965 stuff. They had 20 or so years of dust n dirt then. I got to look at one of them, it was a 1959 Impala convertible, 4 speed. 1900 miles on the odometer, looked new inside. I wonder if those cars are still there or where they ended up.

[@Nanogenium]

It should go to Mercedes to be restored to new. They can do it with original Parts or fabricate them with special tools.

[@jimmygrant3212]

softundsafety not all restorations done by the manufacturer are correct I’d rather see this in a high end well known concours quality restoration shop or restored as a driver not every car needs to be restored to nicer than original.

[@davisharr]

Do a quick google search for Rudi and Company, thats who I would take it to, they are 300SL experts. If it where my car and I had the money to spend I would drop it there with a blank cheque (ready for at least half a million dollars!) and tell them to do everything absolutely original, as close to the day it was new as possible! I have seen some of their 300SL restorations in person, absolutely beautiful.

[@Mercmad]

There are a lot of Mercedes Specialist restorers around the World who can restore these cars which isn't straight forward because of the tube chassis. The Mercedes Classis center does some but there are private owners such as Lynn Fox who do their own (he has three)

[@Nanogenium]

Jimmy Grant I worked at Mercedes Classic here in Germany. I know the quality of these restorations, not really anyone can compare, if it isnt a official workshop.

[@Nanogenium]

Harrison Davis I just know german standards 😅 But here are a few Workshops who i would give a car like this.

[@junito1008]

Grandpa, We all know is all original...even the dirt...you don’t have to repeat it so many times !! 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@deaddog5344]

Grandpa is the original dirt.

[@junito1008]

Dead Dog 😂🤣

[@sphinxvet]

Original interior full of metal parts on top..great conservation..yeah

[@alphasportstv]

Yes with pointy metal chrome parts sticking into organic leather for decades? Sooooo stupid such a waste.

[@wamgoc3637]

It was a race car and probably has many unoriginal parts. It was probably parked because something expensive broke.

[@35i_Hearse_Driver]

This is "original dirt" 😂😂😂 Daumn...can I buy that on eBay?

[@hazold8541]

Sebastian Stock $13,050 for 1.5kg of classic mercedes dirt thanks

[@terryorcutt8739]

Sure can, but it comes preattached to an expensive little sports car. :-)

[@lawrencebmarshall]

Half a million and 2 years to bring it to concourse condition and its worth 1.2 or a rusty pile of parts and its worth 900K. I think the estimates are off here.

[@zachjacobs3337]

the market decides the value, not you or the money you put into it.

[@BlueHaze7024]

That is why it is always best to buy the best you can afford unless you want to control the restoration.

[@mura0]

should be worth around 600 then

[@PatrickPeterVlogs]

Probably why its sitting there in that state as the owner is wanting more than its worth - its common trait among most car hoarders and the like.

[@elementalfunk]

That's because this is not "fair" condition, it's "poor", which was not mentioned. That would reduce the price significantly.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! What a great find! That car would look beautiful completely restored.

[@vettekid3326]

I saw my first 300SL when I was 17 but it was a 1955 roadster. It was originally bought for the teenage daughter of a prominent doctor. It had been sitting in storage for 10 years and other than needing a good cleaning was still in excellent original condition. That was in 1973.

[@grizzly9960]

For those who may be wondering about the German serial numbers> Numbers passed 13 are spoken with the last number first 4 and 10 - 5 and 10 - 6 and 10 on and on. Forty five (45) is 5 and 40 fünfundvierzig . Maybe the translation got reversed somewhere when they printed of serial numbers?

Cha ching, jackpot. They are still out there. A 1915 Harley Davidson with a 2 speed transmission was just found in a Massachusetts cellar.

[@offplanetevent]

So the old guy just owns it to say, he owns a 300SL MB GW.

[@BenitoFan760]

Pretty much 😒😒😒

[@74leerob]

Thank you for still being free to view on You Tube

[@tomlindo2863]

74leerob first positive comment and I completely agree!

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

*MOTOR TREND ON DEMAND INTENSIFIES*

[@fw1421]

What a beautiful car,one of my all time favorites. I can’t imagine leaving it unrestored like this. The owner could send it to Mercedes Classic and he would get back a brand new car,perfect in every way. Of course it would cost a princely sum but he would still make money on it.

[@celticgodsoriginal]

I covered a Guernsey auction at Javits center in late 80's junk bond era for a Belgian car magazine in the days when classic cars started to get nutsy. There were 4- 300sl's there for auction , the best one made US$110k. The highest bidded car of the auction was a 1967 Ferrari 275GTB long nose, twin cam, alloy body car that went up to $1,275,000.00 and did not reach reserve.

[@jimaagenes8445]

It should be in a museum as is for everyone to look. Especially for other 300 restorations.

[@goldsilverandiamonds]

Why not offer to have it put in quality car museum on loan where it is protected and in climate controlled place where people can admire it and learn bout the history of the car? Rather have it sit in hot box of a storage unit where it is getting ruined by heat, cold, moisture and the overall environment. Where it is at greater risk for fire, water damage, pest damage, theft ect. If the owner was a real car lover he would not be so neglectful and treat the car so badly in my opinion. But with that said it was nice to get to see it.

[@mitchelledwards8710]

What an absolute find this is

[@MACHINA]

GOOD NEWS!!! This 300SL chassis n°43 was put together in "one piece", unrestored, by Mercedes and presented at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

That's awesome, thanks for update!

[@alphasportstv]

Good to hear, but did they pry title out of the stupid hoarder's hands or just do him a favor so he could stick it back in the U Store It?

[@VedTraed]

For anyone still reading these comments: Mercedes-Benz Classic Center Irvine managed to buy this car in the spring of 2019, for an undisclosed sum of money from the original owner.

[@randythompson2681]

Glad to see it in a safe place, where the public can see it. What history

[@randythompson2681]

I wonder what it is worth

[@fryelee11]

I'll see you in another 20 years. That was the stupidest statement I've heard this year.

[@Jim-fe2xz]

I had one but sold it many years ago. It was not disassembled like this one but nothing worked. Got it running & driveable which bumped the value quite a bit but still they've doubled or tippled in value since then. It was fun to drive but you constantly had to worry about someone hitting it (brake lights wire marginal) or worse following you home - either trying to buy it or casing the place to steal it. There comes a point in your life when things become impracticable and you have to let them go. Now here's the shocker: Unless you want to try to hide the sale (I was offered cash, traveler's checks and all sorts of things impossible for me to use) the capital gains on a collectible item back then was 28% in the US! That's just federal so you still have the state to deal with. Far more than normal capital gains.

[@timbutler8316]

Thanks Tom really enjoyed this one! sad its just sitting there with nowhere to go!

[@panamared354]

I knew seeing the thumbnail clue to what the car is, I couldn't click on the video fast enough. From one motor head to another thanks for sharing

[@rjr1227]

Wow....so when I was a kid...like 7..8..?....my grandparents neighbor across the street had this.."real cool looking car" backed in his garage....I asked him "why dont you ever drive this cool Mercedes"....he's like ok, I'll show you....(I only saw the car 2x) ....he flips back the tarp that was over it....and vola! Here sat this beautiful Gullwing..... all I said was wow! That's cool!!.... little did I know back then....lol (now wondering if the family still has it) Now...this was WAY back in the 70s....so I have no clue what...where...this ended up. ...So...if you were to start a restoration of THIS Benz.....where would you start? It would be so fun...and a headache to do it...

[@nejjk]

Really nice barn-find computer off to the left... Is that a Pentium II?!

[@GETUPANDGO]

Gotta keep the classics together, lol!

[@BlueHaze7024]

Along with a Nordic Track exercise machine. $1 Million Mercedes stored next to something you practically have to give away.

[@hazold8541]

Someone is banking on Pentium ii to increase in value just like the car

[@Mercmad]

The last barn find Gull Wing, owned by the same guy since new was also stored with a pile of old computers...as big as a household Fridge.

[@Shyzah]

Jamesir Bensonmum That computer is a Compaq Presario 4860. They're actually really rare computers. Majority of them came in beige, only a few black compaqs made at that time. Not really worth anything though. Yeah they came with pentium II.

[@stevewaller6577]

I think the valuations at the end sum up the story, it will cost you $900K to buy it, $500K and 2 years to restore it and then lose $300 if you sold it. It is sadly not viable. I hope Mercedes buy it and restore it, they can do it and it needs to be restored.

[@gplusgplus2286]

It all depends on the original idiot who owns it. Whoever restores it must make a profit, otherwise it will just rot away more.

[@nathanhummel2665]

Cost a lot to restore. I helped restore the number 4 gullwing and it cost well over 200k for the customer just for parts that were needed. I can't believe I got to work on it let alone see and touch the number 4 gullwing. Had to quit though because the guy wanted to control my life.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

They did, Mercedes fixed it up a little and presented it at a show

[@haroldwhodunit1217]

Unbelievable find! but really not many could afford to buy it let alone have it professionally restored! Nice to find but only to a very very small clientele!

[@BMan100]

my heart bleeds when I see things like this..

[@dlp2600]

This car needs to be restored it's classic rare diamond can't believe it has been sitting like this what a shame!

[@GETUPANDGO]

Wow, one of my favorites cars of all time

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Really belongs in a collection, something to keep it company rather than in a grave like that.

[@dalebaby1]

love the way he just tosses the hubcap in the back of the car

[@greengabe5]

I would donate it to Mercedes-Benz in exchange for a full restoration. Sure it wouldn’t be mine anymore but being able to see that beautiful car fully restored would be amazing

[@ColinsLv]

Take a shot every time he says "original"

[@therealgaragegirls]

ColinsLv You'd die of alcohol poisoning. 😅

[@deltaw7363]

or "trim"

[@ChrisLoganToronto]

I think it was about 5 years ago Cooper Classics in New York City had a barn find condition 300 in their show room. It was amazing to see. And I think all the patina really looks good on the old cars. It's nice to see shiny examples, but patina shows it's age and makes you think of the days it first hit the street or track

[@julianneale6128]

It's incredible when they talk of the styling ques. This car was styled after the Jensen 541 which my grandfather designed! Look up the Jensen 541 and you'll see so many of the same features. Once Mercedes had the engineering package, they actually weren't sure what to make it look like. Then Jensen came out with the 541, the boys at Mercedes loved it and the rest is history...

[@GaitaPonto]

but the Jensen was launched in 1954. Did Mercedes have industrial spies back then?

[@SpinandThrowDiscGolf]

Like looking at dead bones in a crypt and marveling at how great it is to be dead.

[@sparenothing1487]

Car was probably stolen, why else would it be just hid away... makes no sense, sad to see..

[@paulstandeven8572]

The car is still owned by the man who bought it new

[@torchandhammer]

Englebert! Nice nod to the "My Classic Tire" show.

[@OldIronRC]

Priceless car stored with worthless desktop computer. Funny old world we live in.

[@Jucru]

what if that computer has a couple thousand bitcoins? could be worth more than the car. You never know

[@johnrodgers6049]

Amazing. Love to get it going, new everything, but leave it in primer just as a statement. BTW the fitted luggage goes in the back of the cabin, not the trunk. I believe the spare tire is in the trunk. Not certain.

[@adrianoagliardi1450]

Stupenda giardinetta in legno ! Condizioni favolose !

[@frbmp5100]

Old guys seem to own most coolest things.

[@A7ty34g]

This series is full of great cars just wasting away collecting dust. Only a few have actually been sold to be restored but most continue to sit and rust.

[@junkman6456]

Rom, the Kienzle clock is about 1k $ in this condition. And remind the prices for all the additional parts needed from factory for a restoration they charge about 70k. Estimated from what we can see. So, sell it for 450k and there will be a happy new owner.

[@stephenriley9084]

Tom, I like the styling of this car. Thanks for the reveal. Regards Stephen.

[@Hagerty]

Thanks for being a fan Stephen!

[@brotangyoust9252]

Someone stole that way back in the day I think. Primered, stashed....stolen😂😂

[@MrDavil43]

Not wishing to tell the owner (whoever) what to do with their property, but I would feel obliged to maintain such an object in the best condition possible, same as if it were an old master painting or a rare collection of fine furniture. I hope the owner has pangs of guilt about what I regard as sheer vandalism.

[@tomperkins5657]

I doubt it.

[@plumbandsquare1]

Can't see how that passes as fair condition.

[@zagyex]

not rusted away. If pieces put together and cleaned, would be fair.

[@JMc.D]

You can’t call the 43rd of anything a prototype Bill!

[@psk1w1]

The first 50 examples of the Porsche 356 were made in Gmunde, and are regarded as prototypes, being all hand made. Later cars were full production items, made by Reutters. The Tucker Torpedo had a similar number made, also by hand, and have lots of detail variations - regarded as prototypes....

[@mrkkg27]

The information was factually correct.

[@agatemaster1998]

I guess we will see on storage wars one day

[@goodboyringo9716]

THATS GOT THE COOLEST STANCE FROM THE FRONT

[@Lainenn]

I'm much too young to know anything about the specifics of this car, but in the German language, the number 54 is "vier und fünfzig" which translates roughly to "four and fifty". Why it would be stamped in the way it's verbally expressed - I have no idea.

[@terryorcutt8739]

Gorgeous sports car from Mercedes that was rare and had an amazing racing pedigree. First production car ever to have fuel injection. A modern day equivalent would be the Ferrari LaFerrari or the McLaren Senna. Could also approach 150mph top speed in the mid 50s when the great majority of production cars couldn't even achieve 100mph. An amazing car that I've only scratched the surface. Worth looking up. Cheers. :-)

[@larsfalk4281]

Fantastic barn find! Would be nice to restore it. Classic Mercedes, 300SL my first favorite car as a kid.

[@JuanVargas-yq1rz]

awesome episode, so cool to see an UN-restored legend

[@originalstar7144]

In 20 years the knowledge and people capable of restoring such a car will be dead. Cars are meant to be driven, this one will surely never make it out.

[@sv_cheats1970]

I doubt that, in fact there will probably mpre and more documented details, and processes.

[@sv_cheats1970]

But of course master craftsman of the older generation will sadly die out.

[@bigkahuna1950]

In 1968 I was 18 and remember seeing my first Gullwing parked in front of a motorcycle shop her in Ottawa, Ontario. Several people were gathered around the car and jazzng with the owner and of course the question of value came up. When he said that he turned down $10k most everyone looked at him as if he had two heads. Idiots!

[@marcryvon]

Yeah, unfortunately the case of many many cars. Look at the E type ! Nobody wanted one then (unreliable they said!), look at their prices nowadays. Same with Sunbeam Tigers, Citroën DS or Datsun 510s.

[@waynekozak1462]

Was that Trudeau`s car?

[@danielday713]

Love the tune on the introduction.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I would love to find something like that. That's a rare find

[@pappabob29]

I have a German born friend. Porsche factory trained mechanic, now retired, who used to always complain about how the German car companies insisted in using "natural rubber" that didn't begin to last as long as the synthetic rubber the American automakers used. That really seems to show true here.

[@fatasdat]

How can you say this is original whenn it has primer on it? You can restore a car to concorse condition. but lets face it, No matter how good the job, A car is ONLY original once..

[@redsow7156]

great point. I go look at so many cars where the seller says, "yeah it's all original, repainted once."

[@pewpew6825]

Does it still count as original if you special order the original paint from the dealer and have it factory painted?

[@gregoryyount6907]

A respray, assuming it is top quality, only slightly detracts from "original condition". It's difficult to tell from the video if the interior can be salvaged, chrome looks poor, etc. Most likely a full-on restoration is required. My (amateur) guess is $450,000 - $500,000 as it sits currently. I agree it should find a new owner.

[@mrkkg27]

@@pewpew6825 All original could be referring to the body, no body damage requiring replacement. I've never heard of anyone shipping a car back to Germany so the factory could repaint. What would be the point, they don't use the equipment, or the paint (lacquer i presume) at the factory. Computerized robots on an assembly line paint the bulk of cars today. it would have to be painted by a person.

[@paulstan9828]

Always fun to watch! Thanks

[@pablopicaro7649]

Can only afford a $100 storage locker (or maybe the storage lot), but has a Car worth perhaps USD$900k. makes a lot of sence. Probably NOT really stored there, just a distraction from where it is really stored.

[@133dave133]

I personally would take that 1 of 1 428 4 Speed Country Squire over this 300SL in a heartbeat.

[@Schnot]

I’d take this Mercedes, restore it, then sell it and buy ten squires lol

[@williamr3840]

If they'd just popped the trunk, they'd have found a skeleton in mechanic's overalls with a dagger through its ribs! Yeah, I guess that just about wraps up this mystery... Next time on Hagerty PI we get to the bottom of how a U-boat stored in a Minnesota dairy barn ended up fitted with the wings from a Mitsubishi Zero! :0)

[@CalebP618]

I only watch Hagerty for Barn Find Hunter. I don't watch anything else they have

[@bassplayermarty6032]

I towed a few on my flatbed in around 1986... Saw a perfect red one with the matching luggage (tan color) In Newport Beach area. It was a customer...I think I towed a 190 sl for him ? It was a rainy day. He showed me The Gull wing (in his garage) I remember I was not impressed as it did not gleam ( new paint) and he said the paint was UNWAXED. He said It was more valuble that way... I could tell my 300sl convertible story but I dont want to type that much right now.

[@elliestyx6269]

Oh wow what a gorgeous car!! But I don't think they'll top those five from a few months ago :P