1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Replica by Tony Ostermeier

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and Roadster siblings have rightfully earned their place as cornerstones in the collector car market. For many, no major collection is complete without one, and values qualify them as ‘blue-chip’ investments. While the dream of 300SL ownership may have slipped beyond reach for many of us mere mortals, a few people have tried to make the dream more attainable through various replicas and recreations – with varying results. In the mid-1980s, a 300SL owner and former Mercedes-Benz employee named Anton “Tony” Ostermeier felt his SL had become too valuable to enjoy the way he wanted, so he had the idea to build one that looked indistinguishable from the original, but with reliable, modern running gear. He founded Gullwing International Cars in California, putting his dream of building a modernized 300SL worthy of sharing the spotlight with the iconic original.

Ostermeier cut no corners, using the finest components and materials available. At the core is a welded square-tube steel chassis built in a similar fashion to the original tubular spaceframe. Keeping it in the family, Ostermeier fit contemporary Mercedes-Benz chassis components and running gear from across the Mercedes-Benz range. The body is an inch-perfect copy, built using Tony’s original 300SL and factory bucks as patterns. Not content with the finish quality of traditional fiberglass, Gullwing Cars built bodies using an aircraft industry material called GLARE, which is a thin outer layer of aluminum with a fiberglass core. Many of the trim parts, instruments, and other details are so accurately reproduced that owners of original cars

began using them on restoration projects, and even experts are hard-pressed to tell the difference between an ‘Ostermeier’ SL and the real thing at first glance. Each Gullwing Cars 300SL took over 400 hours each to complete and were highly prized by the lucky few who got one of the handful completed. Much like a Lynx D-Type Jaguar or Glenn Pray Auburn, Tony Ostermeier’s SLs are highly regarded, very desirable and considered genuine collectibles in their own right.

Beautifully presented in Ivory over Red leather, this 300SL Coupe is one of the estimated 150 cars produced by Tony Ostermeier’s Gullwing International Cars. First registered in 1989 and thought to have been delivered in Europe, it is equipped with desirable options including the twin-cam M110 engine, 5-speed manual gearbox, Rudge-style wheels, and air conditioning. Incredibly, it displays just 189 kilometers on the odometer and is presented in superb condition, benefitting from recent service in preparation for sale. To the casual onlooker, there’s very little to distinguish between an Ostermeier and an original Gullwing, and this car certainly supports that notion. The color-keyed Rudge-style wheels (a costly addition on Ostermeier’s option sheet) look particularly fetching and are mounted with period-style Pirelli Cinturato radials to maintain the 50’s aesthetic. The interior is finished in red leather trim, with accurately reproducedbucket seats, and factory-style patterns and finishes. Red square weave carpets are in fine fettle, and the gear knob and steering wheel are in ivory as it would have been in 1955. Reflecting Ostermeier’s readiness to swallow up the miles, this car is fitted with a Blaupunkt Roma Nav55e from approximately 2005 – a single-din stereo with built-in navigation functionality.

Ostermeier’s clients could choose from various Mercedes-Benz engines, and this car features the excellent 2.8-liter M110 twin-cam inline-six, an outstanding pairing with the manual gearbox. The modern running gear allows for effortless use and comfort beyond the capabilities of the original cars, but the cast-alloy cam cover of the M110 maintains a certain level of classic looks under the bonnet. It takes a certain combination of character and quality for a recreation, tribute, or continuation car to become collectible in its own right, and the Ostermeier Gullwing is certainly not short on those qualities. This is an outstanding example of Tony Ostermeier’s passion, and with delivery mileage on the odometer, it represents a blank canvas for your next motoring adventure.

• Model: Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing recreation by Gullwing International Cars (Anton “Tony” Ostermeier)

• Production: One of an estimated ~150 cars completed; each required over 400 hours to build

• Year / Registration: First registered 1989; believed delivered new to Europe

• Concept: High-fidelity 300SL recreation designed to be visually indistinguishable from the original, paired with reliable, modern at the time Mercedes-Benz running gear

• Chassis: Welded square-tube steel spaceframe, inspired by the original tubular design

• Body: Inch-perfect 300SL Gullwing replica built using Ostermeier’s original car and factory bucks

• Construction Material: GLARE (aluminum outer layers with fiberglass core), offering superior finish over traditional fiberglass

• Engine: 2.8-liter Mercedes-Benz M110 twin-cam inline-six

• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox

• Performance Philosophy: Modern drivability and comfort while retaining classic appearance

• Exterior Color: Ivory

• Interior: Red leather with accurately reproduced bucket seats, factory-style patterns, and finishes

• Carpeting: Red square-weave carpets

• Details: Ivory steering wheel and gear knob, correct to period presentation

• Wheels: Desirable Rudge-style wheels, color-keyed (a costly factory option)

• Tires: Pirelli Cinturato period-style radial tires

• Options & Features:
   

  • Air conditioning

  • Blaupunkt Roma Nav55e single-DIN stereo with navigation (circa 2005)
     

• Odometer: 189 kilometers shown