[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/priceless-mercedes-300sl-gullwing-wrecked-by-mechanic-in-germany\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/priceless-mercedes-300sl-gullwing-wrecked-by-mechanic-in-germany\/","headline":"Priceless Mercedes 300SL Gullwing wrecked by mechanic in Germany","name":"Priceless Mercedes 300SL Gullwing wrecked by mechanic in Germany","description":"How would you fancy having an \u00a3550,485 repair bill next time you prang your car? No, thought not, but that is what happened recently as possibly the most unfortunate mechanic currently\u00a0practicing\u00a0his trade in Germany took a priceless car for a ride. The car was a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing that was rather ironically, being restored – what you might describe as a bit of a set back then. So is there actually any good news to be had out of this? […]","datePublished":"2013-04-03","dateModified":"2013-04-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/1955-mercedes-benz-300sl-gullwing-coupe.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/1955-mercedes-benz-300sl-gullwing-coupe.jpg","height":300,"width":300},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/priceless-mercedes-300sl-gullwing-wrecked-by-mechanic-in-germany\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars"],"wordCount":419,"keywords":["300sl","accident","benz","crash","germany","gullwing","mechanic","mercedes","sports car international magazine"],"articleBody":"How would you fancy having an \u00a3550,485 repair bill next time you prang your car? No, thought not, but that is what happened recently as possibly the most unfortunate mechanic currently\u00a0practicing\u00a0his trade in Germany took a priceless car for a ride.The car was a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing that was rather ironically, being restored – what you might describe as a bit of a set back then. So is there actually any good news to be had out of this? Well, neither driver or passenger were hurt in the accident, although rumours abound of a thoroughly dented ego and possible lack of a pay rise for quite some time for the unfortunate mechanic.The Gullwing is one of the most deserving cars of the word \u201cclassic\u201d that you might find, it oozes class. The 300SL is unsurprisingly often cited as being one of the most collectible Mercedes-Benz vehicles in existence, while Sports Car International magazine voted the 300SL Gullwing as number 5 in its list of the finest sports cars of all time – hard to argue with that accolade really.Perhaps our unfortunate young mechanic had been reading of the Gullwing\u2019s racing pedigree before the 26 year old grabbed the keys to go for a spin. In 1952 the Gullwing had caused a bit of a stir in beating both Jaguar and Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with old-style carburettors powering the engine and producing a mere 175hp. The secret it turns out, was the Gullwing\u2019s supreme aerodynamics. Ahead of it\u2019s time indeed.Reports say that the mechanic was going somewhat faster than he should have been and was breaking the speed limit of 80km\/h when the accident happened and the Merc slid off the side of the road. We can only begin to imagine what he said to his passenger after they realised that they were ok and the realisation of what they had done had begun to sink in.The moral of this story is simple really \u2013 always make sure that you have your car correctly insured as things can go wrong! In the UK, assuming the mechanic was reputable, his motor trade policy would have picked up the bill for this type of accident. This isn\u2019t the first time I\u2019ve heard of mechanics taking a rather nice car for a \u201cbit of a cheeky spin\u201d, perks of the trade maybe. In this case, the owner was reported to be fairly calm about the accident.Crash image from zero2turbo.com"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Priceless Mercedes 300SL Gullwing wrecked by mechanic in Germany","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/priceless-mercedes-300sl-gullwing-wrecked-by-mechanic-in-germany\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]