Purchased new by Clark Gable at Mercedes-Benz of Hollywood, Calif. List
price was $7,295 FOB NYC. After Gable's death in November 1960,
ownership was passed to Harry Haeigen, cartoonist and Gable's publicist.
Title passed to Charles Wood, owner of Grand Stand Amusement Park in
1975. In 1989, Mr. Wood commissioned Paul M. Russell of Gullwing Service
Company, Inc. of Essex, Mass. to restore this classic at a cumulative
cost of nearly $200,000. Gable ditched the standard steel wheels for the
racing Rudge knock-offs the car wears now. The wood and chrome Nardi
steering wheel replaces the standard white wheel, early photos show the
Nardi wheel in Gable's lifetime. The car was featured in the May/June
2006 edition of Motor Trend Classic magazine. At the time the car was
subjected to extensive testing that shows it can handle and perform much
as it did in 1955. Copies of the 1960s auto registration cards show
Clark Gable's signature along with Kathleen "Kay" Sprecker's (5th Wife).
Gable signed service orders from Mercedes-Benz of Hollywood for a
lube/oil change for $4.00 and parts for $10.83 total. From the Bob
Howard Collection.
Courtesy of AutoBlog
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