In 1979, Chris Hahn and Peter Engel set up Styling Garage (SGS), tuning and producing modified bodywork for high-end cars. SGS made its reputation thanks to its most prestigious customers with unlimited means, such as the Sultan of Brunei or Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, better known as the 'Rainbow Sheik’, who ordered 40 S-Class Mercedes converted into limousines and painted in all the colours of the rainbow for his wedding. As well as its limousines and convertible models, SGS broke new ground when it showed the first Gullwing-door concept on an SEC in 1982, as a tribute to the 300 SL from 1955. Christened the 500 SGS Gullwing, this sensational coupé was based on the 500 SEC with additional strengthening of the roof and sills to reinforce its structure. The operation cost as much as a new 500 SEC. Chris Hahn confirmed that this example is one of the 57 produced and was one of the few cars supplied new through SGS’ Californian showroom in Beverly Hills equipped with an original AMG bodykit and wheels. The combination of colours is quite stunning, the exterior perfectly matching its light tobacco brown leather interior. This sensational creation stands as a tribute to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing from 1955 and to the C111 concept car, it is an ode to freedom and the carefree spirit of the Eighties, and with its rare AMG features, it represents the ultimate in 1980s sex appeal!