Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL

In 1952, the Daimler-Benz Board of Management decided to participate in international racing again and had the 300 SL racing sports car (W194) developed. Already in the same year, the car achieved remarkable successes: 2nd place at the Mille Miglia, a double victory at Le Mans with a new speed record. A quadruple record (!) at the Nürburgring followed and 1st place at the Carrera Pan Americana in Mexico. These motorsport successes were also to be used commercially. In 1954, the road version of the 300 SL (W198) celebrated its debut in New York. The most striking features were the gullwing doors that swung upwards. The reason for this was the construction: As with the 1952 racing sports car, the road version is based on consistent lightweight structure, with a lattice tube frame carrying the engine, gearbox and axles and not allowing for conventional doors. It is also the world's first series-production passenger car with direct petrol injection. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957, a roadster was presented as the successor to the gullwing, which was technically essentially the same as the coupé. However, by modifying the side panels of the lattice tube frame, the entry height could be reduced to such an extent that ordinary doors could be realised. Thanks to a flatter rear frame and a redesigned fuel tank, the spare wheel was located under the floor. Hence, there was now space for a boot. 

The rear suspension was fundamentally improved: The single-joint swing axle with a lowered pivot point, already known from the Type 220a, was now also fitted in an adapted form to the 300 SL Roadster and was equipped with a compensating spring for the first time. Compared to the gullwing version, significantly improved driving characteristics were achieved. Of the technical changes that went into production over the course of six years, two are particularly relevant: In March 1961, the 300 SL received Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels, and from March 1962, a modified engine with light-alloy block was fitted. 1,858 examples of the open-top roadster were built, compared with 1,400 gullwing versions before. Both as a coupé and as a roadster, the 300 SL was THE car of German and international celebrities in its day – including Sophia Loreen, Romy Schneider, Juan Manuel Fangio, Clark Gable, Tony Curtis, Herbert von Karajan, Hussein von Jordan, Curt Jürgens, Gunter Sachs and many more. Production of the 300 SL came to an end in February 1963, marking the end of an era at Daimler-Benz: after production of the Type 300 had already been discontinued in March 1962, the 300 SL was now the last passenger car model with a separate frame to leave the production programme. Both versions of the 300 SL, roadster and gullwing, were special enthusiasts' cars from the very beginning and have lost none of their fascination to this day.

This vehicle

This Mercedes 300 SL Roadster was manufactured in 1960 and then delivered in England to its first owner Charles Clarke in Buckinghamshire. The original colour scheme of delivery was white grey (colour code DB 158 G) with a dark red leather interior (code 641). A data card from Mercedes Benz on the delivery is available. Even today, the sports car wears a colour scheme from the 300 SL colour program of the time in graphite grey (DB 190) with light brown leather. This combination suits the car excellently and especially the "cognac brown" interior provides a sophisticated touch. The ownership history is fully known. There were three other owners in England from 1961 onwards. These included construction and property entrepreneur Tom Wheatcroft (owner 1961-1970), who also revived the Donnington Park race circuit and built up the associated motorsport collection, as well as racing driver and 1953 Le Mans winner Duncan Hamilton (owner 1972-1984). The 300 SL was subsequently sold to the USA where it had two owners (names known) before returning to the UK in 2003. There it had two more owners (names known) and then at the end of 2014 the roadster came to Germany. In mid-2016, the car was sold via EBERHARD THIESEN to its current owner in Austria, where it was part of a larger collection together with a 300 SL Gullwing. 

Under the penultimate owner in England the vehicle has been extensively restored between 2009 and 2013 by a specialist company, whereby the body was separated from the lattice tube frame ("frame-off"). This work is documented by a summary report and photos, as well as invoices for around 100,000 GBP. In 2016, under the direction of EBERHARAD THIESEN, further work was carried out to revise or renew the car. According to invoices, the original engine ("matching numbers") was again extensively overhauled at a specialist workshop for around 38,000 EUR. At the same time the interior was completely renewed to light brown leather. An invoice of 12,000 EUR from a Hamburg saddlery is available. In addition, some detail optimisations were carried out on the bodywork and functional technique for around 6,000 EUR. Since these improvements in 2016, the 300 SL Roadster has only covered a small amount of mileage. This stylish legend of German automotive engineering is in overall great condition and in extremely attractive appearance – ready for immediate use by its next owner.