Description

Chassis No. 198.042.10.002850
Engine No. 198.980.10.002908
Body No. 198.042.10.00111
Transmission No. 003099
Differential No. 003025 3/89

Mercedes-Benz's illustrious history in motorsports is one marked by periods of unprecedented success when the urge to compete strikes them. By the 1950s, Mercedes had returned to the top step of international motor racing for the first time since WWII when its gullwinged W194 won numerous races including the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. The all-conquering Silver Arrows also dominated Formula One with Juan Manuel Fangio joining the team mid-season to claim the 1954 World Drivers' Championship in the wildly successful W196 – the basis for the streamlined 300 SLR which won all five of the races it entered prior to the Le Mans disaster of 1955. Withdrawing from motorsport after a period of immense success, Mercedes decided to take care of unfinished business: turning the W194 into a proper production road car.

The 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupe introduced in February 1954 at the New York Auto Show remained closely related to its racing counterpart through the end of its production in mid-1957, including its Bosch direct fuel injection, double-jointed rear axle, and unconventional doors which were less than ideal for normal road use. Its immediate successor, the 300 SL Roadster, was designed to fulfill United States distributor Max Hoffman's vision of a more refined, open-topped version of the famed Gullwing. The engineers in Stuttgart began by redesigning the Uhlenhaut-engineered space frame aft of the windshield to accommodate conventional doors with lower door sills and roll-up windows. The new architecture crucially allowed for a folding soft top, alleviating the tighter cabin conditions of the coupe. Additional touches of practicality included a glove box, adjustable seat backrests, and a generous storage area for fitted luggage, if so optioned. The Roadster retained the race-derived six-cylinder engine with a bump in horsepower thanks to a competition camshaft pioneered on the W194, as well as an improved fuel injection system with a redesigned mixture controller and damper cage. The rear suspension was also overhauled to feature a low-point swing axle geometry with softer, transversely mounted coil springs to address oversteer without sacrificing ride quality. All told, the Roadster had no trouble exceeding 150 miles per hour, claiming the title of the fastest production car in the world from its hard-topped predecessor.

Built in 1961, chassis number 002850 benefits from a number of minor refinements introduced over the preceding model years. These include an electro-magnetic shut-off solenoid to prevent overrun, a four-pipe cooling system, a quieter transmission due to an increase in teeth on the gears, and beginning with chassis number 002780, four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. One of approximately 270 examples so equipped from the factory, these “disc brake” 300 SL Roadsters are highly sought after today for their improved stopping capabilities making them eminently usable on vintage tours and road rallies. A digital copy of the Mercedes-Benz Data Card on file records that this matching-numbers disc brake 300 SL Roadster left the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant on 26 July 1961 wearing DB 050 White paint with a 201 Black leather interior and 720 Black canvas soft top. Additional items specified at the factory included a Becker Mexico radio, a Hirschmann automatic antenna, and a 3.89:1 ratio rear axle, all of which are retained on the car today.

According to the Official Gullwing Group 300 SL Roadster Registry, chassis number 002850 spent the majority of its life in the dry climates of California and Nevada, most recently being held by a single Calfornia-based collector owner for the past 25 years. Within his stewardship, the Roadster was restored to an exacting standard in the early 2010s, during which it was renewed in its classic as-delivered White and Black finishes. Its rare and highly desirable asymmetric European-specification headlights and original Karl Baisch fitted luggage were tastefully appointed as part of the restoration. Today, the Roadster remains in fine overall condition, resplendent in its gleaming White paintwork and chrome wheels with matching White hubcaps. The interior wears correct perforated leather hides showing minimal patina, while the trunk still carries its original books, tools, jack, and spare. As a final complement to the stunning presentation and originality of this Roadster, its chassis, engine, transmission, differential, and body are all recognized to be numbers-matching according to a digital copy of its factory data card.

Few mid-century classics offer the glamorous styling and effortless performance of this 300 SL Roadster. Seeing regular but careful use by its long-term owner, the car shows 83,408 miles at the time of cataloging and is primed to be driven and enjoyed by its next owner on memorable open-air drives, premier touring events, or shown at concours d'elegance.