Vehicle Description
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/149927902@N02/42rirAU4XV
Extremely Rare - Original Factory Black exterior / Red leather
interior
Numbers matching: engine, trans, body, chassis, rear axle
Ground-up restoration completed in 2022 by noted restorer, Bob
Platz
Including books, tools, jack, spare wheel/tire
The 300 SL made its racing debut in the 1952 Mille Miglia, placing
second and fourth overall, which attributed to it becoming the
preferred car for many Mille rallies to come. It was developed to
lead Mercedes Benz' comeback to competitiveness in the post-war
era. Following victories in the Carrera Pan-Americana and at Le
Mans, the 300 SL was on its way to becoming a legend in the world
of motorsport. Max Hoffman, the North American importer for
Mercedes-Benz, thought there would be a demand for a road-going
version and was able to persuade the factory that such a car would
be a hit.
The 300 SL Coupe was undoubtedly a tough act to follow, but the
Roadster model, which was unveiled just three years later, managed
to outperform its closed cousin's already excellent driving
dynamics. The 300 SL Roadster was originally displayed at the
Geneva Salon in May 1957 and became an instant favorite with the
'jet set' of the 1950s, which included royalty, celebrities, and
socialites. In order to create an open 300SL, the cockpit's
spaceframe had to be modified, allowing for lower sills for easier
access. At the same time, low-pivot swing axles were added to the
rear suspension. Although it cost more than a Ferrari 250 GT
California Spyder, the 300 SL Roadster did well in sales and would
outlive the 300 SL Coupe by a few years.
In its 1958 road test, Road & Track lavishly praised the Roadster's
balanced steering characteristics, writing, "With the low-pivot
rear suspension and stickier tires, the car handles admirably under
all situations." The gull-wing vehicles, which tended to oversteer
very violently if pushed too aggressively, have been greatly
improved. The 300 SL Roadster was one of the quickest convertibles
of its era with a 0-60 mph time just under 8 seconds and a top
speed of well over 130 mph. The 300 SL Roadster is the fully
evolved version of the 300 SL and is a truly superb dual-purpose
sports vehicle, exhibiting drivability equally in traffic, on the
open road, or on the track, according to R&T, which is still
true today. After 1,858 automobiles, roadster manufacture ended in
1963, which made existing models today highly sought after and
extremely rare.
For this specific example, 2016 marked the beginning of an
extensive, no-expense-spared ground-up restoration that spanned
over the course of 6 years by noted restorer Bob Platz (completed
mid-2022). During this comprehensive process, all parts of the
vehicle were assessed and reconditioned. This includes but isn't
limited to the engine, transmission, suspension, wheels, body, and
interior. Over $825k of invoices detailing all aspects of the
restoration are included with the sale of the vehicle.
What you have in front of you is one of the most beautiful examples
of a 300 SL. Bruce Canepa said himself that when the vehicle
arrived, it completely fulfilled his expectations as he is no
stranger to Bob Platz's amazing work. Even so, this 300 SL was put
through our Canepa Difference process where Bruce test drove the
car and had our team fully inspect every nut and bolt including a
comprehensive sorting of every system. The vehicle was then taken
in by our concours award-winning detail team where it was made
spotless inside and out to bring it near to a factory finish.
