Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 198.042.10.002840
Engine No. 198.980.10.002898
Transmission No. 003056
Differential No. 003019 3/64
Body No. 198.042.10.00112
In the three years after its appearance at the 1954 International
Motorsports Show, the road-going version of the W194 race car had
earned the adoration of an emerging jet set clientele for its
cutting-edge performance and outrageous gullwing doors. Not ones to
forfeit an opportunity for improvement, the engineers in Stuttgart
were already developing a worthy successor to the Gullwing,
breaking cover as the 300 SL Roadster in 1957. The new model
replaced its coupe sister car, and in doing so featured numerous
technical and cosmetic upgrades while retaining the athletic
character that had made it a sensation.
Despite the visual similarities to its predecessor, the open-body
Roadster received considerable enhancements under the skin in the
interest of creating a more polished and daily-usable grand tourer.
The welcome introduction of conventional doors and wind-up windows
necessitated a redesign of the Uhlenhaut-engineered spaceframe,
which now incorporated lower door sills for ease of access. The new
architecture crucially allowed for a folding soft top, alleviating
the tight cabin conditions of the coupe. As a final touch of
practicality, the spare was relocated to underneath the trunk and
the fuel tank downsized, affording 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 alloy-bodied W194. The
rear suspension was redesigned 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.
Built in 1961, chassis number 002840 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 no. 002780,
four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. The Mercedes-Benz Data Card on file
reveals that this European-market, disc brake 300 SL Roadster left
the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant wearing Graphite Grey (DB 190)
paint, and is believed to have been delivered new to Switzerland.
Before the current owner purchased the vehicle, the exterior had
been repainted in a factory shade of Feuerwehrrot (Fire Engine Red)
and its matching 'sport option' wheels refinished with polished
lips and chrome centers. The interior was also retrimmed in tan
with correct perforated leather hides. Chassis no. 002840 was
purchased by the current owner, a very well-respected Mercedes-Benz
collector, in 1996. Its history since this time is well documented
in an extensive file of service records.
As verified by the factory build sheet, 002840 retains its original
matching numbers body, chassis, engine, transmission, and
differential. Desirably, the car also retains its rare hardtop -
also finished in Fire Engine Red - and a complete set of fitted
luggage. Its asymmetric European-specification headlights, lack of
rear quarter-panel reflectors, horn ring directionals, steering
column-mounted high beam flasher, and center cluster are further
examples showing 002840 as a European delivery vehicle. In
addition, it features the standard European 3.64 ratio
differential, allowing for higher top speeds over the conventional
U.S. delivery 3.89 ratio. The speedometer was changed prior to the
current ownership from kilometers to miles when it was brought into
the US, and the tail lights were converted to 'all red.'
The Roadster has been a regular entrant in vintage rallies
including the 'New England 1000' in 1997 and the 'New England 2000'
in 2000. More recently, 002840 was driven to and from the Amelia
Island Concours in 2015 by its owner and chief mechanic without
incident and is said to be in excellent mechanical condition. In
addition to chronicling regular service over the years, invoices on
file detail an extensive cosmetic and mechanical refresh in January
2023. A complete inspection of all mechanical and electrical
systems was first performed, followed by repairs to the cooling
system (replacement of the water pump and restoration of the
radiator and expansion tank), fully servicing the brake system
(including the rebuilding of the rare brake booster), tuning the
engine (adjustment of the distributor and jets as needed), a
complete fluid change, and a new battery. Cosmetically, the engine
bay was detailed (refinishing numerous components in their correct
shade of black), and the leather upholstery received a refresh in
select areas to ensure a uniform finish.
Today, this numbers-matching Roadster presents in wonderful
condition throughout. Its vibrant Fire Engine Red paintwork and
color-coded hubcaps are in fine order and are certain to draw
attention. Inside, the recently refreshed tan leather interior
looks and feels fantastic, complemented by an ivory steering wheel,
VDO instrumentation, and the correct European dial scale Becker
Mexico radio with a rarely optioned Reims short wave adapter.
Complete with its optional matching hardtop, set of fitted luggage,
and enviable service records dating back to the early 1990s, 002840
is an exciting and well-prepared example that is ready to be driven
and enjoyed the way Mercedes-Benz intended.
