Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 198.042.7500385
Engine No. 198.980.7500415
Body No. 198.042.7500309
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 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.
This matching-numbers, professionally restored and diligently
serviced 300 SL Roadster was completed at the Mercedes-Benz factory
in Stuttgart on 3 December 1957, appearing exactly as it does
today, with the graceful Roadster bodywork finished in classic
DB050 White over a lovely, contrasting DB333 Blue leather
upholstery. A digital copy of the Mercedes-Benz factory build sheet
or "Data Karte" as they are referred to, in addition to a
Mercedes-Benz Classic-issued Zertifikat, specifies these important
details. As a US-market example, it is fitted with sealed-beam
headlights and instruments in English, equipped with a Becker
Mexico radio, and shod with Michelin tires. According to research
by renowned 300 SL restorer and expert Scott Grundfor, this
Roadster appears to have been sold new in 1958 to Mr. L. Burroughs
of South Bend, Indiana. Further notes by Mr. Grundfor indicate that
the car would later come into the hands of Mr. Horst Limburg of
Jones, Michigan, before being acquired by D.R. Blanks of Amarillo,
Texas in 1974. A Mr. Bell is believed to have acquired the car from
D.R. Blanks who would become a long-term owner of the 300 SL. Mr.
Grundfor would come to acquire the car from Ms. Geraldine Bell of
Burlington, Colorado in April of 2004. A restoration of the
desirable Mercedes-Benz had commenced by Mr. Bell, but when he
passed away in the late 1990s, the car had been safely stored
away.
Soon after acquiring the 300 SL, Mr. Grundfor brought the car home
to his renowned restoration facility in Arroyo Grande, California,
where the restoration would be resumed and completed over a
two-year period by Grundfor and his skilled team of craftsmen. The
nut-and-bolt restoration included a full disassembly, sandblasting,
and powder coating of the complex 300 SL chassis, while the
Roadster bodywork was carefully stripped to bare metal and
refinished in the as factory-delivered, DB050 white color. Rubber
parts were replaced throughout, while the convertible top and
interior were fully restored in the factory original Blue. Chrome
and brightwork - which consisted of mostly original unrestored
pieces throughout - were professionally refurbished and replated.
The brake and fuel systems were rebuilt as well, and the original
VDO gauges were sent out to be professionally restored. A new
wiring harness was fitted, in addition to a stainless-steel exhaust
system. The mileage indicated on the odometer at the time of Mr.
Grundfor's acquisition was recorded at 86,706 miles - a figure
which very much matched the originality of the car at the time of
restoration.
The freshly restored, matching-numbers 300 SL Roadster was acquired
by the consignor in 2006, a noted Southern California-based
collector of exceptional European sports cars with a taste for cars
of high quality and provenance. While in the consignor's devoted
care for the past 17 years, this desirable Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
Roadster has received professional service and maintenance by the
specialists at the official Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine,
California as well as local Los Angeles-based 300 SL guru Rene
Luteraan. Receipts documenting the diligent service and maintenance
work carried out over the years can be found in the history file,
and total more than $45,000.
Today, this numbers-matching 300 SL Roadster presents in
exceptional condition throughout, expertly restored in its
factory-delivered livery. The odometer reading at the time of
cataloging of 87,911 miles is considered to be the actual mileage,
based on the aforementioned research. The car has been looked after
and kept in the consignor's state-of-the-art, climate-controlled
collection facility, while being regularly exercised on Southern
California roads. Shown at the Quail - A Motorsports Gathering, and
toured on the Quail rally, the impressively performing
Mercedes-Benz has also enjoyed a trip on the Mercedes-Benz
Classic-backed 300 SL Classic Rally. The subtle leather interior is
beautifully complemented by the classic ivory 300 SL steering
wheel, graceful VDO instrumentation, and the correct Becker Mexico
radio as delivered with the car from new. A blue Haartz soft top is
neatly tucked away under the rear tonneau and the trunk is equipped
with a custom-made two-piece luggage set by Taris Charysyn and Co,
color-coded to the interior color as was offered in period on these
cars. Owner's manuals, a directory of authorized Mercedes-Benz
dealers, and a neat, period 300 SL sales brochure also accompany
the sale of the car, as well as a tool kit in pouch and jack.
This striking matching-numbers 300 SL Roadster is documented by
both a copy of the original factory build sheet and Mercedes-Benz
Classic Zertifikat and is eligible for a host of Concours
d'Elegance and Touring events all over the globe, including the
Mille Miglia as a 1957 model-year 300 SL and the Colorado Grand.
Restored by a renowned Mercedes-Benz specialist, this is a
spectacular example of one of the era's best-engineered and
aesthetically pleasing automobiles, which remains arguably one of
the most collectible cars to this day.
Addendum & Administrative Notes
Please note, that although the engine number matches; due to the
engine's later date code, this engine appears to be a period,
factory replacement unit of the correct type.