Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 198.042.10.002442
Engine No. 198.980.10.002490
Body No. A198.042.10.000164
In the three years following its debut at the 1954 International
Motorsports Show, the road-going version of the W194 race car
earned the adoration of an emerging jet-set clientele, celebrated
for its cutting-edge performance and eye-catching "gullwing" doors.
The racecar had proven Mercedes-Benz's postwar engineering prowess,
securing victories at Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana.
Building on this success, the road-going 300 SL Gullwing Coupe,
driven by American importer Max Hoffman's vision for a
high-performance Mercedes suited to the U.S.-market, soon inspired
a push for an open variant aimed at sun-soaked regions like
California.
Never one to miss an opportunity for refinement, the engineers in
Stuttgart developed a worthy successor, which broke cover in 1957
as the 300 SL Roadster. Replacing its coupe sister, the new model
featured numerous technical and cosmetic upgrades while retaining
the athletic character that had made the Gullwing a sensation.
Transforming the closed Coupe into an open Roadster, however,
required more than simply removing the roof; the complex
Uhlenhaut-designed spaceframe was extensively reworked to
accommodate conventional side-hinged doors, resulting in lower
sills for easier ingress and egress while retaining chassis
rigidity.
The Roadster received further enhancements beneath the skin to
create a more polished and usable grand tourer. A folding soft top
alleviated the coupe's tight cabin conditions while relocating the
spare tire beneath the trunk and downsizing the fuel tank allowed
for generous luggage space suitable for fitted cases. The rear
suspension was re-engineered with low-pivot swing axle geometry and
softer spring rates, dramatically improving handling and reducing
the snap-oversteer characteristic of the coupe, all while
preserving the car's poised ride quality.
Under the hood, the Roadster retained its race-derived 3.0-liter
straight-six, equipped with Bosch-developed direct fuel
injection-an advanced system for its time that ensured precise
power delivery and reduced the need for regular tuning compared to
traditional carburetors. To offset the Roadster's added weight, the
previously optional sport camshafts became standard equipment,
increasing output to 240 horsepower at 5,800 rpm. With its advanced
engineering, the Roadster had no trouble exceeding 150 miles per
hour, depending on the rear axle ratio, and claimed its place as
the fastest production car in the world.
Taken in by its technical prowess, retired World War II Navy
veteran Stephen Vidovich purchased this vibrant Feuerwehrrot (Fire
Engine Red) 300 SL Roadster in October 1959 through the European
Delivery program. It is believed it was a grand way to celebrate
his fifth wedding anniversary with his wife Marilyn in true style.
As the successful real estate developer and farmer grew his
multiple businesses, it afforded him the opportunity to complete
his own passion projects, including starting his own winery in
1996. He not only took advantage of the splendid California
weather, but the Roadster was also undoubtedly the best way to tour
the vineyard and idyllic surrounding area.
After a remarkable 45 years with the Roadster, Vidovich made the
extremely difficult decision to find a new home for it. In April
2005, Crieghton Helms, who shared numerous similarities with
Vidovich, would become the Roadster's second caretaker. Not only
did the two share a passion for exquisite German engineering, but
they also shared a profound bond through their military service.
Following his retirement from the Army, Helms started several
successful businesses in the 1960s which later merged to form Helms
Performance Group. The 300 SL Roadster that was once Helms'
cherished dream became reality with chassis number 002442
representing the realization of a lifetime goal after years of hard
work.
A passionate automotive enthusiast who enjoyed showing and touring
his cars, Helms intended to use his newly acquired Roadster for
just that purpose. Previous research shows that the car was in
largely original condition, benefiting from the warm and dry
Southern California climate, and was the ideal basis to commit to a
full mechanical service for reliable touring use. It was reported
that the car was brought to Irvine, California, where the experts
at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center were entrusted to service the
car. This included a complete overhaul of the intricate fuel
injection pump while a new brake master cylinder was installed.
Additional work included the installation of a new convertible soft
top and windshield with restored trim work. Inside, the interior
was retrimmed with correct grain leather, along with numerous seals
fit throughout the body. After its time at the Classic Center, the
Roadster emerged with a clean bill of health ready to tackle future
driving tours like the picturesque 2008 editions of the Copperstate
1000 and California Mille rallies.
Like Vidovich in 2005, Helms made the difficult decision to part
with his beloved Roadster in late 2011. By March 2012, 300 SL
Roadster, chassis 002442, found just its third owner in the past
half-century. Just like Helms, after a lifetime in construction and
real estate development, the new owner's attention turned toward
the hunt for a truly fabulous 300 SL Roadster. The stars would
align and, at the conclusion of the search, an enthusiastic racer,
pilot, captain, and mechanic-a genuine Renaissance man-became just
the third owner of 300 SL Roadster chassis 2442.
As presently offered, this 300 SL Roadster remains a captivating
example with loving care over the past 65 years and three extremely
passionate stewards. As a result of the preservation mindset of all
three, this car has never been the recipient of a body off
restoration-an accolade few Roadsters can claim today. This
pedigree is further enhanced by its numbers-matching status which
upon careful inspection is revealed to include its original
chassis, body, and engine.
With few other mid-century classics offering the glamorous style
and effortless performance of the 300 SL Roadster, it is no wonder
why these cars remain so highly prized by today's collectors. Not
only a matching numbers example, few 300 SLs today have remained in
largely original condition having never been the subject of a
complete body off restoration. With three extremely long-term
owners from new who have always rendered the utmost care to this
Roadster, such as service work performed at the Mercedes-Benz
Classic Center, it remains a truly captivating example today. As
only the fourth owner since new, its next caretaker can enjoy this
300?SL on grand tours, at concours shows, or simply as a sculptural
masterpiece-truly a car that fulfills nearly every automotive
desire and anchors any collection.
