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
Motor Sports 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 camshaft 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.
The Data Card for this Roadster shows that it was initially
delivered to Cura�ao as part of the Netherlands Antilles on 22
October 1959 in vibrant Feuerwehrrot (DB 534 Fire Engine Red).
Remaining only briefly in the Caribbean, the car was imported to
the U.S. where, taken in by its technical prowess, retired World
War II Navy veteran Stephen Vidovich purchased the car and brought
it to California. 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 approximately four decades with the Roadster, Vidovich made
the extremely difficult decision to find a new home for it. In
April 2005, Creighton Helms, who shared numerous similarities with
Vidovich, would become the Roadster's second U.S. 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 is 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, the 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 002442.
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 matching-numbers 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 is it a matching numbers example, but 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. Having been dutifully cared for by its three prior
long-term owners, 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.
