Vehicle Description
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis no. 198.042.10.002552
Engine no. 198.980.10.002603
Body no. A198.042.00063
Purchased new by Robert C. Borwell, of Chicago, Illinois, on April 20, 1960, this 300 SL Roadster was delivered new in Fire Brigade Red (DB 534) over a tan leather interior and was fitted with both a tan soft-top and black-painted hardtop. At that time, Borwell had just been promoted to senior vice president of Marsh & McLennan, an insurance brokerage firm that was, at that time, based in Chicago, and his new 300 SL was no doubt a prized acquisition and a fitting automobile for such a high-ranking individual in the firm.
Borwell would go on owning his 300 SL Roadster for the next 34 years, and by the time he sold it Eric Applebaum, of Spring Green, Wisconsin, in 1994, the car had only accumulated 30,000 miles and had never rusted or been hit. Shortly after purchasing the 300 SL, Applebaum decided to commission restoration work by a marque specialist. This restoration took no less than two years, and it goes without saying that the Roadster was exquisite by the time it returned to its second owner. Seeking to preserve and display the impeccable restoration, Applebaum allegedly constructed a custom-built tower to store the car in following the restoration!
In 2002, the 300 SL Roadster was purchased by a friend of Mr. Applebaum’s, Paul J. Roller, of Elmgrove, Wisconsin, who would own the car for the following nine years, continuing to improve the quality of the car before selling it to its fourth and current owner in 2011. Still in incredible condition, this Roadster is a truly wonderful example of its breed. It comes equipped with all five original wheels, fitted with correct Dunlop tires sourced through the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center; its original Becker-Mexico radio; original owner’s manuals; a copy of the factory build sheet; a complete tool set, including its original tire pressure gauge still in its original Mercedes-Benz branded box; and a full set of Bausch fitted luggage that beautifully matches the car’s color combination. It is further documented by invoices, receipts, and photos from the restoration, as well as its original books and records. Following completion, it has been maintained by marque experts without regard to cost and always kept in a climate-controlled garage.
An icon of German engineering, the 300 SL is perhaps the most memorable car ever produced by Mercedes-Benz. The open-top roadster that replaced the iconic Gullwing proved to be an improvement on an already incredible car. This example, after having spent the majority of its life within a 200-mile radius, is in incredible condition following a meticulous restoration and subsequent careful preservation.
215 bhp (DIN), 240 hp (SAE), 2,996 cc overhead-cam inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, coil-spring independent front suspension and coil-spring single-point swing-axle rear suspension, and servo-assisted drum brakes.
Wheelbase: 94.5 in.
Just over 34,000 miles and four owners from new
Fully matching numbers; an excellent example of its kind
Full restoration by Mercedes-Benz specialists
Incredibly well maintained and preserved since new
This car is being offered by Vintage Motors of Sarasota. The price is $1,350,000. This is one of the nicest, and well priced 300SL's on the market.
