1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- Fuel-injected straight-six, alloy block (originally steel)
- Colour
- Ivory
A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster delivered new to France, finished in Ivory over black leather and equipped from the factory with a hardtop that remains with the car today. The vehicle passed through several French owners before being acquired by Bernard Consten, the celebrated racing driver and five-time Tour de France Automobile champion. After returning to Germany in 2013, the car underwent a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment exceeding €80,000 at specialist workshops Kienle Automobiltechnik and Walter Pusch.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €893,750 (≈ $983K)
- → 1978Factory deliveryMadame Feraudpartial documentation
Original recipient of the car, based in southern France. Delivery was in ivory paintwork with black leather interior and included a factory hardtop.
- 1978 → 1982Private saleM. Hayatpartial documentation
Based in Cannes; no further details on tenure provided.
- 1982 →Private saleMichel Ferrypartial documentation
At the time of acquisition, Ferry held a directorial position on the board of the Automobile Club de Monaco.
- → 2013Private saleBernard Constenpartial documentation
Noted competition driver, multiple Tour de France Automobile victor and repeated Le Mans participant; described as having a strong personal attachment to the car.
- 2013 →Private saleGerman private ownerfull documentation
Brought the car back to Germany and commissioned an extensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration exceeding €80,000, with invoiced work from Kienle Automobiltechnik and Walter Pusch in 2014 including brakes, suspension, gearbox, differential, full retrim, and fuel injection rebuild.
Competition
- 1962Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: Bernard Consten1st in class
Consten recorded a class victory at Le Mans in 1962; the car offered is not explicitly identified as the vehicle used.
- —Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: Bernard Consten
Consten is noted as a six-time participant at the Le Mans 24 Hours; it is not stated whether this car was used in any of those appearances.
- —Tour de France AutomobileDriver: Bernard Consten1st (five times)
Consten won the Tour de France Automobile on five separate occasions; no specific years or chassis linkage to this car are stated.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2014MechanicalKienle Automobiltechnik and Walter Pusch
Comprehensive overhaul of the braking system, suspension, gearbox, and differential, plus various additional mechanical and cosmetic improvements totalling 170 labour hours. The fuel injection system was also fully rebuilt.
Invoices and a photographic record accompany the car. Total expenditure exceeded €80,000. Only a few thousand kilometres driven since completion.
- 2014BodyworkKienle Automobiltechnik
Complete interior retrim carried out, documented by a dedicated photographic file.
Undertaken as part of the same broader refurbishment campaign in 2014.
- —Modification
The original cast-iron engine block was replaced with an aluminium unit at an unspecified point prior to the current ownership period.
Described as a more recent upgrade; precise date and workshop not recorded.
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