1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- Fuel-injected inline-six with sport camshaft and aluminum alloy block
- Colour
- Biscuit Yellow (DB 648)
A late-production 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis 003243, representing one of only approximately 210 examples built with both four-wheel disc brakes and an aluminium alloy engine block — the definitive final specification. Special-ordered by Hamburg furniture entrepreneur Kurt Barnekow with the rare Biscuit Yellow and Cognac leather combination, the car remained in his possession for nearly four decades. It subsequently passed through the collections of Greek shipping magnate Peter Livanos and Swiss Mercedes-Benz specialist Etienne Veen, under whom a full concours restoration was completed. The car retains its numbers-matching major components.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,765,000
- 1963-02-07 → 1998-03-01Factory deliveryKurt Barnekowfull documentation
German furniture entrepreneur who special-ordered this car with unique specifications and kept it at his Hamburg residence for nearly four decades until his death.
- 1998 →Acquisition unknownPeter Livanospartial documentation
Greek shipping magnate and collector who acquired the car in well-used original condition; registered it to his Gstaad address and exhibited it at prestigious concours events.
- → 2014Private saleEtienne Veenpartial documentation
Swiss-resident Mercedes-Benz specialist collector who commissioned a thorough concours-grade restoration at Pichler GFG AG in Gstaad between 2008 and 2010, with paint and interior returned to original specification.
- 2014 →Acquisition unknownFirst UK-based collectornone documentation
One of two successive British collectors who briefly held the car before it passed to the current consignor.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSecond UK-based collectornone documentation
Second of two successive British owners in the chain between Veen and the current consignor.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Present owner, who acquired the car from the second UK collector; car remains in correct and well-presented condition.
Competition
- 20052005 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Car was displayed at this prestigious Lake Como concours while registered to Peter Livanos.
- 20062006 Gstaad Classic
Car participated in this Swiss event, also during the Livanos ownership period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965Engine rebuild
The original aluminium engine block was found to be damaged and substituted with a factory-sourced replacement unit; an exchange tag recording serial number 341350 remains attached, confirming the factory origin of the replacement rather than a unit taken from another vehicle.
The exchange tag is described as an important and rarely seen piece of documentation.
- 2008RestorationPichler GFG AG
Comprehensive concours-standard restoration conducted over roughly two years, encompassing a full repaint in the original Biscuit Yellow, re-trimming in Cognac leather, and fitment of the correct black hardtop. The only deliberate departure from factory specification was the use of a dark brown cloth soft top rather than the original black one.
Work was commissioned by owner Etienne Veen at the Swiss Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre in Gstaad.
- 2014ServicePichler GFG AG
Routine service work carried out prior to the car's onward sale.
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