1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Colour
- Silver Grey Metallic
A 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster built to U.S. specification and delivered in Germany to a U.S. military officer stationed in Kaiserslautern. Finished originally in Silver Grey Metallic over red leather, the car retains its matching chassis, engine, body, transmission, and axles. After passing through several American owners, it was fully disassembled for restoration and subsequently entrusted to renowned 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek of Victoria, BC, who performed a comprehensive bare-metal restoration using factory-correct components and rebuilt the original engine and gearbox. It was the last 300 SL to leave his workshop.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,407,500
- 1958-01-10 →Factory deliveryLt. Browderpartial documentation
U.S. military officer believed to have been stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany; ordered the car directly through the manufacturer with custom fitments suggesting a tall driver who anticipated high mileage. Returned to the United States with the vehicle after his posting ended.
- 1970 →Private saleErich Voglpartial documentation
Based in Clawson, Michigan; acquired the car in 1970 per the Gull Wing Group registry.
- → 2014InheritanceCarolyn Taylorpartial documentation
Wife of Roderick Taylor; inherited the disassembled vehicle and sold it in 2014.
- 2014 →Private saleCurrent custodianspartial documentation
Collected the disassembled car in Connecticut and transported it to Victoria, BC, where a full restoration was commissioned with specialist Rudi Koniczek.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRonald Vosspartial documentation
Nashville, Tennessee owner during whose tenure the car reportedly underwent a repaint to black with red upholstery, believed to have occurred sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
- Date unknownPrivate saleTom McCarthypartial documentation
Located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; received the car after Voss's ownership.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRoderick Taylorpartial documentation
Morris, Connecticut resident and dedicated Gull Wing Group member who had previously owned multiple Gullwing coupes plus a 190 SL. Initiated a full disassembly for restoration but passed away before work progressed significantly; all components were labelled and stored.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Bodywork
Car repainted from original Silver Grey to black and retrimmed with red upholstery during Ronald Voss's ownership, believed to have occurred in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Dates uncertain; described as believed to have occurred during Voss's tenure.
- —Maintenance
Car fully stripped and disassembled by Roderick Taylor in preparation for a planned restoration; all components carefully labelled and catalogued. No substantive restoration work was completed before Taylor's death.
- —RestorationRudi & Company
Comprehensive bare-metal restoration carried out by Rudi Koniczek at Rudi & Company in Victoria, BC. The car was found to be in excellent structural condition. Work included replacement of all rubber seals, fitment of European-specification headlights, new taillight lenses, and all-new glass. Original brightwork was rechromed to concours standard. The car was refinished in its factory-original Silver Grey Metallic over red leather. A complete rebuild of the original engine and gearbox was performed using only Mercedes-Benz Classic factory-correct parts. Following restoration, the car was run in over 300 miles and received a further service to confirm correct operation.
Confirmed during restoration that the original chassis, engine, body, transmission, front axle, and rear differential were all retained. This was the final 300 SL to leave Rudi Koniczek's workshop before he retired.
- —Engine rebuildRudi & Company
Original engine and gearbox fully rebuilt using exclusively factory-correct components sourced from Mercedes-Benz Classic.
Carried out as part of the broader restoration; noted separately given the explicit confirmation of original unit retention and factory-parts sourcing.
- —ServiceRudi & Company
Post-restoration service performed after an initial 300-mile test drive to verify correct running and driving behaviour.
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