1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- Straight-six, fuel-injected, rebuilt with replacement cylinder head, converted to run on unleaded fuel
- Colour
- Graphite grey
A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, originally supplied to the United States market through Studebaker Packard in New York and finished in Graphite Grey with matching grey leather, that passed through at least two California owners before being acquired in 2016 as a restoration project and brought to Germany. Between 2016 and 2017 it underwent a comprehensive 'Outlaw'-style rebuild by marque specialist Lars Rombelsheim, costing over €400,000, incorporating a five-speed ZF gearbox, front disc brakes, rebuilt engine, and numerous usability upgrades while retaining its matching-numbers block.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €1,096,250 (≈ $1.21M)
- 1973 →First California-based US ownerpartial documentation
One of at least two American owners based in California; exact acquisition and sale dates are not fully established.
- 1975 →Second California-based US ownerpartial documentation
Second in a sequence of at least two California-based owners; transition details are not documented in the prose.
- 2016 →AuctionConsignorfull documentation
Purchased as a restoration project and subsequently brought to Germany; commissioned an extensive 'Outlaw'-style rebuild by marque specialist Lars Rombelsheim between 2016 and 2017, supported by ten invoices exceeding €400,000.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2016BodyworkLars Rombelsheim
Full bodywork repair and refinish carried out as part of the 'Outlaw' restoration; bumpers removed and not refitted, with re-chromed bumpers retained separately.
Part of a comprehensive restoration programme running from 2016 to 2017 and documented by ten invoices exceeding €400,000.
- 2016Engine rebuildLars Rombelsheim
Engine overhauled with a replacement cylinder head and converted to run on unleaded fuel; an 'R8' injection pump and updated injectors were also fitted. The original matching-numbers block was retained.
- 2016MechanicalLars Rombelsheim
Major mechanical components overhauled, including the fuel tank, front and rear axles, and dampers. The car was upgraded with a five-speed ZF gearbox, front disc brakes, and Rudge central-lock wheel conversion. An uprated ignition system with a modern alternator and high-torque starter, a switchable stainless-steel exhaust, a modern radiator, and an oil cooler were also fitted. The rear axle ratio was changed from the US-specification 3.89:1 to the European 3.64:1.
Work documented as part of the same 2016–2017 restoration programme.
- 2016RestorationLars Rombelsheim
Interior refitted with aluminium 'SLS'-style sports seats and instrumentation converted to European specification as part of the broader 'Outlaw'-style rebuild.
Full photographic documentation of the restoration process is on file alongside the invoices.
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