1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

198.042.10.9500070roadGermany

Engine: 2,996cc straight-six with mechanical fuel injection
Colour: 'Hellblau' (light blue) exterior over blue leather interior

Chassis 9500070 is a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, one of just 211 produced that year, finished in the rare Hellblau over Blau leather combination and delivered new through Studebaker-Packard in South Bend, Indiana, with first US registration on 1 March 1959. After passing through several American owners and undergoing extensive restoration work totalling over $165,000 in the US, the car was acquired by a Swiss owner who commissioned a comprehensive concours-level restoration between 2016 and 2021 at a cost exceeding €700,000, resulting in a fully matching-numbers example with factory hardtop.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold €1,748,750 (≈ $1.92M)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
→ 1959-03-01Factory delivery
Studebaker-Packard of South Bend, Indiana
partial documentation
Authorized delivery agent through which the car passed on its way to the first retail owner in the US; first American registration occurred on 1 March 1959.
1985 → 2016Acquisition unknown
Liong Liem
full documentation
Fairfield, Connecticut-based owner who oversaw multiple restoration campaigns totalling well over $200,000 across several specialist workshops spanning nearly three decades; car sat unused for more than twelve years before recommissioning in 2013.
2016 → 2016Auction
Auction buyer prior to current consignor
partial documentation
The car was sold at auction in 2016 and then acquired by the present consignor; this intermediate auction purchase and rapid onward sale suggests a very brief period of ownership.
2016 →Private sale
Current consignor
full documentation
Switzerland-based owner who commissioned a comprehensive no-expense-spared restoration through AutoRiparazioni Stefano Coratelli and Kessel Classic, spending approximately €700,000 between 2016 and 2021 to bring the car to concours condition.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
John Hwang
partial documentation
Early US owner based in Garden City, New York; no further details of tenure given.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Sigi Benzl
partial documentation
Subsequent owner; no dates or location provided in the catalogue.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

1986Restoration
Precision Autoworks
Extensive restoration carried out over several years, documented by dozens of invoices covering a wide range of work; total expenditure exceeded $115,000.
Work spanned 1986 to 1993; workshop located in New Jersey. Commissioned by Liong Liem.
1994Mechanical
James Garttmeyer Automotive Services
Further mechanical and restoration-related work carried out over a four-year period, with total spend around $50,000.
Work ran from 1994 to 1998; Pennsylvania-based specialist. Commissioned by Liong Liem.
2013Service
Vintage Motorsports, Inc.
Recommissioning of the car after a dormant period exceeding twelve years; invoiced work between late 2013 and late 2014 totalled over $35,000.
Workshop located in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Invoices run from November 2013 to November 2014. Commissioned by Liong Liem.
2016Restoration
AutoRiparazioni Stefano Coratelli and Kessel Classic
Comprehensive concours-level restoration encompassing a full engine rebuild, overhaul of all mechanical components, complete rewiring to factory specification, correct replacement parts and materials sourced throughout, and full upholstery renewal in Creme leather with correct light grey perforated hardtop headlining. Total expenditure exceeded €700,000.
Work carried out in Switzerland between 2016 and 2021. Upholstery by Selleria Santarelli at a cost of approximately €49,000. Commissioned by the current consignor. Material samples from the restoration accompany the car.

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