1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster
- Engine
- Inline-six with Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection
- Colour
- Dark red (DB 542)
This Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc roadster, body number 00001, is believed to be the very first production example of only 53 such roadsters ever built. Dispatched in January 1956 and originally finished in white over cream leather, it was consigned to celebrated New York importer Max Hoffman. Featuring Bosch mechanical fuel injection derived from the 300 SL and hand-finished coachwork, the car passed through several notable American owners before a thorough mechanical recommissioning and a repaint to Dark Red (DB 542).
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$800,000 – US$1,000,000
- —Auction saleSold US$775,000
- 1956-01-23 →Factory deliveryMax Hoffmanpartial documentation
Renowned Mercedes-Benz distributor in New York; vehicle was dispatched from factory to his operation in January 1956.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownHarry Woodnorthpartial documentation
Employed by Max Hoffman during the 1950s; sold the car to the next owner.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJohn Olsonpartial documentation
Long-term Mercedes-Benz collector who accumulated over 80,000 miles on the car, including multiple transcontinental journeys; eventually sold it after roughly ten years of use.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDaniel Peterkinpartial documentation
Chief executive of Morton Salt; purchased the car partly out of nostalgia, having previously owned a different 300 Sc from new and regretting its sale.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJohn Calleypartial documentation
President of Sony Pictures Entertainment and dedicated collector; kept the car at his Vancouver Island residence. During his roughly decade-long tenure, the car was maintained by Mercedes specialist Rudi Koniczek and was fully stripped and repainted.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Acquired from John Calley; commissioned clutch replacement in 2012 and a comprehensive mechanical restoration in 2018 by Coachwerks Restoration of Victoria, B.C.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2012MechanicalEurostar Auto Service
Clutch assembly replaced.
Work carried out in Calgary for the current owner.
- 2018MechanicalCoachwerks Restoration
Comprehensive mechanical inspection and recommissioning covering the fuel pump rebuild, internal recoating of the fuel tank, generator rebuild, and ignition timing adjustment, along with further undisclosed mechanical work to bring all systems to optimal condition.
Work performed in Victoria, British Columbia, for the current owner.
- —Bodywork
Car was stripped to bare metal and refinished in a new colour during John Calley's ownership; the underlying bodywork was found to be in very good condition throughout.
Current colour is Dark Red (DB 542), changed from the original white (DB 50).
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