1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

198.042.7500085roadGermany

Engine: 3.0L SOHC inline-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 235 bhp at 6,100 rpm
Colour: Ivory

The 85th Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster produced, this 1957 example was dispatched from Stuttgart on 31 May 1957 in European specification. It was originally finished in a rare special-order combination of deep green (DB292) bodywork with yellow leather upholstery, though it now presents in Ivory with a dark red leather interior following an undated older restoration. The car carries a replacement period-correct engine and spent time in Japan before moving to the United States. It is accompanied by original Daimler-Benz delivery documentation and an invoice.

Ownership

2026-01-23Auction sale
Sold US$855,000
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1957-05-31 →Factory delivery
Unknown early owner(s)
partial documentation
Car was delivered new from Stuttgart in European specification on this date; early ownership history is described as poorly documented.
Date unknown
Japanese owner
none documentation
The vehicle spent an unspecified period based in Japan before being relocated to the United States.
Date unknown
US-based owner
none documentation
Current or recent custodian in the United States; the car has received an older restoration with no records of when or by whom it was performed.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

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Restoration
An older comprehensive restoration was carried out at an unspecified date by an unidentified party. The result is described as very good overall, with paintwork, brightwork, wheels, and interior all presenting consistently, though with limited evidence of subsequent use.
No records survive indicating when the restoration was done or who performed it. The current Ivory and dark red colour scheme dates from this work, replacing the original green and yellow specification.
—
Modification
The original engine was replaced with a period-correct substitute unit; the replacement engine number differs from the original.
The catalogue flags the engine number with an asterisk and directs readers to the text for clarification, indicating the substitution is documented but the circumstances are not detailed.

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