1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

198.042.7500239roadGermany

Engine: 3.0L SOHC inline-six, 215 bhp (DIN) / 240 hp (SAE)
Colour: Strawberry Red Metallic ('Erdbeerrot', DB 543)

A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster finished in the exceedingly rare factory colour Erdbeerrot (Strawberry Red Metallic, code DB 543), believed applied to no more than 30 examples and available only in the first production year. Chassis 7500239 was specified with miles instrumentation, sealed-beam headlamps, a Becker Mexico radio, and a 3.89:1 rear axle. The car spent time in Japan before returning to the United States in 2005, after which it underwent a comprehensive two-year nut-and-bolt restoration completed in 2014 by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold £784,000 (≈ $980K)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
→ 2005Acquisition unknown
Japanese owner
partial documentation
Vehicle was based in Japan by the early 2000s before being shipped back to the United States in 2005.
2005 → 2014Acquisition unknown
US-based owner post-reimport
partial documentation
This owner commissioned a comprehensive two-year mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California, completed mid-2014, including full engine and transmission rebuild and exterior refinish in the original factory colour.
2014 →Private sale
Texas-based collector
full documentation
Consignor acquired the car immediately following completion of the restoration; kept it garaged and lightly used to preserve condition, and displayed it at a Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Date unknown
Unknown early owner(s)
none documentation
Early ownership history is unrecorded; the car's whereabouts during this period are not documented.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2014Restoration
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
Full two-year nut-and-bolt restoration completed mid-2014: engine and gearbox completely rebuilt, steering, suspension, and rear axle refreshed using factory-approved new-old-stock or correct reproduction components; exterior repainted in original Erdbeerrot (DB 543); interior retrimmed in period-correct tan leather and carpeting; new soft-top fitted by marque specialist Jan Cumpton; colour-matched Rudge knock-off wheels and a two-piece fitted luggage set added.
Work carried out over approximately two years at the Classic Center's Irvine, California facility and documented in a dedicated restoration book with certificates of authenticity.
—
Restoration
Evidence of earlier restoration work noted at the time of the car's re-importation to the US; scope and date undocumented.
Mentioned only as background context; specific details not provided in the catalogue.
—
Service
Routine servicing as required while in the consignor's care following the 2014 restoration.
Car was garaged and maintained conservatively to preserve the restoration; no major work described.

Are you the owner of this car?

This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.