1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- Inline-six, fuel-injected, aluminum alloy block, sport camshaft, four-wheel disc brakes
- Colour
- Gray-blue (DB 166)
A late-production 1963/64 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis 003207, believed to be among the final three examples to leave the factory and one of only 218 built with both four-wheel disc brakes and an aluminium engine block. Shipped new to Iran, it is widely thought to have been destined for the Shah, who was a major Mercedes-Benz shareholder and 300 SL collector. The car spent 42 years with a single owner in Washington State before a comprehensive ground-up restoration was completed in 2017 by Legendary Classic Center of Costa Mesa, returning it to its original grey-blue and red leather specification.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$2,315,000
- 1964 →Factory deliveryShah of Iran (believed)partial documentation
Vehicle shipped to Iran per registry records; a period photograph reportedly shows the Shah alongside the car on a European tarmac. Early Iranian history is not fully documented.
- 1971 → 2013Private saleBellingham, Washington enthusiastpartial documentation
Purchased via a Seattle-area marque specialist dealership; kept for roughly 42 years with minimal use and one repaint during the 1970s, otherwise maintained in largely original condition.
- 2013 → 2014-03-01Private saleSeattle marque collectorpartial documentation
Acquired when the odometer showed approximately 80,237 km; held the car briefly before reselling.
- 2014-03-01 →Private saleConsignorfull documentation
Commissioned a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration by Legendary Classic Center in Costa Mesa, completed in 2017, returning the car to its original factory color combination.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2015RestorationLegendary Classic Center
Comprehensive ground-up mechanical and cosmetic restoration commissioned by the consignor, with the exterior refinished to match the original factory colour scheme of grey-blue with red leather interior.
Work began in 2015 and was completed in 2017. The restoration also included refurbishment of the original fitted luggage set.
- —Bodywork
Single full repaint carried out at some point during the 1970s while under ownership of the Bellingham enthusiast; mechanically the car was otherwise kept as close to factory specification as possible.
The rear axle also appears to have been exchanged for a correct original replacement unit at an unspecified point during this period.
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