1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

198.042.8500091roadGermany

Engine: 3.0L SOHC inline-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 225 bhp (DIN) / 240 bhp (SAE)
Colour: Anthracite Metallic (DB 172)

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (chassis 198.042.8500091) is an early example of the convertible successor to the legendary Gullwing Coupé, first shown at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show. Originally delivered to the United States — evidenced by its sealed-beam lighting and US-specification instruments — the car was brought to the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s and has remained there since. It has been refinished in Anthracite Metallic with black leather and carries a colour-matched original hardtop.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold €952,000 (≈ $1.05M)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Original US-market owner
partial documentation
Car believed delivered new to the United States, evidenced by American-specification sealed-beam headlights and instrumentation.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
UK-based owner or owners
partial documentation
Vehicle was brought to Britain around the mid-1980s and registered there under the plate 660 EXD, remaining in the UK for the greater part of its existence.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Recent UK private owner
partial documentation
During this tenure the car received a respray in Anthracite Metallic with black leather interior; mechanical work included rebuilding the rear axle, injection pump, injectors, and gearbox, plus fitting a new high-capacity aluminium radiator, carried out by O'Keefe Restorations and Gordon Dale.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Bodywork
The car was refinished in Anthracite Metallic (DB 172) with a new black leather interior; the hardtop was painted to match the body.
Work carried out during a recent ownership period; precise date not stated.
—Mechanical
O'Keefe Restorations
Rear axle, fuel injection pump, and injectors were all rebuilt; the gearbox was overhauled with replacement bearings; a new higher-capacity aluminium radiator was fitted.
Gordon Dale also named as a servicing specialist. Regular maintenance and servicing carried out by both workshops over time.
—Service
Gordon Dale
Ongoing routine maintenance and servicing performed by marque specialists to keep the car in sound running order.

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