1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- Aluminium-block inline-six, 215 bhp, paired with four-wheel disc brakes
- Colour
- White Grey over black leather
A late-production 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis 003170, among the final 210 of 1,858 built and finished to European specification with the desirable aluminium engine block and four-wheel disc brakes. Originally delivered in White Grey over black leather, the car spent time in a Las Vegas private collection, passed through the hands of serial 300 SL collector Steve Barnes, and then resided for roughly 25 years with prominent Microsoft executive Jon A. Shirley in Washington. Subsequently restored to its factory colour scheme, the car was later exported to Germany and is maintained in roadworthy condition.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate from €1,400,000
- 1975 → 1989Private collector in Las Vegaspartial documentation
Car was kept in a private Las Vegas collection during this period. A restoration was carried out by Gullwing Service Company in Massachusetts, during which the exterior colour was altered.
- → 1990Private saleSteve Barnespartial documentation
Boston-based serial 300 SL collector whose ownership was short-lived before the car was sold at auction.
- 1990 → 2014-08-01AuctionJon A Shirleypartial documentation
Former Microsoft executive based in Medina, Washington, who held the car for roughly 25 years as part of a prominent private collection. Ongoing maintenance was entrusted to Dennison International workshop in Puyallup. The car was presented in red over tan interior during this tenure.
- 2014-08-01 → 2018-02-01Private saleCalifornia-based ownerpartial documentation
Commissioned a repaint to restore the factory-correct White Grey over black leather colour scheme before selling the car on.
- 2018-02-01 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Had the car exported from the US to Germany, where it was serviced and road-registered. In 2024 a new timing chain was fitted and the rear axle was refurbished by 300 SL specialist HK Engineering in Polling, Bavaria.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2024Mechanical
Replacement of the timing chain and full refurbishment of the rear axle.
Work carried out while the car was in the current vendor's ownership in Germany.
- —RestorationGullwing Service Company
Full restoration carried out while the car was in the Las Vegas collection; work included a change of exterior colour from the original White Grey to another colour.
Workshop was based in Massachusetts. Restoration scope beyond the colour change is not detailed in the prose.
- —ServiceDennison International
Ongoing mechanical upkeep and maintenance performed during the roughly 25-year ownership by Jon A. Shirley.
Workshop located in Puyallup, Washington; described as a noted specialist.
- —Bodywork
Exterior refinished and interior retrimmed to reinstate the factory-correct White Grey paintwork over a black leather interior, reversing the earlier colour change.
Commissioned by the California-based owner prior to the February 2018 sale.
- —ServiceHK Engineering
General servicing, maintenance, and road registration carried out after the car was exported to Germany.
Specialist workshop located in Polling, Bavaria, focused on 300 SL models.
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