1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Registration Number: EU registered Chassis Number: 1980428500104
Mercedes Benz’s 300 SL is undoubtedly one of the world’s all time great sports cars and one of the most sought after by today’s discerning collectors.
Originally conceived as a competition car, derived from a range of cars culminating in Stirling Moss’s legendary Mille-Miglia-winning car, SLs won, among other events, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the gruelling Carerra Panamericana. In fact, the 300 SL won more competitions in its time than virtually any other car since. There are far too many victories to list here: suffice to say that no other manufacturer could field a car that could combine such speed, reliability
and all round ability as the 300 SL, which allowed it to execl in events as varied as the Targa Florio, Mille-Miglia and Le Mans, whilst at the same time providing comfortable and practical accomodation for two fortunate occupants for fast touring.
The 300 SL cost a fortune: £5,600 in 1954 was a vast amount of money (a Jaguar XK120 cost just £1,400) and for this buyers were entitled to expect nothing less than excellence. This was supplied in plenty, with a solid, very handsome and very fast motor car, which for many years was the world’s fastest production car. Coupled to Mercedes superb engineering and build quality the car was a world beater and an instant classic.
A fuel injected straight fix engine, with dry sump lubrication, placed in a rigid space frame chassis, was clothed with startling advanced coupe bodywork gullwing doors.
When pictures flashed around the world of Henmann Lang climbing our of his car after winning the 1952 le Mans 24 Hours race those gullwing doors could not have created a greater sensation if it was a flying saucer!
Although widespread on performance cars today, no other production car had previously featured fuel injection, and in this application it helped to provide sufficient power for a 150mph top speed, very fast even by 1990s standards and nothing short of unbelievable in the mid 1950s. Another novel feature was the tilting steering wheel, incorporated to allow easy access and typical of the Mercedes approach to design.
In 1957 a Roadster version was added, to complement the gullwing, incorporating the same mechanical specification but without the novel doors and closed cockpit. Undoubtedly California was in mind, and many Hollywood movie moguls snapped up roadsters, the car becoming an icon representing the most sophisticated and glamourous of European culture.
Suspension revisions provided greater handling predictibilty and in fine weather the whole experience could be enhanced by lowering the roof.
This fine example was manufactured in 1958 and is in very good condition throughout. The silver paintwork and red leather interior have recently been refurbished and as you would expect its in excellent condition.
These iconic sports cars have in recent years proved to be one of the best 'blue chip' investments as their popularity continues to grow. We are therefore delighted to offer this beautiful matching numbers example which is supplied with EU registration papers.
Estimate: Refer Department |
