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| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957 |
The spectacular Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing was in production for just three years, and during this time, only 1,400 cars were built, largely by hand, in Stuttgart’s finest tradition. Yet, despite the low production volume, Daimler-Benz remained sufficiently convinced of the value of an expensive, image-leading sports car as part of its model line-up to develop an improved open version, resolving the well-documented ventilation issue associated with the Gullwing.
A modified 300 SL Roadster chassis was first spotted in the summer of 1956 at Stuttgart, by the German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport.
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| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957 |
The improved 300 SL Roadster debuted in the spring of 1957 at the Geneva Motor Show. By the end of that year, the final 70 of the 1,400 Gullwing Coupés and the first 618 of the 1,858 300 SL Roadsters were assembled.
Amongst the Roadster’s many advancements was a lowered central section of the lightweight 300 SL space frame chassis, which created improved entrance and egress. The chassis also featured smaller sills and enlarged doors. Whilst strength was maintained, nonetheless, with the addition of diagonal struts that braced the lowered side sections to the rear tubular members. At the rear, the spare tyre was repositioned below the boot floor, necessitating a smaller fuel tank but maintaining reasonable luggage space.
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| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957 |
The Roadster’s suspension was fine-tuned by the repositioning of the single-pivot rear swing axle and the addition of a coil spring that was mounted transversely above the differential and linked to the two axle halves by a vertical strut, which allowed for the use of softer rear springs, thus providing a more comfortable ride and improved handling. Coupled with fatter tyres and a wider track, the Roadster exhibited none of the prior Coupé’s tricky handling characteristics. This specific feature was borrowed from the W196 Grand Prix racing car.
These revisions added some 250 pounds, with the majority of which being attributed to the convertible top and its mechanisms. The snug-fitting roof retracted fully into a well behind the seats, and it was covered with a hinged panel, which made for a sleek, disappearing top body line. Regardless, the car remained an excellent performer, with a factory-claimed 137 mph top speed.
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| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957 |
The Roadster shown here was originally delivered in the United States, and it resided in Maryland and California for many years. More recently, it has been exquisitely restored by noted Mercedes-Benz marque specialist Lars Rombelsheim, and it is noteworthy for having an extraordinary number of original major components. The body, engine, and axles are all original and exactly as delivered, with no components replaced, and the car is finished in the same colour combination as original: Black with tan leather upholstery, which is in the correct original grain and pattern.
For everyday driving excellence, the car has been fitted with disc brakes on all four wheels. A modern cooling system with engine pre-heating was installed, along with an electronic ignition and a rear axle rebuilt to the European 3.25:1 ratio, for better high-speed performance. The Roadster still has its original Becker Mexico radio, tool set, and jack, as well as its original manual and service book. European headlamps, one of the most desirable 300 SL Roadster features, were sourced and installed.
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| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957 |
The 300 SL Roadster has gone down in history as one of the finest and most desirable sporting cars of its generation. There are beautifully restored examples, and there are cars that are well-sorted for fast driving by nimble hands that are clad in string-back gloves.
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