Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1958 - World Of Classic Cars -

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1958

There was no doubt that Mercedes-Benz had a hit on their hands with their spectacular 300 SL Gullwing, as it would become known. The car’s looks, performance, and brilliant engineering captivated the automotive world, and it proved to be a runaway success for Mercedes-Benz. As production was soon coming to an end for the iconic 300 SL Coupé, the marque grew more eager to add a convertible version to its line-up.
A prototype of this new model was first spotted by German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport at Stuttgart in the summer of 1956, and the production model would later debut at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show. By the end of that year, the final 70 of the 1,400 Coupés and the first 618 of the Roadsters were assembled.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1958

Along with a convertible top, the 300 SL brought a host of advancements to the already state-of-the-art platform. The central section of the 300 SL’s space-frame chassis was lowered, and smaller sills and enlarged doors were added to improve entrance and egress. Its strength was maintained, nonetheless, with the addition of diagonal struts bracing the lowered side sections to the rear tubular members. The suspension was also revised to allow for a more comfortable ride and improved handling. At the rear, the spare tyre was repositioned below the boot floor, necessitating a smaller fuel tank but also maintaining reasonable luggage space. Even though these revisions added some 250 pounds, the majority of which were associated with the convertible top and its mechanisms, the car remained an excellent performer, with a factory-claimed 137-mph top speed.
Just like the 300 SL Gullwing, the Roadster proved to be the vehicle of choice for those with brilliant taste in aesthetics and cutting-edge engineering. As such, many wound up in the garages of celebrities, racing drivers, and other financially successful individuals. With a list price of $11,000, ownership of a 300 SL was a dream to most when the car was new, and to those with the funds to spare, the car was worth every penny. To those looking to make a statement with the purchase of a new car, there was simply no better option.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1958

The dramatic Roadster presented here, chassis number 198.042.8500091, is believed to have been originally delivered to the United States, as noted by its U.S.-style sealed-beam headlights, and it was then subsequently brought to the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s. It has been a resident of the UK for the majority of its life and was registered with license plates 660 EXD.
In more recent ownership, the car was refinished in Anthracite Metallic (DB 172) with black leather, and it is still equipped with its correct sealed-beam head- and tail-lights, as well as U.S.-specification instrumentation. According to a previous owner, it has been well-maintained and improved on with regular servicing and maintenance, which has been carried out by such specialists as O’Keefe Restorations and Gordon Dale. The owner also noted that the rear axle, injection pump, and injectors were rebuilt; the gearbox was rebuilt with new bearings; and a new high-capacity aluminium radiator was installed. The car is still fitted with an original hardtop, which is painted to match the stunning body colour.