1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER. Photo Bonhams

Chassis no. 198042.7500242. Engine no. 198980.7500257. 2,996cc SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine. Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection. 225bhp at 5,800rpm. 4-Speed Manual Transmission. 4-Wheel Independent Suspension. 4-Wheel Drum Brakes. Estimate US$ 1.15 million - 1.4 million(€860,000 - 1 million)

*Exquisitely restored, matching numbers example
*Long-time California car
*Eligible for some of the finest tours and driving events
*Sophisticated German engineering in sporting package
*Offered with Mercedes-Benz build sheets and tools

THE MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER

It's impossible to talk about the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster without first referring to the car that spawned it – the legendary 300SL 'Gullwing' coupe. Originally conceived as a racing car, the 300SL racked up victories throughout 1952, in the process capturing the imagination of America's official Mercedes-Benz importer Maximilian 'Maxi' Hoffman.  

Desperate for a car to sate the desires of his upmarket clients, he eventually persuaded the Daimler-Benz board to take the 300SL from racetrack to road. The designers and engineers refused to compromise on the purity of the original, so the bodywork was still primarily crafted to reduce drag as much as possible (although rumor has it that the elegant strips over the wheelarches were no more than fashionable cosmetic touches to make the car appeal to its American audience), and the steel panels cloaked a tubular chassis frame designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut which weighed only 82kg.  

The iconic doors of the coupe were a byproduct of this chassis, which had much higher sides than usual, leaving limited vertical space for a conventional door. Production began at the Sindelfingen plant in August 1954 and over the next two and half years it proved a phenomenal success. 1,402 were sold, despite the colossal $11,000 asking price.  

By 1957, however, SL (the initials stood for Sport Leicht; Sport Light) sales were on the slide, and with the roadster body style proving popular in America – and feedback from customers suggesting they'd like more comfort and a larger trunk – Maxi Hoffman helped convince Mercedes-Benz that a convertible version could take over where the coupe left off.  

Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in May that year, the 300SL Roadster wasn't the result of a quick fix to meet owner demands. Mercedes re-engineered the whole car, taking the opportunity to fix some niggles that afflicted the 300SL—first and foremost the suspension. Although the double wishbone front layout was famed for its precision, the rear swing arm axle, jointed at the differential, had developed a reputation for tricky handling and sensitivity to cambers. Lowering the pivot point helped calm the 300SL's predilection for oversteer. 

At the same time the fabulous 3.0-liter straight six, which featured fuel injection years ahead of its time, was boosted from 215bhp to 225bhp (torque output remained at 202lb-ft at 4,600rpm) and the chassis was redesigned with lower sills to accommodate normal swing-opening doors – although additional strengthening was required in the lower half of the chassis which saw the SL's weight grow from 1,310kg to 1,420kg.  

Partially to increase load space and partially to create room for the folding fabric roof, the fuel tank capacity was reduced from 130 liters to 100 liters, but arguably the biggest benefit the Roadster gained over the Gullwing was superior ventilation. Due at least in part to the coupe's small in/out side windows, the hard top 300SL was regarded by many as tough work on long trips due to heat buildup in the cabin. Even with its roof up the Roadster's wind-up windows allowed much better airflow through the cockpit.  

By no means the poor relation to the Gullwing, the later refinements added to the Roadster made it a compelling proposition for collectors and enthusiasts despite a list price of $10,950, a ten percent increase over the Gullwing. And while the coupe had a model-run of under three years, the Roadster stayed in production until early 1963, by which time 1,858 had been built.  

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Completed at the Stuttgart-based Mercedes-Benz plant in September of 1957, this superb example, first production-year 300SL Roadster was built as a US market car, with sealed beam headlights and gauges reading in English. The new Roadster was finished in the attractive color of DB166 Grey-blue, trimmed in red leather, and neatly finished with a grey soft top. Optioned with a Becker Mexico radio, the stylish Mercedes-Benz was shipped off to the United States, where South Bend, Indiana-based Studebaker/Packard would act as the distributor.  

The car's first registered owner listed is a Mr. George Reifenberg of Richmond, Indiana. From the Midwest, the 300SL traveled to California, where it was later owned by Mr. Randy Reiss of Studio City, a renowned collector of exceptional European sports cars. In the early 1990s the car received a thorough mechanical re-commissioning by noted 300SL expert Scott Grundfor. The Roadster is reported to have been a low-mileage, carefully preserved car at the time, still intact with its matching numbers engine, and with very good panel fit and finish.  

The 300SL remained in California, where it was later owned by a Mr. Howell D. Wood of Montecito, and driven on at least one edition of the California Mille. While in the current ownership, the car has been treated to an extensive cosmetic restoration by Tom Drummond's Quality Restoration Services in Newport Beach, California. After a bare-metal strip down, the Roadster was refinished in black, and beautifully trimmed with a light-brown Bamboo interior. The gauges were restored, and all chrome and bright work re-finished to factory correct specifications. The 300SL's mechanical systems were serviced and evaluated, and it was deemed that Mr. Grundfor's work back in the early 1990s was standing the test of time well.  

One of the early-production 300SL Roadsters, this stunning example features unique details such as the Gullwing grill treatment, and the absence of passenger door lock. A superb example of Mercedes-Benz's racing-derived 300SL, this matching numbers Roadster is ready to be enjoyed on tours and rallies or entered in competitive Concours judging. 

Bonhams. QUAIL LODGE AUCTION Carmel, Quail Lodge & Golf Club. 15 Aug 2014 11:00 PDT