Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, 1961
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR•
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Chassis No.: A1980421000227
- Exterior: Fire Engine Red
- Interior: Cream
- Body: Roadster
- 1 of only 1,858 produced from 1957-1963
- Unrestored with code 534 Fire Engine Red paint and Cream leather interior
- Original invoice
- In the care of a single family since new
- Matching numbers 2996cc engine
- Bosch fuel injection
- 4-speed manual transmission
- 4-corner independent suspension
- Hydraulic drum brakes
- Chrome wheels with center hubcaps
- Functional horn, lights and electric antenna
- Delivered new to J.R.P Motorcars in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvannia
Ever since it debuted to acclaim at the March 1957 Geneva Salon, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster continues to rank, along with the 300SL Gullwing before it, among the finest and most influential sports cars ever produced. Instantly recognizable with a timeless appearance and capable of electrifying performance—even by today’s jaded standards, the 300SL Roadster's technical sophistication, including its SOHC, fuel-injected 3.0L engine and updated, fully independent suspension, remains the standard by which the world’s finest automobiles are judged.
Of course, with its sensuous body lines and purely avant-garde flair, the 300SL continues to evoke exotic images of adventure, speed and victory—even while at rest. Largely based on the W198 300SL Gullwing coupe, itself derived from Mercedes-Benz’s victorious W194 racing cars of 1952, the 300SL Roadster was internally designated “W198 II” and ushered in myriad desirable mechanical updates while maintaining the sleek basic design cues and smashing performance of its predecessor. As with the Gullwing, development and production of the glamorous 300SL Roadster was advocated for—forcefully—by famed New York-based Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffman.
Built around a revised and strengthened, yet startlingly lightweight, space-frame chassis, the 300SL Roadster featured easier entry than the Gullwing with conventional front-hinged doors, a more pleasant ride and more forgiving handling, all the while retaining the sporting driving dynamics demanded by enthusiasts. A revised camshaft profile delivered additional power in concert with the new higher-octane gasoline that became available during the latter 1950s. As buyers expected, the 300SL Roadster was an outstanding performer with strong acceleration and a factory-claimed 137 MPH top speed, depending upon the final-drive ratio selected.
Coveted from new by luminaries of the business, entertainment, political and social spheres, the 300SL Roadster continues to weave its magic today as an unqualified icon that no proper collection can be without. Just 1,858 300SL Roadsters were built in all from 1957 through 1963, including this wonderfully unrestored example that was delivered new to J.R.P Motorcars in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Clearly benefiting from single-family ownership and care since new, it is finished in Code 534 Fire Engine Red paint over Cream leather upholstery.
Power is delivered by its matching-numbers 2996cc inline 6-cylinder engine, which is equipped with Bosch mechanical fuel injection and mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. Fully independent underpinnings and hydraulic drum brakes round out the mechanicals. According to a recent inspection, the SL’s horn, lights and electric antenna are all functional. Chrome wheels mount center hubcaps, and the original invoice is included.
An unqualified design and engineering achievement, with performance and driving dynamics that remain breathtaking today, the 300SL and especially the glamorous open-air 300SL Roadster continue to occupy a place on every list ranking the world’s all-time greatest sports and GT cars. An exceptional unrestored example with a matching-numbers engine, this single-family 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster is simply a fabulous find for collectors of the world’s greatest automobiles ever produced.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/520692/1961-mercedes-benz-300sl-roadster/
