1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

During its sale Les Grandes Marques à Monaco, the 11 may 2018 at Monte Carlo, Bonhams will sell this superb 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Less funky than the Gullwing version (beautiful red one was sold last month for $1,193,500, the auction here), but still gorgeous... The auction will be going north, around $1,000,000.

History of the 300 SL Roadster

In 1953, the U.S. distributor for Mercedes-Benz, Max Hoffman, asked to Daimler-Benz to put a road version of the W194, race car, into production. The first version was the coupé. But, Hoffman believed that a roadster will be a better idea. And he was right, huge success.

So, in 1957 during the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz presented a convertible version of the 300 SL Gullwing, the SL Roadster. The 300 SL Roadster was produced to 1,858 examples between its introduction in 1957 and the end in 1963.

Technical Specification

The mechanical performance of the 300 SL had been improved with a six cylinder engine upgraded with a competition camshaft from National Sprint League races. With its convertible soft top, the Roadster don't have the hot cabin problems of the Gullwing.

Very nice dark blue interior !

Sources

Auction at Bonhams
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL on Wiki

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