This 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster will be up for sale at Bonham’s Amelia Island Auction next month and it is simply stunning.
Considered to be the first real supercar, the 300 SL was unrivalled in every aspect. Appearance, performance, cost – it was a game-changer. The arrival of a convertible variant was inevitable and it certainly added to its appeal.
This particular example was delivered to Italy in 1958 with single-piece European-specification headlamps, a folding soft top, Becker Mexico radio, and front and rear license plate brackets. It also had a removable hard top but that is no longer available.
It is painted in Fire Engine Red and is fitted with a Tan interior. It also still has its original engine – a 3.0-litre I6 engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection producing 250bhp. That power is sent to the wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. The 300 SL Roadster also has 4-wheel independent suspension and hydraulic drum brakes all round.
Not only was it driven by the legendary Sir Stirling Moss in the 2015 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, it featured in a 2011 Mercedes-Benz advertisement titled “Welcome”.
As fascinating as that is, it’s certainly not the main reason I wish I could afford this car. If it was in my garage, I could spend hours every day just sat there looking at it. It is beautiful and it is clear to see why 60 years after its introduction, it’s still one of the world’s favourite sports cars.
It’s expected to be sold for around $900,000-$1,100,000 when it goes under the hammer on March 5th – that’s £690,000-£840,000 this side of the pond. Money well spent if you ask me.
Would you buy the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster if you had the money or would you rather spend it on a modern supercar? As good as the new stuff is, it’s just not the same, is it? Let me know what you think in the comments section below or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Leave a Reply