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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Rallye Roadster

  • Chassis Number: 198.042.7500569
  • Engine Number: 198.980.7500545
One of the most iconic of all Mercedes-Benz is the 300SL. How fitting and appropriate it would be than that one of the most iconic of all Mercedes-Benz automobiles would be owned by one of the most iconic actresses in all of Hollywood. Her name… Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko. She would be better known as Natalie Wood.

A problem with the 300SL's new chassis would give birth to an ingenious answer and create an immediately memorable and epochal design. But while the 300SL would be more famous for its gullwing derivative, the car was not quite the answer for one of the leading actresses of the time. A beautiful actress should have a car that perfectly accentuates her reputation and place within the Hollywood elite. The car should not be the center of attention therefore.

Mercedes would have an answer to this dilemma as well. The resolution would come in 1957 and would take the form of a 300SL Roadster.

Just as production of the famed coupe version was coming to an end, the roadster version would be ramping up. Virtually every element of the car would be the same. The major difference, of course, would be in the convertible top that would replace the gullwing doors. Though introduced in 1957, there would be only a few of the roadsters built. One of those would be chassis 198.042.7500569.

The first example of the roadster would first make an appearance in the magazine Auto, Motor und Sport when spotted in the summer of 1956. By the end of 1957, just a total of 618 roadsters would be built and on their way to their customers.

One of those customers would be Natalie Wood. Costing more than $10,000, it would take someone like Wood to be able to buy one of the roadsters. This particular example would be fitted with Rudge wheels, one of only about 25 to receive the specific type. Completed, the car would make its way to the United States where it would be united with Wood in January of 1958, about a month after she married Robert Wagner, for the first time. At just 19, the roadster was ideally-suited to magnify the allure of the Hollywood star.

At the time of her receiving the roadster, the sporty car would be adorned in the famed silver finish. The interior would consist of red leather. However, the silver was not exactly what Wood wanted for herself. Therefore, she would make the decision to have the car repainted with a very bright shade of pink. The red leather interior would remain.

The roadster would remain with Natalie up until the 1960s. By 1978, Don McColl of Ontario, Canada would own the car. McColl was certainly interested in being seen behind the wheel of a 300SL Roadster, but not necessarily one that was bright pink in color. Therefore, he would have the car repainted. He would have the car returned to its original finish.

The roadster would undergo restoration in 2000. The restoration would be undertaken by Rudi Koniczek of Rudi & Company and he would eventually refinish the car in a Silver Blue. He would retain the red leather. Every other detail would be thoroughly looked after over the course of the process. Great care would be taken to ensure that everything was correct, inside and out. This would include a Becker radio and even a Rudge wheel spare. About the only diversion from original would be the finish and the modern tires fitted to the Rudge wheels.

The completed car would be sold, but would not be hidden from sight. In 2010 the 300SL Roadster would take part in the Colorado Grand. Then, two years later, the car would be seen in Hollywood once again. It would be part of a Mercedes-Benz display celebrating the relationship between the 300SL and many of Hollywood's elite.

Following the event in Hollywood, the roadster would make an appearance at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. It was be present as part of a special celebration marking the 60th anniversary of Mercedes' victory at Le Mans in 1952. In addition to being a part of the special event, 0569 would also come away with Best in Class honors.

Still highly original in look, operation and feel, this particular roadster remains a prime example of an icon and is a fitting moving memorial to another icon, one of Hollywood's leading ladies.

Sources:
'1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster', (http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1064990). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1064990. Retrieved 5 February 2014.

'1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z4894/Mercedes-Benz-300-SL.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z4894/Mercedes-Benz-300-SL.aspx. Retrieved 5 February 2014.

'1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11266/Mercedes-Benz-300SL.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11266/Mercedes-Benz-300SL.aspx. Retrieved 5 February 2014.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Natalie Wood', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 January 2014, 16:26 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Natalie_Wood&oldid=592812982 accessed 5 February 2014

By Jeremy McMullen

2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,400,000-USD $1,750,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,842,500

2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $600,000 
Sale Price :
USD $561,000

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL

(Data based on Model Year 1957 sales)
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500510
Sold for USD$2,260,000
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
 
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER
Chassis#: 198.042.7500348
Sold for USD$2,012,500
  2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 'Outlaw'
Chassis#: 198.042.7500282
Sold for USD$1,199,880
  2023 RM Sothebys : Munich
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500115
Sold for USD$1,215,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Las Vegas
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 189.010.7500563
Sold for USD$1,050,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER
Chassis#: 198.042.7500038
Sold for USD$1,600,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Sold for USD$1,375,000
  2022 Mecum Indy
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#: 198.040.7500064
Sold for USD$1,352,500
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500603
Sold for USD$1,655,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER
Chassis#: 300SL1980427500532
Sold for USD$1,045,000
  2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas
 
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER
Chassis#: 198.042.7500178
Sold for USD$1,274,289
  2021 RM Sothebys : Milan 2021
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Sold for USD$907,500
  2021 Mecum : Indy 2021
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500592
Sold for USD$1,066,500
  2021 RM Sothebys : Arizona
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Sold for USD$1,210,000
  2021 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING
Chassis#: 198.040.7500027
Sold for USD$1,254,000
  2020 Gooding : Geared Online
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198 042 7500518
Sold for USD$986,346
  2020 Artcurial Motorcars : Monaco
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500094
Sold for USD$995,000
  2020 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500397
Sold for USD$758,500
  2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL image  
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500594
Sold for USD$839,042
  2020 RM Sothebys : Paris
 
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#: 198.042.7500555
Sold for USD$973,000
  2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
 

Mercedes-Benz 300SLs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster19804275002332024 Mecum : Kissimmee$1,200,000$1,300,000$1,400,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster18901075005632024 Mecum : Kissimmee$1,200,000$1,450,000$1,500,000
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER198.042.75006542023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $1,200,000$1,400,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75003852023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center $1,300,000$1,600,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75002862023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center $1,850,000$2,200,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster75001152023 Mecum : Monterey$1,050,000$1,450,000$1,650,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee   
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75002332020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey $1,100,000$1,200,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster 2020 Mecum : Indy   
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster198.042.75005322020 Bonhams : Scottsdale Arizona $950,000$1,100,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75006032019 RM Sothebys : Monterey $1,200,000$1,400,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster to SLS aluminium competition specifications19804275002202017 Bonhams : The Chantilly Sale $1,500,000$2,500,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster198.042.75002992017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge $1,000,000$1,200,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198042-75004322016 Bonhams : Bond Street Auction $1,000,000$1,200,000
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER198042.75002512016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge $1,150,000$1,350,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75003782016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island$950,000$1,000,000$1,300,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.75001882015 RM Sotheby's London Auction $650,000$850,000
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER198.042-75002702015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction $1,100,000$1,300,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster19804275006042015 Mecum : Monterey$1,450,000$1,500,000$2,000,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL75002392015 Motostalgia Auction Indianapolis Brickyard $1,750,000$2,000,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster75006042014 Mecum Monterey$1,650,000$1,750,000$2,250,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster198.042.75004142012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla$625,000$700,000$800,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Road Race Replica 2011 Bonhams Classic California $50,000$70,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster198.042.10.75003622010 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions $575,000$650,000
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster19804275001142006 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona$250,000$275,000$325,000

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Vehicle Profiles