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The 300SL Roadster was the second version (the first being the gullwing coupe) of the SL-Class grand touring cars. Introduced as the replacement for the gullwing at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, this fuel-injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted 1952 race car, the Mercedes-Benz (W194) 300SL.
The suggestion of a streetable version of a race car was made by NY importer and dealer, Max Hoffman. The car was targeted at affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market. The 300SL's body was unitized steel, but with aluminum hood, doors and trunk lid.
The 300SL is credited for changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid, but staid, automobiles to that of a producer of sporty cars. Just 1,858 units were made of the roadster version, a large number of them sold in the United States.
This particular SL is a 1957 model. It was originally purchased by the Cunningham family, owners of Knight Motors of Bangor, Maine on European delivery. The Cunninghams enjoyed a month long holiday in the car, and took it back home with them on the QEII. It was never sold at the retail level, and never titled, using the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin and dealer plates ever since. The car was used by Mrs. Cunningham, and eventually sold to a Toledo dealer, where it remains. There are just 26,800 original miles on the odometer. While unrestored, it has had a freshening over the years.
The suggestion of a streetable version of a race car was made by NY importer and dealer, Max Hoffman. The car was targeted at affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market. The 300SL's body was unitized steel, but with aluminum hood, doors and trunk lid.
The 300SL is credited for changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid, but staid, automobiles to that of a producer of sporty cars. Just 1,858 units were made of the roadster version, a large number of them sold in the United States.
This particular SL is a 1957 model. It was originally purchased by the Cunningham family, owners of Knight Motors of Bangor, Maine on European delivery. The Cunninghams enjoyed a month long holiday in the car, and took it back home with them on the QEII. It was never sold at the retail level, and never titled, using the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin and dealer plates ever since. The car was used by Mrs. Cunningham, and eventually sold to a Toledo dealer, where it remains. There are just 26,800 original miles on the odometer. While unrestored, it has had a freshening over the years.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
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#: 198.042.7500173 Sold for USD$1,187,500 2024 RM Sothebys : The Junkyard : Rudi Klein Collection | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500473 Sold for USD$1,160,000 2024 Bonhams : The Audrain Concours Auction | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Chassis#: 1890107500563 Sold for USD$1,237,500 2024 Mecum : Monterey | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500364 Sold for USD$2,892,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500315 Sold for USD$1,105,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500628 Sold for USD$995,000 2024 Broad Arrow : Monterey | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500680 Sold for USD$1,200,000 2024 Broad Arrow : Monterey | |
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER Chassis#: 198.042.7500473 Sold for USD$1,105,000 2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction | |
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 | |
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 300 SL ROADSTER Chassis#: 198.042.7500038 Sold for USD$1,600,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
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 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 |
Mercedes-Benz 300SLs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1980427500523 | 2024 Mecum : Monterey | $1,300,000 | $1,600,000 | $1,750,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | 1980407500061 | 2024 Mecum : Monterey | $1,400,000 | $1,800,000 | $2,100,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1980427500233 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $1,200,000 | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1890107500563 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $1,200,000 | $1,450,000 | $1,500,000 |
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER | 198.042.7500654 | 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500385 | 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | $1,300,000 | $1,600,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500286 | 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | $1,850,000 | $2,200,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 7500115 | 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | $1,050,000 | $1,450,000 | $1,650,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | ||||
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500233 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey | $1,100,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 2020 Mecum : Indy | ||||
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 198.042.7500532 | 2020 Bonhams : Scottsdale Arizona | $950,000 | $1,100,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500603 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster to SLS aluminium competition specifications | 1980427500220 | 2017 Bonhams : The Chantilly Sale | $1,500,000 | $2,500,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 198.042.7500299 | 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198042-7500432 | 2016 Bonhams : Bond Street Auction | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER | 198042.7500251 | 2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | $1,150,000 | $1,350,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500378 | 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | $950,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 198.042.7500188 | 2015 RM Sotheby's London Auction | $650,000 | $850,000 | |
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL ROADSTER | 198.042-7500270 | 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | $1,100,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1980427500604 | 2015 Mecum : Monterey | $1,450,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | 7500239 | 2015 Motostalgia Auction Indianapolis Brickyard | $1,750,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 7500604 | 2014 Mecum Monterey | $1,650,000 | $1,750,000 | $2,250,000 |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 198.042.7500414 | 2012 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 Roadster | 198.042.10.7500362 | 2010 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions | $575,000 | $650,000 | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | 1980427500114 | 2006 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona | $250,000 | $275,000 | $325,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
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1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S by Bertone Chassis#:4070 Sold for $967,500 2024 RM Sothebys : The Junkyard : Rudi Klein Collection | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone Chassis#:LML/504 Sold for $967,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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1961 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES I 3.8-LITRE ROADSTER Chassis#:850004 Sold for $983,049 2023 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
2005 Ferrari Superamerica Chassis#:ZFFGT61A650144855 Sold for $978,500 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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1974 FERRARI DINO 246 GTS Chassis#:08512 Sold for $967,500 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
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