It would be hard, or at least it would seem that way, to choose against the iconic Gullwing. However, the Roadster option was by no means a lacking choice. In fact, an easy argument could be made the convertible version was much more refined in about every single way.
To start with, the Roadster version of the 300SL would not have the same frame layout, and therefore, would not have the trouble of entry. Then there would be the well-known 3.0-liter straight-six engine. The Gullwing version would boast of 215bhp with its ground-breaking fuel injection. However, this would be improved upon. In fact, the power output would be increased to 225bhp.
To say nothing of the greater ease of entry, the Roadster's refined suspension (particularly the rear), increased engine horsepower and a cabin with obviously better ventilation, the Roadster was a very accommodating option, and not one to be discarded lightly. Despite the fact the car weighed more, had less fuel capacity and still cost a tremendous amount of money, the upgrades and comforts would be more than enough to find an audience, especially in the United States.
This particular example would be ordered by Max Hoffmann's distributorship based in New York. Completed by the end of September, 1957, it was a late first year production model, a limited run. Despite being a standard production model, this chassis includes an ultra-rare Becker 'Mexico' radio. This is a rare example, even amongst its fellow Roadsters.
Known to have spent the vast majority of its life on the West Coast, the Roadster's earliest known owner was K. Kischkel who was from Los Angeles, California. In 972, the car would be sold to Gary Cadenhead followed by Dan Young in 1980.
Barry and Ellen Gruer would be the next owners. They would purchase the car during the mid-1980s and would keep the car at their La Mesa, California home. Some time afterward the Gruers would commission a restoration through Hjeltness Restoration based in Escondido. The efforts would be successful earning the Roadster the Best Roadster award at the 1986 Gullwing Group Convention.
The restoration efforts and the awards led to the Mercedes-Benz being featured on the cover of 'Mercedes-Benz 300SL'. The notoriety would attract some suitors. One of those would be Yuko Hata of Kyoto, Japan. He would purchase the Roadster and would have it imported to Japan with a little more than 85,000 miles.
In 2012, the car would return to the United States and would take its place among an impressive collection owned by a well-known collector. Over the last few years the car had been maintained and used rather sparingly.
Offered as part of Bonhams' 2015 Quail Lodge auction, 7500270 would come offering both a soft and rare hard top, awards and a cover in a major publication. This would translate into a sale price of $950,000.By Jeremy McMullen
To start with, the Roadster version of the 300SL would not have the same frame layout, and therefore, would not have the trouble of entry. Then there would be the well-known 3.0-liter straight-six engine. The Gullwing version would boast of 215bhp with its ground-breaking fuel injection. However, this would be improved upon. In fact, the power output would be increased to 225bhp.
To say nothing of the greater ease of entry, the Roadster's refined suspension (particularly the rear), increased engine horsepower and a cabin with obviously better ventilation, the Roadster was a very accommodating option, and not one to be discarded lightly. Despite the fact the car weighed more, had less fuel capacity and still cost a tremendous amount of money, the upgrades and comforts would be more than enough to find an audience, especially in the United States.
This particular example would be ordered by Max Hoffmann's distributorship based in New York. Completed by the end of September, 1957, it was a late first year production model, a limited run. Despite being a standard production model, this chassis includes an ultra-rare Becker 'Mexico' radio. This is a rare example, even amongst its fellow Roadsters.
Known to have spent the vast majority of its life on the West Coast, the Roadster's earliest known owner was K. Kischkel who was from Los Angeles, California. In 972, the car would be sold to Gary Cadenhead followed by Dan Young in 1980.
Barry and Ellen Gruer would be the next owners. They would purchase the car during the mid-1980s and would keep the car at their La Mesa, California home. Some time afterward the Gruers would commission a restoration through Hjeltness Restoration based in Escondido. The efforts would be successful earning the Roadster the Best Roadster award at the 1986 Gullwing Group Convention.
The restoration efforts and the awards led to the Mercedes-Benz being featured on the cover of 'Mercedes-Benz 300SL'. The notoriety would attract some suitors. One of those would be Yuko Hata of Kyoto, Japan. He would purchase the Roadster and would have it imported to Japan with a little more than 85,000 miles.
In 2012, the car would return to the United States and would take its place among an impressive collection owned by a well-known collector. Over the last few years the car had been maintained and used rather sparingly.
Offered as part of Bonhams' 2015 Quail Lodge auction, 7500270 would come offering both a soft and rare hard top, awards and a cover in a major publication. This would translate into a sale price of $950,000.By Jeremy McMullen
2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,100,000-USD $1,300,000
Lot was not sold
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 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 | |
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 300 SL Roadster Chassis#: 198.042.7500397 Sold for USD$758,500 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
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.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER | 198.042.7500473 | 2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
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 : 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
Similar sales to the $941,788 range.
2021 Ford GT Studio Collection Series Chassis#:2fagp9gw7mh200003 Sold for $946,000 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1960 FERRARI 250 GT SERIES II CABRIOLET Coachwork by Pinin Farina Chassis#:1879 GT Sold for $940,000 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | |
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06/N03 Split Window Coupe Chassis#:30837s114809 Sold for $935,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
2012 Lexus LFA Chassis#:JTHHX8BH9C1000480 Sold for $940,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Las Vegas | |
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster Chassis#:WDD1994761M002017 Sold for $948,106 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
2021 FORD GT Chassis#:2FAGP9CW3MH200117 Sold for $940,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1934 Cadillac V-16 Fleetwood Aerodynamic Coupe Sold for $940,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1954 Cunningham C-3 Coupe by Vignale Chassis#:5442 Sold for $940,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1967 Toyota 2000GT Chassis#:MF10-10110 Sold for $940,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1956 Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Speedster Chassis#:82190 Sold for $935,000 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Coupe Chassis#:WDDRJ7HA6EA010498 Sold for $940,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1954 Cunningham C3 Vignale Coupe Chassis#:5442 Sold for $945,500 2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : The Passion for the Drive | |
1932 BENTLEY EIGHT LITRE SPORTS SALOON Chassis#:YX5110 Sold for $946,366 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
1939 DELAGE D8-120 CABRIOLET GRAND LUXE Chassis#:51980 Sold for $940,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1937 BUGATTI TYPE 57C VENTOUX Chassis#:57517 Sold for $940,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
2011 FERRARI 599 GTO Chassis#:ZFF70RCA6B0175526 Sold for $940,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Coupé Chassis#:675360 Sold for $940,000 2022 Bonhams : Amelia Island Concours | |
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America by Pinin Farina Chassis#:B24S-1044 Sold for $940,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1932 Chrysler CH Imperial Cabriolet Chassis#:7900825 Sold for $940,000 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1971 PLYMOUTH HEMI CUDA Chassis#:BS23R1B220743 Sold for $935,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
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