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This 300 SL Roadster is among the first examples built. It was completed in June of 1957 and fitted with engine number 7500108 and body no. 7500020. Due to its early production date, it was given rare hand-tooled production components that were shared with the Gullwing.
This example was built to order for Princess Ashraf ol-Molouk Pahlavi, the twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Mohammad Reza Shah eventually became a major shareholder in Mercedes-Benz and is personally credited with the creation of the Gelandewagen (Cross-Country Vehicle), when he placed a 20,000-truck order with Mercedes-Benz in the 1970s. Princess Ashraf was also fond of the marque and would own several models during the 1950s, including a 300 S Roadster and a 220 S Cabriolet.
Princess Ashraf special-ordered this 300 SL Roadster in special-order color Perlgrau (Pearl Grey, DB 125) with red leather upholstery, black soft top, Becker Le Mans radio, Michelin tires, and European equipment, including lighting and instrumentation. Around 1961, the car was acquired by Thomas Foster Hamilton, the founder of the Hamilton Standard Company, a firm that revolutionized the propulsion technology of propeller-driven aircraft in the years prior to WWII.
It is believed that Mr. Hamilton acquired the 300 SL while living in Paris during the early 1960s and had it prepared for use in European rallies. The work included the installation of a pair of Marchal driving lights, leather hood straps, three-spoke Nardi steering wheel, aircraft-style safety belts, and drivers-side aluminum roll bar, as well as front and rear 'nerf bars,' with a central Marchal spotlight and club badges mounted on the front crosspiece. There is a custom-fabricated, aviation-inspired instrument panel with a Halda Speedpilot, Tapley & Co. gradient and acceleration meter, Abercrombie & Fitch-branded Heuer Autavia rally clock, and a Sufft Auto-Aeroid altimeter.
The car remained with Mr. Hamilton and his family for decades, with ownership passing to T.L. Hamilton in 1969, and then to Thomas F. Hamilton II in 1973. In 1996, Tom Hamilton II sold the Roadster to Scott Dapron of Prescott, Arizona. It remained in Mr. Dapron's collection until his death, whereupon it was sold to the current owner.
This Roadster is currently in unrestored condition with its matching-numbers engine, original leather upholstery, and period rally equipment The bodywork has been refinished in Weissgrau (White Gray), with an appropriate DB 158 paint code tag in the engine bay. Sections of the original Perlgrau paint are present behind the dashboard. The factory hardtop and wheels are finished in light brown. There are period-correct Michelin X tires and proper Sekurit side glass.
The car has its tonneau cover (stamped 020), tool kit, jack, custom fabric tonneau, and Mercedes-Benz owner's manual and parts catalogs,By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020
This example was built to order for Princess Ashraf ol-Molouk Pahlavi, the twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Mohammad Reza Shah eventually became a major shareholder in Mercedes-Benz and is personally credited with the creation of the Gelandewagen (Cross-Country Vehicle), when he placed a 20,000-truck order with Mercedes-Benz in the 1970s. Princess Ashraf was also fond of the marque and would own several models during the 1950s, including a 300 S Roadster and a 220 S Cabriolet.
Princess Ashraf special-ordered this 300 SL Roadster in special-order color Perlgrau (Pearl Grey, DB 125) with red leather upholstery, black soft top, Becker Le Mans radio, Michelin tires, and European equipment, including lighting and instrumentation. Around 1961, the car was acquired by Thomas Foster Hamilton, the founder of the Hamilton Standard Company, a firm that revolutionized the propulsion technology of propeller-driven aircraft in the years prior to WWII.
It is believed that Mr. Hamilton acquired the 300 SL while living in Paris during the early 1960s and had it prepared for use in European rallies. The work included the installation of a pair of Marchal driving lights, leather hood straps, three-spoke Nardi steering wheel, aircraft-style safety belts, and drivers-side aluminum roll bar, as well as front and rear 'nerf bars,' with a central Marchal spotlight and club badges mounted on the front crosspiece. There is a custom-fabricated, aviation-inspired instrument panel with a Halda Speedpilot, Tapley & Co. gradient and acceleration meter, Abercrombie & Fitch-branded Heuer Autavia rally clock, and a Sufft Auto-Aeroid altimeter.
The car remained with Mr. Hamilton and his family for decades, with ownership passing to T.L. Hamilton in 1969, and then to Thomas F. Hamilton II in 1973. In 1996, Tom Hamilton II sold the Roadster to Scott Dapron of Prescott, Arizona. It remained in Mr. Dapron's collection until his death, whereupon it was sold to the current owner.
This Roadster is currently in unrestored condition with its matching-numbers engine, original leather upholstery, and period rally equipment The bodywork has been refinished in Weissgrau (White Gray), with an appropriate DB 158 paint code tag in the engine bay. Sections of the original Perlgrau paint are present behind the dashboard. The factory hardtop and wheels are finished in light brown. There are period-correct Michelin X tires and proper Sekurit side glass.
The car has its tonneau cover (stamped 020), tool kit, jack, custom fabric tonneau, and Mercedes-Benz owner's manual and parts catalogs,By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020
2020 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,300,000
Sale Price :
USD $995,000
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#: 198.042.7500473 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 | |
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 |
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 | 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 |
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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
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