1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing & Roadster

This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of 1,858 roadsters built during a six-year production run and was delivered new on September 24, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, via the Studebaker-Packard distribution center in South Bend, Indiana. Chassis 7500255 is said to have spent over three decades with a New York couple before it was purchased in 2005 by its current owner, who subsequently commissioned a two-year refurbishment. Work during the project included a repaint in silver, a re-trim of the interior in red leather, and an overhaul of the 3.0-liter M198 inline-six. Additional features include Bosch direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, a four-speed manual transmission, hydraulic drum brakes, four-wheel independent suspension with a low-pivot rear axle, a black convertible top, and a Becker Mexico radio. This W198 roadster is now offered on dealer consignment with a copy of its factory delivery note, invoices for parts used during the refurbishment, a two-piece fitted luggage set, and a clean Florida title. The roadster variant of the 300SL was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957 and entered production that May as the final Gullwing coupes were leaving the factory. The convertible’s construction incorporated a reconfigured version of the coupe’s tubular space frame with lower sill trusses to accommodate conventional front-hinged doors and a revised rear design that facilitated usable trunk space. Like the coupe, the roadster utilized steel bodywork with aluminum panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, sills, floors, and firewall. Originally finished in Fire Engine Red, this example’s body was removed from the frame before being refinished in its current shade Silver Gray (DB 180) during the refurbishment completed in Florida approximately eight years ago. There is a scratch on the quarter panel just rearward of the left door gap. Exterior features include European-specification headlights with single-piece glass covers as well as front and rear bumper guards, a left-fender-mounted mirror, pivot-out door handles, a locking fuel door, wide-profile rocker panel end flanges, and a black convertible top. Body-color steel wheels wear matching hubcaps and are wrapped in 185HR15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires. Servo-assisted hydraulic brakes utilize finned drums all around, with duplex actuation at the front wheels. The brake system is said to have been serviced in 2024. The cabin was retrimmed in red leather covering the bucket seats, door panels, dashboard, center tunnel, sills, and aluminum top cover, while color-matched square-weave carpeting lines the floors, rear package shelf, and seatbacks. Additional features include roll-up windows, an ivory-color shift knob, a lockable glove box, a clock, a dash-mounted ashtray and cigar lighter, and a Becker Mexico radio. The ivory-color steering wheel is accented by a chrome horn ring and frames VDO instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and a rectangular combination gauge with English lettering. The five-digit odometer shows 750 miles, approximately 50 of which have been added under current ownership. The gauges were rebuilt by Palo Alto Speedometer in 2010. The 300SL roadster model’s 3.0-liter M198 inline-six was carried over from the fixed-roof variant and shares its canted orientation, Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, and aluminum cylinder head. The competition camshaft that was optional on the coupe was made standard for the roadster, which also gained a dual point/dual coil ignition system and various fuel system refinements. This example’s engine is said to have been overhauled during the current owner’s refurbishment, which also included a rebuild of the injection pump. An oil change was performed in 2024. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transmission. The roadster’s four-wheel independent suspension utilizes a single-pivot rear axle with a compensator spring for improved stability over the coupe’s double-pivot design. Engine number 198980-7500267 is shown stamped on the engine block, and can be seen stamped on the block tag in the photo gallery below. Also shown in the gallery are stamps on the transmission, differential, firewall, frame, and one of the front uprights. Fitted luggage is included in the sale, and images of refurbishment work and service records are provided in the gallery. The delivery note lists the original colors, component numbers, and options including instruments in English, sealed-beam headlights, a Becker Mexico radio, a “Made in Western Germany” tag, and a 3.89:1 rear axle ratio. Additional information on the note includes: Order number: 876725 Type and construction: 300 SL Roadster Model: 198042 Paint: DB 534 feuerwehrrot (Fire Engine Red) Upholstery: 953 leder schwarz (black leather upholstery) Soft top: 872 schwarz (black) Chassis number: 198042-7500255 Engine number: 198980-7500267 Body number: A 198042-7500178 Delivery day: September 24, 1957 Mileage when shipped: 52 Gearbox number: 281 Front left axle number: 249 Front right axle number: 249 Rear axle number: 285 Steering box number: 370 The title lists the car’s identification number as 300SL7500255, and the body number tag was removed during the refurbishment and not replaced. Filed under: sl, w198