This 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of 1,858 roadsters built during a six-year production run and is one of 324 examples manufactured in 1958. Chassis 00669 was delivered new to its first New York-based owner at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart, Germany, via the company’s Tourist Delivery program in March 1958. The car subsequently spent time in Florida and Colorado and is said to have been refurbished in the 1990s by Hjeltness Restorations of Escondido, California, before being purchased by the selling dealer in 2022 and repainted black. Power comes from a fuel-injected 3.0L inline-six paired with a four-speed manual gearbox, and features include dry-sump lubrication, black leather upholstery, a color-matched soft top and removable hardtop, and a Becker Mexico AM/FM radio. Additional work performed by the selling dealer included replacing the exhaust system, water pump, oil cooler, engine gaskets, belts, spark plugs, ignition wires, and rocker panel moldings. This W198 roadster is offered in Canton Township, Michigan, with factory books, tools, a two-piece fitted luggage set, recent service records, and an Arizona title. The W198 was Mercedes’ final body-on-frame design and incorporated engineering and design elements from the company’s W194 sports racers. The roadster variant of the 300SL debuted at the March 1957 Geneva Motor Show and entered production two months later as the final examples of its fixed-roof counterpart were leaving the factory. Construction of the convertible incorporated an evolution of the coupe’s tubular space frame that was reconfigured with lower sill trusses to accommodate conventional doors as well as a revised rear segment that facilitated usable trunk space. Bodywork remained in steel with aluminum used for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, sills, floors, and bulkhead. Delivered from the factory in Graphite Gray (DB-190G), the car reportedly underwent a color change to black in 2022 by Coachwerks Restorations, of Victoria, British Columbia. Replacement rocker moldings and taillight gaskets were installed at that time. Features include polished chrome bumpers with overriders, US-market headlights, blade-style door handles, a driver-side Talbot mirror, a locking fuel door, and brightwork extending from the fender vents onto the doors. The removable hardtop is finished in black and features 300SL pillar badges as well as a perforated white headliner. The black soft top can be seen raised below. Chrome-finished 15″ wheels wear polished hubcaps with body-color accents, and they are mounted with 205/70 Vredestein Sprint Classic radial tires. A spare steel wheel with a Michelin tire is stowed beneath the trunk floor. The W198 roadster features an independent double-wishbone front suspension along with a revised rear swing-axle setup when compared to the Gullwing coupe. Stopping power is provided by servo-assisted drums at all four corners. A brake fluid flush was performed in 2022, at which time a replacement torsion bar was installed. The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in black leather along with a matching dash pad, door panels, sills, and carpets. Equipment includes a dash-mounted rearview mirror and an ashtray as well as a clock, a locking glovebox, and a Becker Mexico AM/FM 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 less than 47k miles, approximately 80 of which were added by the selling dealer. 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. Service in 2022 involved replacing the water pump, oil cooler and lines, intake manifold and valve cover gaskets, spark plugs and wires, radiator mounts, coolant hoses, and drive belt. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. A replacement exhaust system and manifold were installed in 2022 along with braided fuel lines. A black two-piece luggage set is included in the sale along with factory books and a tool roll. Filed under: sl, w198