This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing & Roadster got away, but there are more like it here.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

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Sold for $1,430,356 on 7/2/21comments-icon468Comments

This 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster was sold new to a US serviceman in Germany and later imported to the US. It remained with him in New Jersey until 1972, at which time it was acquired by its second owner and moved to New York. The car remained with its second owner until it was purchased by the current owner in 2014. It is finished in Papyrus White with a green soft top over a green leather interior, and power comes from a fuel-injected 3.0L inline-six paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Features include body-color Rudge wheels, aluminum drum brakes, and a Becker Mexico AM/FM radio. This 300SL Roadster is said to have participated in the inaugural 300SL Classic 1,000-mile rally held in 2018 in Arizona, and it is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner in Los Angeles, California, with a gray hardtop in a factory crate, tools, spare parts, factory books, a set of Karl Baisch fitted luggage, records from 1972 to the present, and a Montana title in the name of the owner’s LLC.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The W198 was Mercedes’ last body-on-frame design and incorporated engineering and design elements from the company’s W194 sports racers. The 300SL roadster was introduced to replace the gullwing coupe at the Geneva Salon in May 1957, and 1,858 examples were produced before it was replaced by the W113 SL in 1963.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The 300SL roadster featured redesigned headlights, front fenders, and a smaller grille compared to the Gullwing coupe, as well as brightwork extending from the fender vents onto the doors. This example was repainted in its factory Papyrus White (DB-717) in July 1986 and features polished chrome bumpers with overriders, blade-style door handles, dual Talbot-style mirrors, and European-market headlights. The green soft top features a plastic rear window and was installed by Van Nuys Sports Cars, Inc. in February 2016. A gray hardtop stored in a factory shipping crate can be seen in the gallery along with Sekurit and Kinoglas-Kristall window etchings.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The body-color 15″ Rudge wheels feature two-eared knock-off hubs and were fitted under previous ownership. Michelin XWX tires measuring 205/70 are fitted at all four corners. A matching spare wheel is fitted under 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. Braking is handled by Alfin “big drum” aluminum units that were offered from mid-1960 to early 1961.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The cabin features bucket seats that were reupholstered in green leather by Precision Automotive Restoration, Inc. of Newbury, Massachusetts, in February 2005, at which time a matching dash pad, door panels, sills, and carpets were installed. Equipment includes a dash-mounted ashtray, a clock, a locking glovebox, lap belts, a fire extinguisher mounted in the passenger footwell, and a Becker Mexico AM/FM radio, the latter of which has been fitted with an auxiliary input.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The white two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames VDO instrumentation including a 7k-rpm tachometer, a replacement 160-mph speedometer, and gauges for fuel level, water temperature, oil temperature, and oil pressure. The US-spec speedometer was reportedly installed in May 2015 by Van Nuys Sports Cars in Sherman Oaks, California. The five-digit odometer is said to have been converted from kilometers to miles at that time and now shows just over 58k miles. The removed metric speedometer is included in the sale, and its inset odometer shows 84,464 kilometers (~52,483 miles). An invoice from Van Nuys Sports Cars from January 2015 lists the 84,464 kilometer reading alongside a mileage note of 52,790 miles. The seller notes that the odometer was rolled forward approximately 300 miles too far at the time of the replacement.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The 3.0-liter M198 inline-six features Bosch mechanical fuel injection, a first for a road car when it debuted. The iron block is leaned over at an angle of 50° and equipped with dry-sump lubrication. A fuel injector pump service was performed by Van Nuys Sports Cars, Inc. in February 2019.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The chassis plate lists the type, chassis number, and that the car was constructed in 1960. The VIN on the title omits the leading “1” from the chassis number.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

The collection of spares include:

  • A gray hardtop in a factory shipping crate
  • Five painted bolt-on wheels
  • Four body-color hubcaps
  • A spare wheel hold down spindle
  • Two front wheel hubs
  • Two rear axle shafts
  • Brake drums
  • Two US-market headlight assemblies
  • A spare steering wheel and horn ring
  • Karl Baisch fitted luggage
  • Tonneau cover
  • Tools
  • Factory books
  • Records and correspondence from 1972 to present
Filed under: sl, w198

Road Tests

Auction Result

Winning Bid USD $1,430,356 by Falky
Auction Ended July 2, 2021 at 11:12AM PT
Bids 53
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BaT Essentials

Seller: Wob
Location: Los Angeles, California 90025
Listing Details
  • Chassis: 198.042.10.002499
  • 58k Miles Shown
  • 3.0-Liter M198 Inline-six
  • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
  • Papyrus White Paint
  • Green Leather Upholstery
  • Green Soft top
  • One of 1,858 300SL Roadsters
  • 15" Rudge Wheels
  • Alfin "Big Drum" Brakes
  • Becker Mexico AM/FM Radio
  • Gray Hardtop in Factory Crate
  • Tools
  • Spare Parts
  • Records, 1972 to Present
Private Party or Dealer: Private Party
Lot #50260