Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1962 for sale

This Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was completed in January 1962 and delivered to its first owner in Germany in the extraordinary color combination Light Blue (DB 390) – an exterior color that, according to current knowledge, was probably assigned only three times. It is particularly remarkable that this automobile has spent its entire life in Germany. A fully documented ownership history allows for tracking the vehicle's life path for over six decades – a rarity that holds particular value for a 300 SL. The vehicle carries the extraordinary chassis number 3000, which gives it an additional uniqueness within an already exclusive series. Being a late example, this Roadster also belongs to the coveted generation with the factory-introduced disc brake system, which significantly improves driving characteristics and safety compared to earlier vehicles. Throughout its life, the Roadster has been carefully maintained. Its authentic character has always been preserved. Today, this 300 SL presents itself as a collectible car with a transparent ownership history. In 2000, an international jury of journalists chose the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing as the best automotive design of the 20th century. Indeed, the reputation of a road car often seems to surpass its exceptional driving characteristics. On the other hand, when considering competition vehicles, their technical sophistication stands out more. Its timeless formal language excites generations, while the open driving experience gives the Roadster an additional dimension to the driving experience. The example presented here from 1962 combines this elegance with the standard disc brake system of the late production years. In 1952, the board of directors of Daimler-Benz decided to participate again in international racing and developed the 300 SL racing car (W194). Already in the same year, the car achieved notable successes: 2nd place at the Mille Miglia, a double victory at Le Mans with a new speed record. This was followed by a quadruple record (!) at the Nürburgring and 1st place at the Carrera Pan Americana. These motorsport successes were also intended to be commercially exploited. Thus, in 1954, the road version of the 300 SL (W198) made its debut in New York. The gullwing doors that open upwards are particularly distinctive. Their shape is due to the construction: as with the 1952 racing car, the road version is based on a lightweight construction, in which a tubular frame supports the engine, transmission, and axles, not allowing for conventional doors. Additionally, it is the world's first production vehicle with direct gasoline injection. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957, a Roadster was presented as the successor to the Gullwing, which was technically substantially equivalent to the Coupe. However, thanks to modifications to the sides of the tubular frame, the entry height was reduced to such an extent that it was possible to create normal doors. Thanks to a flatter rear frame and a redesigned fuel tank, the spare wheel is located under the floor, thus creating a trunk. The rear suspension was fundamentally improved: the single-joint swing axle, already known from the 220a model, with a lowered pivot point, was now also installed in the 300 SL Roadster in an adapted form and for the first time equipped with a compensating spring. Compared to the gullwing version, significantly improved driving characteristics were achieved. Among the technical modifications that were integrated into production over the course of six years, two are particularly relevant: in March 1961, the 300 SL received Dunlop disc brakes on a