Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was born in 1954 out of the post-War economic boost in as a descendant of the successful W194-series racing car- the race bred coupe that dominated sports car racing in the early 50s. The ‘SL’ stands for ‘Sport Leicht’ which translates to ‘lightweight sports’, and 300 was a car-speak representation of the coupes high-tech, fuel injected displacement.

In 1957, a Roadster version was introduced as an additional, slightly more practical car in the range. It was equipped with the same straight-six and offered 150mph+ performance, which was very fast for the time. Roadsters also received a slightly smaller grille opening than their hardtop counterparts. In total, the company built just 1,858 examples of the convertible with production running from 1957 to 1963.

This Roadster was always an expensive car and one that, at the time, was the equivalent of a Ferrari, Maserati or Aston Martin. Both versions now command colossal prices on the worldwide collectors’ market.

The epitome of the coveted classic would be in unrestored form, and would need to include tools and Rudge wheels. These gorgeous roadsters are normally sold between 1-2 million dollars.