Ordered new with factory-supplied hardtop
Factory painted in one-off colour, Senf
Two owners from new
Including original service manual, handbook and tools
One of only 241 examples built in 1960
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster:
The 300 SL
was already an enormous success by the time of the Roadster’s unveiling at the
1957 Geneva Motor Show, however the refined nature of the Roadster ensured it
would become a foundation of Mercedes’ open coachwork grand touring cars.
The
Roadster’s undeniably luxurious character generally obscured its performance
capabilities. Whilst visibly a sibling of the 300 SL Gullwing, the Roadster was
largely redesigned, featuring a revised tube frame with lowered door sills
allowing far easier access to the cabin, which courtesy of the reclining
soft-top was never subjected to the uncomfortably hot temperatures which
plagued the Gullwing.
Another
advantage of the later developed Roadster was in the engine bay, the 2996 cc
engine was now fitted with the competition camshaft, previously only fitted to
the NSL racing Gullwings, leading to an increase of 20 horsepower. The rear
suspension was also revised, reducing the cars tendency to oversteer thanks to
a lower axle pivot-point.
This Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster:
The
Roadster we are offering, chassis 198.042.10.002516, was delivered new to
Mr Oswald Werner, a resident of Davos-Platz, Switzerland, on 24th
April. This car was first registered in Switzerland on the same day and issued
license no. ‘GR 8430’. Interestingly, the car was painted by Mercedes-Benz in
the fabulous colour we see today, called ‘Senf’ (mustard), although the colour
was not publicly available, only to a single very important client. This car
was later seen by another client of Mercedes-Benz, Mr Berthold Beitz, president
of the Krupp Foundation, who immediately requested his 300 SL be painted in the
same colour. However, Mercedes-Benz politely responded saying it was not
possible as they promised the client of this car that the colour would be a
one-off, and so this is the only 300 SL Roadster finished in Senf.
The
original Service Booklet still accompanies the car and notes the original
engine number as 198.980.10.002564, which it retains to this day, along with
its Owner’s Manual and tool kit. The car was also ordered new with a factory
hardtop, allowing the owner to enjoy the car either open with the wind in their
hair, closed with the soft top, or closed with the desirable optional hard top.
An original
service book is a very rare find with a 300 SL Roadster, but this service book
also has many stamps confirming this car’s early service history. In September
1964, this car was serviced by Gebr.Gruger in Switzerland with the mileage
noted as 30,100 KMs, clearly Mr Werner was enjoying his ownership of this
fabulous roadster. The mileage continued to steadily increase over the
following years, in 1966 again the car was serviced, this time displaying
36,128 KMs. By 1983 the car had changed ownership to Mr Morigi, from whom we recently
purchased the car, and was being serviced by Mercedes-Benz Automobil AG, Zurcherstrasse,
and displayed 66,180 KMs.
Mr Morigi
was a close friend of the first owner, and recalls how he came to purchase the
car. Having just completed the restoration of his Lancia Fulvia Zagato, Mr
Oswald commented that this was “the car for me”, and in return Morigi commented
that the 300 SL Roadster was “the car for me”! At this point Mr Oswald was too
old to regularly use the car and felt Morigi was a good second owner with an
ever-growing collection, a sale was quickly agreed.
The Mercedes-Benz
300 SL was always a very special car for Mr Morigi who recalls a missed
opportunity earlier in his life. In 1957, using his temporary driving license,
he drove himself and three friends from Ravenna to Bologna for a Paul Anka
concert in his Lancia Aurelia B10. Sadly, they left the road and the car was expected
to cost 200,00 Italian Lire to repair. Morigi consulted with his friend Cesare
Perdisa, an Italian race car driver, who suggested he should instead invest
more money and buy a 300 SL Gullwing, previously owned by actress Sophia Loren.
Unfortunately, Morigi chose not to purchase the Gullwing, but always regretted
his decision, and when the opportunity arose to obtain this roadster, he did
not make the same mistake!
The service
history continues with stamps from Mercedes-Benz service centres in Lugano and
Salzburg before the car participated in the 1993 and 1995 annual Kitzbuheler
Alpen Rallye. Austria was one of the first countries to switch to unleaded
fuel, and in 1993 Morigi consulted with Mercedes-Benz who confirmed the car
would continue to run without issue. However, Morigi quickly ran into engine
issues after refuelling in Austria and returned the car to Salzburg where he
commissioned a complete engine rebuild. Later, in May 1998 this car was also issued
its DUEVET FIVA Vehicle Passport, number 1361.
Today the
car is offered with its original factory hard top, service booklet, owner’s
manual and tool kit, a rare combination, but when combined with its one-off
factory paint finish, this car really is a unique opportunity to obtain a
hugely original example of one of the world’s most iconic roadsters.
Price: POA
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