by A rare 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, the penultimate example of the model produced at the factory, has been put up for sale. The car is expected to fetch 1.495 million British pounds, equivalent to approximately $2 million or 87 million hryvnias. RM Sotheby’s reports this.
The car with chassis number 003257 was assembled on February 7, 1963. The next day, the last 300 SL Roadster came off the assembly line, ending the history of the W198 series.
The model features a rare configuration with an aluminum engine block and disc brakes. The roadster is painted in white with a red leather interior.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster at Auction
The car has retained its original body, chassis, transmission, and rear axle. The documents also state that the roadster includes the factory hardtop, a set of instruction manuals, and a special set of luggage.
After production, the car was initially sent to Austria, but due to the lack of a buyer, it returned to Stuttgart for adaptation to the American market.
The model received different headlights, instruments in miles, and a Becker Grand Prix radio. Despite this, the car retained the European rear axle final drive ratio.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Preserved by Collectors for Over 60 Years
The first owner in the USA did not receive the car until 1964. In total, only three such roadsters were officially registered by that year.
Throughout its history, the car has changed owners several times among collectors in the USA, Germany, and Great Britain. In 2001, the model underwent body restoration while preserving the factory color scheme.
In 2024, the car also received maintenance from the British specialist Martin Cushway. The work, worth over 20 thousand British pounds, included replacing the timing chain and rebuilding the rear axle.
At the time of cataloging, the mileage of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was 39,143 miles, or approximately 63,000 km.
