Between 1954 and 1963, Mercedes-Benz produced a two-seat sports car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. For the first three years it was produced only as a coupe (1,400 units produced) and in 1957 it was replaced by the Roadster version. By 1963, 1,858 examples of the Roadster had left the production line, and one of them, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, is up for auction.
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is powered by a 3.0-liter M198 inline-six engine taken from the fixed-roof variant. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transmission. The engine has Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, and aluminum cylinder head. Braking and stopping are handled by servo-assisted hydraulic brakes with finned drums all around, and duplex actuation at the front wheels.
This example is finished in Silver Gray (DB 180) and is in good condition. It is equipped with European-specification headlights with single-piece glass covers as well as front and rear bumper guards, a left-fender-mounted mirror, pivot-out door handles, a locking fuel door, wide-profile rocker panel end flanges, four- wheel independent suspension with a low-pivot rear axle, and a black convertible top. It is mounted on 15″ steel wheels wrapped in 185HR15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires.
Inside, the bucket seats are trimmed in red leather covering the door panels and dash, with matching carpets. In front of the driver are an ivory-color steering wheel and a five-digit odometer showing 743 miles. Additional equipment includes roll-up windows, an ivory-color shift knob, a lockable glove box, a clock, a dash-mounted ashtray and cigar lighter, and a Becker Mexico radio.
The car was refurbished from 2005 to 2007, and the works included a repaint in silver, a re-trim of the interior in red leather, and an overhaul of the 3.0-liter M198 inline-six. It comes with a copy of its factory delivery note, invoices for parts used during the refurbishment, a two-piece fitted luggage set, and a clean Florida title.
The auction ends on March 17 and the highest bid at the time of writing was $949,000 USD.
Source: Bring a Trailer
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