Exhibition car from Mercedes.
German third-hand delivery!
With the most recent owner for over 30 years!

Mercedes also followed the automobile World Championships in 1950 with great interest. The competition at the time sat still on the device of the time, and with the miracle cars of that era lying dormant in the basement, one would dare to feel superior in those days. Not wanting to show any weakness, they tested the old racer away from the big stage in South America. And lo and behold, the car was superior. New regulations in 1952 reduced the displacement in the Formula 1. There was a call for a new development and the board decided against the Formula 1 and for the sports car championship. The only thing lacking was an automobile.

With the new 300 series, they had shown the world that they set the standard in the upper classes. The 3-litre engine had potential and could actually get to 170 HP. But the unit was heavy, so the body had to be light. A streamlined light-alloy body was formed around a network of tubular frame. Conventional doors would have reduced the stability of the design. The solution was to give the racing car – baptised the 300 SL – the characteristic that it is known for today: gull-wing doors.

The first orders were not long coming. The 300 SL won almost every race, the Mille Miglia, Carrera Panamericana and Le Mans. Max Hoffman, originally from Vienna, was a Mercedes-Benz importer in New York. He implored Mercedes in Stuttgart to build the SL as a series. Eventually, they gave in. They revised the motor again, added a modern piston-pump fuel injection along with dry-sump lubrication. This made the engine capable of 215 HP. Conversely, they used steel alloy to save costs, with the exception of the hoods and doors.

Mercedes-Benz presented the first complete production car at the New York Auto Show in 1954. Despite its sinfully expensive price of DM 29,000, the 300 SL was a success – particularly in the United States, where over 80% of the cars were sold. Soon, however, the public demanded an open version.

The 300 SL roadster appeared in 1957, replacing the coupé. Updated visually, they did everything they could in Stuttgart, giving the roadster a new rear axle – which drastically optimized the driving characteristics – and later added disc brakes and an aluminium engine block. The roadster was still a bit more expensive than the coupé, but was also more successful. 1,858 units left the factory by 1963.

A few years ago, the grandson of the Karlsruhe brewery owner Dr. Walter Schrempp went to the SL Club and asked for help in finding his grandfather's 300 SL. He had a few photos of the car and memories of riding in the passenger seat as a child. The found the car, which reportedly had been registered in his hometown until recently. Its most recent proprietor, a deceased real estate entrepreneur, had owned the vehicle for over 30 years. According to his daughters, he bought the SL from a certain Rosalie Scheibe, a teacher from Karlsruhe. The SL had a heart transplant in its early days – which was not uncommon for the 300 SL, since many owners could not handle the racing technology. The new engine block has the official plate and comes from the same year as the car. The engine number was adapted to the original – also a common practice for Mercedes-Benz. Before Dr. Schrempp got the car, however, it served as an demonstration model for exhibitions. It was registered on July 27, 1958. According to the information card, delivery to the first owner took place two months later.

The cars last, long-time owner had the SL restored from the ground up in the years 1995 to 1998. Specialists took care of every single step, and the work is painstakingly documented with photos and invoices and was accompanied by an expert. The car was dismantled down to the frame – absolutely everything was overhauled, engine, gearbox, chassis, axles, body, interior, etc. The owner had ventilated disc brakes installed on the front axles and a water cooler and integrated oil cooler from the company Kienle. An air-conditioning unit (the unit is not visible from inside the car) from the same renowned company keeps the vehicle cool and an alarm system ensures that it stays where it belongs. The bills for the restoration reached 340,000 Marks, and the total expense could have been higher.

The result: a 300 SL roadster in exceptional condition that maintains the rare, original details like the illuminated D plate on the rear and the original Becker Mexico radio. Looking at the car in its current state, you would never believe that the vehicle had an additional 14,000 km since the restoration. This speaks not only to the careful handling of the car, but also the quality of the work carried out 20 years ago. Today the SL excites from every angle. An expert who recently examined the car confirms that it drives as good as it looks.

The 300 SL is a sports car that can leave you speechless. This specimen shines as a German vehicle with its history and enthrals with its fantastic condition!

VIN: 198 042 85000271, engine: 198 980 8500277, mileage: 178,273 km (original), displacement: 2,996 cc/R6, gearbox: 4-speed, colour: Fire red/black (leather), power: 215 HP, papers: German vintage registration