The car will be sold at auction in the UK
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The first Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” with a closed body pioneered a number of technological innovations that are still the basis of the automotive industry as a whole, from fuel injection to the lightweight chassis with a tubular frame.
With the launch of the 300 SL Roadster following the end of production of the Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz further developed the platform, setting the benchmark standard for open-top cars. This model remains one of the exemplary cars of its generation, which is able to delight even almost 70 years later.
This 300 SL Roadster was first registered in July 1957 in its native Germany. It was originally painted in the company’s signature silver gray metallic (DB 180G). Little is known about the car’s early history, but by 1990 it was still in Germany in the care of Eric Schwanke, who commissioned a restoration in 1993.
Photos from 1994 show the interior finished in silver-gray leather over red. From 1996 to 1998, the car belonged to Peter Arai, who continued to restore it – the rear suspension and engine were restored.
From 1998 to 2008, this Mercedes-Benz was owned by Wolfgang Schleinitz from Wildeshausen, who carried out a gearbox rebuild in 2006. In 2008, the roadster was sold to one Mr. Nikkolas Benopoulos, a collector and owner of several 300 SL models, and was subsequently shipped to his native Greece. In 2013, the car was purchased by the current owner and imported to the UK, where it remains to this day.
Shortly after the 300 SL arrived in the UK, the car was entrusted to respected restorer Hilton & Moss. An inspection by specialists showed that although the 1993 restoration was carried out at a high level, the previous masters could not avoid minor shortcomings.
As a result, the car was stripped down to bare metal and completely restored to its original condition. This required 3,500 hours of painstaking work.
It was decided that the car would receive a period-appropriate color scheme of anthracite gray (DB 172) and a contrasting red leather interior. Following the completion of the restoration, the car was shown at the 2017 Prive Salon, where it was awarded second class honours.
Invoices included with the lot show the car was subjected to 500km testing by Hilton & Moss following completion of the restoration in 2016. The 300 SL was last serviced by Martin Cushway Engineering in March 2020.
The car will soon be sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction in the UK. Price will be disclosed upon request. It is only known that some copies were sold for more than $3 million.
2023-09-17 08:30:00
#Mercedes #auctioned #hours #restoration