{"id":793687,"date":"2023-12-04T08:47:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T16:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/?p=513749"},"modified":"2024-12-29T04:05:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-29T04:05:05","slug":"1957-mercedes-benz-300-sl-roadster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/1957-mercedes-benz-300-sl-roadster\/","title":{"rendered":"FOR SALE: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was no surprise that the competition-bred Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing<\/a> coupe set the world afire upon its debut, with its scintillating bodywork stretched over lightweight space-frame construction, a potent fuel-injected inline six-cylinder engine, and of course, the \u201cgullwing\u201d doors that made it instantly iconic. It was equally unsurprising that such a popular model would spawn a Roadster variant, one that, in particular, fed all the important North American market\u2019s voracious appetite for open sports cars.<\/p>\n

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Spurred on by the powerful importer Max Hoffman, such a model appeared in 1957. Extensively re-engineered to suit the removal of its roof, it also improved upon the original Gullwing performance by standardizing the formerly optional 240-horse-power engine with a competition-derived camshaft. The rear suspension was revised with a single-joint low-pivot swing axle for more predictable handling. In its inaugural season, the 300 SL Roadster<\/a> sold 554 examples worldwide. At least one of them made its way to the West Coast of Canada.<\/p>\n

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As delivered<\/h2>\n

According to its factory data card, chassis no. 198.042.7500348 was originally delivered to Mercedes-Benz Vancouver, Canada. The newspaper article indicated this was a firm known as Mercedes-Benz<\/a> Distributors Western Ltd. or simply Mercedes-Benz Ltd., of 1219 West Georgia Street on what was then the \u201cAutomobile Row\u201d in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was equipped with engine no. 198.980.7500338, gearbox no. 216, front axle nos. 367 (left) and 366 (right), rear axle no. 374, and body no. 198.042.7500268, all retained today and finished in Silbergrau Metallic DB 180 (Silver Grey Metallic) with Rot 1079 (Red leather) interior and Schwarz 872 (Black) top.<\/p>\n

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Further specifications included the fitment of English language instrumentation, sealed beam headlights, 3.89:1 rear axle, Becker Mexico radio, a luggage set and, most prominently, the Rudge knock-off wheels<\/a>. These rather racy wheels, most frequently seen on Gullwing\u2019s orders for competition, were available only on the Roadster during the early production run. Just 22 Roadsters, out of the total production of 1,858 built between 1957 and 1963, were so equipped from the factory.<\/p>\n

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Highlights<\/h2>\n