Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957, Alemanha
Fotografia
While the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” coupe was exiting
stage left in 1957, its successor, the 300 SL roadster, was debuting at that
year’s Geneva Salon. The conversion of the 300 SL to an open car meant
redesigning the chassis, which was strengthened significantly to compensate for
the loss of the roof structure. The headlamps were changed, the grille was made
smaller, and a chrome molding was added below the doors. The famed
racing-derived twin-cam, six-cylinder engine produced some 215 horsepower, and
the revised rear suspension now boasted a compensating spring, which was added
to reduce the oversteering tendencies of the Gullwing’s single-jointed swing
axle arrangement.
Enthusiasts who may have worried about the 300 SL going “soft”
had absolutely nothing to concern themselves about. The roadster remained among
the fastest automobiles on the road, as it was capable of 155 mph, depending on
the final drive ratio specified.
Production of the roadster continued until early 1963, and with
1,858 built, it proved even more popular than its gull-winged predecessor, yet
it still remained exclusive enough among the well-to-do. Like the earlier
coupe, it was, in its day, the car in which to see and be seen, and it was
favored by celebrities, racing drivers, and just about anyone who appreciated
fine machinery and who also had the bank account to acquire it. Today the 300
SL still carries with it an indelible aura of speed, power, and sophisticated
style. It is fast enough for the sports-car lover yet comfortable enough for
those who demand luxury, and it has remained for nearly 60 years as one of the
most desirable automobiles in the world.
According to its Mercedes-Benz data card, the very early
production roadster offered here, chassis number 7500397, was originally
delivered finished in Blue (DB 334) with a Cream interior and was equipped with
a 3.89:1 rear axle, U.S.-specification gauges and equipment, and without turn
signals. An original U.S.-delivery model, its earliest known history can be
tracked to Buffalo, New York. Among its owners in Buffalo was Dr. Irwin A.
Ginsberg, a renowned otolaryngologist, oenophile, and passionate automobile
collector known for his fine Classics that won awards all over the country,
including Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1985.
The car was enjoyed by a succession of other owners in Florida,
Ohio, California, and Michigan before joining a prominent private collection in
California several years ago. The car’s prior owner had its engine, a
replacement 1958 unit, rebuilt by the respected Mercedes-Benz authority Jim
Cosgrove of Oldtimer Restoration Center in Harvard, Massachusetts, in addition
to other mechanical work, including inspection of the rear axle and
transmission. Under current ownership the car has been routinely serviced and
enjoyed.
The 300 SL presents beautifully in Fire Engine Red with a black
soft top, equipped with a driver’s-side Talbot-style mirror, and accented by
color-matched wheels and factory hub caps. The interior is similarly well
preserved and in excellent order, fitted with a dash clock and Becker Mexico
radio. As a 1957 model, it would be a wonderful and ideal entrant for a wide
variety of historic motoring events, including the California Mille, Colorado
Grand, or Copperstate 1000.
The 300 SL roadster has become every bit as desirable as its
famous Gullwing sibling; no enthusiast’s stable is complete without one. This
early example, long treasured by its caretakers, would be an ideal acquisition
for the lady or gentleman who thrills in the sport of driving.
