As iconic as it is, the W198 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe (aka “Gullwing”) wasn’t around that long. Mercedes only produced 1,400 units from 1954 until 1957 – every one of which is now a dream car for a lucky owner or an aspiring enthusiast. But that wasn’t the end of the 300 SL. At the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes introduced its successor, the 300 SL Roadster.
Like its coupe sibling, the 300 SL Roadster had a stiff and lightweight tubular space frame, but thanks to certain revisions, conventional doors could be used. Yes, that meant the loss of the coupe’s most iconic feature, but the Roadster gained an undeniable sleekness and glamor, which is fully visible on our Pick of the Day, a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster posted by a California dealership on ClassicCars.com.
Mercedes kept its production lines for the roadster open until 1963, ultimately making 1,858 units. This particular 300 SL roadster was put through a comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration. The body was refinished in Anthracite Grey Metallic, which looks even better set against the whitewall tires and the black soft top or the included removable white hardtop.
The interior was redone in a similar color scheme of Light Grey leather. There’s only room for two and not much else, but luckily, the trunk holds its own fitted luggage to make romantic getaways more comfortable.
Hjeltness Restoration of Escondido, California refreshed the fuel-injected 3.0-liter I6 by adjusting the valves and timing chain. In addition, the shop rebuilt the four-speed manual gearbox as well as the braking system – an important thing to have working perfectly on a descendant of a race car.
We all know the 300 SL Gullwing is an automotive icon. We’re aware of how attractive the roadster version of it is. It’s clear how this particular SL has been restored. But the price for it is something you’ll have to ask the selling dealer for.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
