Fantasy Junction

Description

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
s/n 198.042 10-00245, engine no. 198.980-10-003029
Red with Saddle Leather Interior

The 300SL was one of the most exotic cars available when it was new. Directly descended from racing cars, and chock full of innovative features, they were fast, beautiful, and expensive. Arguably the first 'supercar' ever (others claim that honor should be bestowed upon the Lamborghini Miura), the 300SL has been described as the McLaren F1 of its day. Thanks to Mercedes' development work during World War II in aircraft engines, the300SL became the first production car to feature fuel injection (directly injected into the cylinders no less), and the light but strong spaceframe necessitated the now legendary and often copied upwards opening doors on the closed variant of the car. The result was a stunningly beautiful but also functional car that was, depending on gearing, the fastest production car in the world. Surrounded by separate frame carbureted contemporaries, the SL was truly a glimpse of the future and remains today a very special car indeed. Its appeal is timeless and consequently, 300SLs have remained ‘blue-chip’ collector cars that are always in demand and perhaps even culturally embedded as one of the most iconic and greatest cars of all time.

The roadster version was for many years overshadowed by the gullwing; however, as more savvy enthusiasts have become privy to the advantages of the roadster, their values are now catching up to those of the coupes. Indeed, the increased practicality of proper wind-up windows and doors, improved drivability from the revised rear suspension, and inimitable open air experience make the roadster a more enjoyable car to use than the gullwing. Additionally, they were mechanically developed over the years, including the fitment of larger finned drum brakes in 1959 and disc brakes all round starting in March of 1961.

This particular car is a beautifully restored matching-numbers disc brake example that was comprehensively restored by Rudi Koniczek, whose award-winning restorations are well-known and respected in 300SL circles. Since the restoration was completed in 2000, the car has been successfully shown, winning several awards, and participated in prestigious events including the Colorado Grand six times and the California Mille twice. Prior to the restoration, the car belonged to an owner in White Stone, Virginia and was looked after by Paul Russell and Company, and prior to that, it was with an owner in New York City. The car was purchased by its current owner specifically for the restoration by Koniczek, and has been used extensively and serviced fastidiously since. It remains in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition. This has included rebuilding the brake booster, new master cylinder, regular chassis lubrication, and fluid changes. In 2011, the car received a particularly thorough service at a cost of $7900, which included new exhaust manifolds to replace cracked ones, valve adjustment, ignition service including new points and setting the timing, new fuel filter, compression check (145-150psi on all six), throttle linkage adjustment, servicing the fuel enrichening mechanism, and fuel injection check over with dyno tune.

Today, the car has a crisp and fresh presentation and the quality of the restoration is clear. The body displays excellent fit and the paintwork was done to Koniczek’s famously high standards in the car’s original color of DB534G, fire engine red. The front of the car has a handful of small chips from road use but the car is otherwise free of noteworthy blemishes. The cosmetic condition is very impressive, particularly considering how often the car is used. The chrome is excellent throughout as are the lights and glazing. There is very light wear on the front windscreen. The soft top is in excellent condition, as is the hard top. The chromed wheels are also excellent.

The interior is similarly nice. The leather and carpets are excellent and employ the correct pleating, perforation pattern, and square weave material . There is extremely light wear to the seats. Leather trim also covers the sills, door panels, as well as upper and lower dash pads, all in excellent shape. The switches, instruments, and chrome trim are all excellent as well, still with the crispness characteristic of a recent high quality restoration. The car is fitted with a Becker Mexico radio as well as rare and desirable flat wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, which is in excellent condition.

The engine compartment is impressively clean and very correctly restored. It is not over restored, with correct semi-gloss paint finishes and unpolished intake manifold, areas that typically receive flashier finishes than would have originally been applied. The decals have been correctly reproduced as well, and the washer bag is in place as well. There is very minimal soiling throughout. The carpet is trimmed in square weave carpet to match the interior and is in excellent condition. The spare is in place under the trunk floor (unlike in the gullwing, where the spare consumes most of the trunk), and the jack is also present. The undercarriage is very clean and was obviously thoroughly restored along with the rest of the car and remains in impressive condition.

The car is an absolute pleasure to drive and it is clear that in anticipation of its event career, the car was prepared to operate as well as it looks. The engine starts easily and runs well even from cold, which even among the best-prepared 300SLs, is not always typical. It makes great power and sounds fantastic. The gearbox is a pleasure to operate, with low shift effort and ease of use that will feel comfortable even to users of modern manual transmissions. The chassis and suspension are tight and communicative, giving the driver to place the car precisely and confidently drive in a spirited or relaxed a manner to suit the mood. The brakes are effective, providing more linear and predictable operation than the drum brakes that preceded the discs on this car.

This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a high caliber 300SL. Desirably equipped with disc brakes, hard top, and flat Nardi steering wheel, this matching-numbers example that has been restored by one of the best in the business and has both the awards and event successes to prove it. It comes with a file of invoices from the last 15 years, Ate power brake system handbook, and some photos from the restoration. Any 300SL is a timeless and desirable blue-chip car, but this car is as no-excuses example that is both cosmetically and mechanically excellent and is ready for its next enthusiastic keeper.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608