Beschreibung:

2,996cc SOHC Alloy Inline 6-Cylinder Engine Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection 225bhp at 5,800rpm 4-Speed Manual Transmission 4-Wheel Independent Suspension 4-Wheel Disc Brakes *Desirable European delivery, alloy block, disc brake 300SL *Matching numbers example *Known ownership history since new *Excellent restoration by Mike Passarelli *Offered with both hard and soft tops, extensive history file, books and tools The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Max Hoffman rarely missed an opportunity. The impresario of imported cars on New York's Park Avenue built the U.S. presence of most European brands after World War II - Jaguar, Allard, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Mercedes-Benz and more - and when Mercedes-Benz won the Carrera Panamericana in 1952 with a W194 300SL coupe driven by Karl Kling, Hoffman seized the moment. He approached Mercedes with a radical idea: take the racing-derived tube frame W194, with its high performance 3-liter engine, and create a roadgoing sports car aimed at the upper-end of the aspiring US sports car market. it was an audacious move, but Hoffman had a highly developed sense of the U.S. market and backed up his suggestion with his checkbook. He placed an order for a thousand luxury high performance coupes based on a more civilized version of the W194. Mercedes-Benz, still valiantly trying to shake off the devastation of the war and the weak European market, took him up on it and the 300SL was born. Hoffman had proposed a relatively direct transformation of the multi-tube framed W194, retaining its characteristic roof-hinged doors, 45° canted triple-carbureted single overhead camshaft inline six cylinder engine, but the innovative engineers at Mercedes-Benz weren't satisfied with such a simple transformation. Improvements to the 300SLs usability were made throughout the car, yet it was obvious that this car was derived from a racing car. As aerodynamics played an important role in the car's speed, the Mercedes-Benz engineers would place horizontal "eyebrows" over the wheel openings to reduce drag. With fully independent suspension, a close-ratio gearbox with straight cut gears and the first fuel injection system ever offered in a production automobile, the 300SL was a technological tour-de-force. When introduced in Coupe form to the US market at the February 1954 New York Auto Show, it became an instant sensation. After selling some ~1400 300SL Coupes, Mercedes-Benz required a solution for customers desired an open sports car – something more user-friendly on a hot summer day. Introduced in 1957, the 300SL Roadster would effectively replace the Coupe, or "Gullwing" as it was commonly known. At a price of $11,000, the new Roadster was more expansive than the outgoing Coupe, but nonetheless a great success. Based on the same chassis as the Coupe, the Roadster incorporated differences included larger front fenders, larger headlights, a smaller grille and an attractive chrome spear down the side. To maintain rigidity, the Mercedes-Benz engineers strengthened the tube frame chassis. The rear suspension was revised with a single-point swing axle featuring an additional spring, for better stability during high-speed cornering. The top speed would remain at 150mph plus, truly staggering in its day. Further improvements were made throughout the Roadster's production run, most importantly the upgrade to 4-wheel disc brakes for the 1960 model year, and ultimately the change to an all alloy engine near the very end of the production run. These final cars benefited from the much improved disc brakes and a better balance overall due to the significant weight savings of the lighter alloy engine. Today, these last of the breed 300SLs remain the rarest and most collectible iteration of this hugely successful sports car. The Motorcar Offered Offered here is a very fine example of one of these final 300SL Roadsters, incorporating all of the desirable improvements over the earlier models. One of just 26 300SLs built in 1963, this Roadster