{"id":87299,"date":"2021-12-23T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.secret-classics.com\/?p=87299"},"modified":"2022-01-05T10:14:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T10:14:50","slug":"mercedes-benz-300-sl-roadster-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secret-classics.com\/en\/mercedes-benz-300-sl-roadster-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

1,858 examples of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster rolled off the production line between 1957 and 1964. Every single one of them is a technical masterpiece and a visual treat. On the basis of what is presumably the third-to-last delivered vehicle, we venture a look back at this model series, which laid the foundation for the roadster series still known today. Behind the combination of numbers 198.042.10.003207 is the chassis number of this car, which places it in numerical order among the final 50 300 SLs produced. However, excerpts from Mercedes-Benz production books prove that this example wasn’t completed until February 1964, making it one of only three cars still delivered that year. In addition, it has an interesting history, which we will discuss later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From race car to Roadster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, let’s take a look back at how the 300 SL Roadster came to be. It all began in 1952 with the W194, which Mercedes-Benz had developed for the sports car championship. Due to a high-rise tubular frame chassis, conventional doors weren’t possible. Early examples only had doors around the side windows that opened upwards. This proved impractical for driver changes, so the openings were extended downward. In addition, there was at least one completely open Roadster. Various racing successes of these prototypes led to great customer interest, especially in the USA, which was passed on by the importer Max Hoffman. As a result, the production version was built in Sindelfingen under the abbreviation W198, which was available from 1954 as a Gullwing Coup\u00e9. To make it even easier for private customers to get in and out, the steering wheel could be tilted. After 1,400 units, the changeover to the 300 SL Roadster took place in 1957.<\/p>\n\n\n

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