Hilton & Moss, the world-leading specialist in the restoration and sale of classic and performance cars, is delighted to present a truly exceptional example of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster for sale.
The 300SL Roadster – perhaps the world’s first open-top supercar – has benefitted from a money-no-object, ground-up restoration in Hilton & Moss’ state-of-the-art workshops, and presents in beautiful condition.
Now primed to turn heads on the road, or wow on the Concours lawn, the 300SL will appear in public this week at the prestigious Salon Prive London from today, 18th April until the 20th, at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
Bishop’s Stortford-based Hilton & Moss is known for its 40-year relationship with the Mercedes-Benz brand and is recognised as a world leader in the restoration and preservation of Stuttgart’s finest classic and high-performance models.
Introduced in 1957 and produced through to 1963, the 300SL Roadster was the open top version of the iconic 300SL ‘Gullwing’ coupe. The 300SL introduced several technological innovations that would become commonplace in the automotive industry, including fuel injection and a lightweight, motorsport derived, tubular-frame chassis.
Powered by a 3.0-litre in-line six motor producing 225bhp, the SL Roaster was capable of hitting 140mph and accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds – exceptionally rapid for the late 1950s. Celebrated in period for its game-changing performance, cutting-edge engineering and stunning design, the 300SL has remained highly prized among car collectors the world over.
This particular 300SL is a testament to Hilton & Moss’ deep reserves of in-house restoration know-how, as well as its exhaustive knowledge of cars wearing the three-pointed star. After arriving at Hilton & Moss’ workshops in need of a comprehensive refresh, this 300SL has been transformed into a gleaming example of one of the automotive industry’s true legends. All work was undertaken by Hilton & Moss’ expert technicians at its facility in Bishop’s Stortford.
Like its iconic 300SL ‘Gullwing’ coupé sister, the stunningly elegant 300SL Roadster found its origins in the crucible of sportscar racing with the W194. The genesis of the 300SL legend began with this extraordinary racing machine, earning a string of remarkable victories in its first season of competition. The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Nürburgring Jubilee Grand Prix, and the 3,100-km Carrera Panamericana across Mexico: the W194 was victorious in them all – even despite a collision with a vulture and a broken windscreen in the latter at a speed of 135mph.
An instant star on the racetrack, the W194 had certainly earned its stripes in the eyes of one Max Hoffman – Daimler-Benz’s official importer in the USA, who convinced the board of the business to convert it into a roadgoing coupé in 1954. Everything the 300SL represented resonated strongly with wealthy Americans, leading to the 300SL receiving an extra dose of the California spirit with the Roadster’s debut in 1957.
True to its American origins, Hilton & Moss’ 300SL Roadster started its life in the USA, before making its way to Germany and ultimately the UK. With its previous owner eager to restore the 300SL Roadster to its gleaming best, the car was brought to Hilton & Moss to be treated to a full structural, interior and mechanical restoration.
The Hilton & Moss team leveraged their extensive knowledge of heritage Mercedes-Benz models to transform the vehicle to a concours-standard stunner. Following a full strip-down of the vehicle, the team set about repairing the original panels to the precise factory specification. It is now resplendent it the stunning, period correct colour of Anthracite Grey.
Not to be outdone by the lustrous exterior, the interior also received a loving restoration – bringing out the brightness of the rich, red-hide leather cockpit, enabling it to glow again in the sunshine. Masters of detail and preserving originality, Hilton & Moss’ interior trimming team took great care in preparing new leather to seamlessly fit the car’s near 70-year-old, metal dashboard frame, deftly fitting it to prevent cracking issues that can plague these models, and futureproofing it for decades to come.
Mirroring the meticulous restoration of the vehicle’s structure and interior, the 300SL’s mechanical components were also subjected to a complete overhaul, with every element stripped, catalogued and repaired before being carefully reassembled. The straight-six powered machine is now primed for many more years of supremely stylish, high-performance motoring.
Having covered just a handful of miles since its restoration, this remarkable motorcar is now ready to be cherished by a new custodian.
William Garrett, General Manager, Hilton & Moss, said: “We’re delighted to offer this exceptional example 300SL Roadster for sale. With restorations of this calibre taking many years to meticulously complete and over 3,500 man hours finding a car of this quality can be few and far between.
This is quite possibly one of the finest 300SL Roadster available. Having previously restored it from the ground up, transforming an unloved example into a gleaming automotive jewel, we’re all very proud of the results; it’s a brilliant showcase for the skill, passion and dedication of our team, who are world leaders in the restoration of classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It’s a very special motor car, and one we’re excited to be showing to the public at Salon Prive in London.”
