Lot No: 20
Ultimate specification with disc brakes and alloy engine
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Chassis no. 198.042-10-003111
Estimate: CHF400,000 - 600,000
Footnote:
It's impossible to talk about the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster without first referring to the car that spawned it – the legendary 300SL 'Gullwing' coupé. Originally conceived as a racing car, the 300SL racked up victories throughout 1952, in the process capturing the imagination of America's official Mercedes-Benz importer Maximilian 'Maxi' Hoffman.
Desperate for a car to sate the desires of his upmarket clients, he eventually persuaded the Daimler-Benz board to take the 300SL from racetrack to road. The designers and engineers refused to compromise on the purity of original, so the bodywork was still primarily crafted to reduce drag as much as possible (although rumour has it that the elegant strips over the wheelarches were no more than fashionable cosmetic touches to make the car appeal to its American audience),