The 300 SL is a design and engineering tour de force that continues to occupy a place on virtually every list ranking the all-time greatest sports cars ever conceived and built. As offered, this very special and rare disc-brake, alloy-engine 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is a truly fitting exemplar of this storied breed from the final model year.
1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | European Sporting & Historic Collection
A recent auction saw Gooding & Company collect over £8 million from a small collection of vintage high-value cars in the UK. One of the units featured in the European Sporting & Historic Collection sale held in London was a 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster alongside Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce vehicles.
The vintage Mercedes car fetched £935,000 ($1,284,710) in the online bidding from January 28 to February 5, 2021. According to the seller, the auto is a very special model because it marks the very last of the 300 SL line. Only 26 units of the Roadster were made in 1962 bearing the 1963 model-year badge.
The vehicle measures 94.5 inches in wheelbase. It still comes with its original Biscuit Yellow exterior finish with black removable hardtop, chocolate-brown canvas soft top, and upholstery in Cognac leather.
Under the hood of the ’63 300 SL Roadster is a 3.0-liter straight-six engine. The power unit produces 240 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque. The output is distributed via a four-speed manual transmission.
The also features top-of-the-line factory specification. Among the extras installed in the vehicle were Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes, and lighter aluminum alloy engine.
Included in the product is its original factory product order addendum and data card. It was specially made for German businessman Kurt Barnekow who was its owner until the end of the ‘90s. It changed hands around the year 2000 to two other people and its last owner acquired it in 2014.
The 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was not the highest grosser in the auction though. Leading the pack was a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT priced £2,750,000 ($3,778,600). The second placer was a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 costing £1,870,000 ($2,569,400).
