1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Next April in Fort-Lauderdale, RM Sotheby's will sell at auction this stunning blue 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with a cream leather interior.

History of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Max Hoffman, the U.S. distributor for Mercedes-Benz, asked to Daimler-Benz in 1953 to put a customer version of the 300 SL race car into production, the first version was the coupé. But, Hoffman believed that a roadster will be a better idea. So, in 1957 during the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz presented a convertible version of the 300 SL Gullwing (one of my favorite car), the SL Roadster. Mercedes 300 SL Roadster sold well from introduction in 1957 to conclusion of production in 1963, with a total of 1,858 units produced.

The mechanical performance of the 300 SL had been improved with a six cylinder engine upgraded with a competition camshaft from National Sprint League races. With its convertible soft top, the Roadster don't have the hot cabin problems of the Gullwing.