Mercedes 300SL Roadster

[sammyr]

Does anyone have an opinion about 300SLS 1957-63

I am thinking about buying one.

Anyone know one for sale. Im in California

sr

Admin Note: please use upper and lower case letters. ALL CAPS is for shouting.

[Benz Dr.]

I had a ' 61 here 2 years ago. Pretty nice car with disc brakes and no soft top. Only had 113,000KM on it and it sold for $125,000.00 USD.
I've been told that the cast iron block engines are better. Almost any part you need is 4 or 5 times more than the same part for any old benz car. Most stuff is available and there's a pretty good club ( Gullwing Group ) if you like to play with high rollers.

I know of 4 cars for sale all by the same owner. 2 Coupes and 2 Roadsters. All of them different prices and some better than others. Cars are in western NY state.

These cars are fast - that's not made up. They're not that comfortable - noisey and very hot in the summer. Driving one today ( 50's F ) would be very pleasant. Unbelieveable power and what a sound when the cam starts to kick in. Contrary to popular belief they're not that hard to work on if you understand old BM cars. Workng on older 190SL, 220S, 300 and even 170S made the process easier.
Some jobs ae difficult such as rear axel removal and many idividual jobs are tricky but over all sraight forward enough.
 I did cylinder head rebuild, shocks, timing chain, full ignition, one new fuel injector ( $1,500.00 US ) cooling system, engine bay detail,heaters and heater levers, lighting,door glass and window lifts, drive shaft, rebuilt starter and generator. All this took about a year to do. ( had to test drive it a bit )  
Once done I did the maketing for the owner and the car went to CA.

Daniel G Caron

[A Dalton]

If you find one , I have the Factory Parts Manual in perect condition, if interested..Manual # 10 056, Type 300SL Roadster.

 The Cast engines would be up to serial #003048.

[ja17]

Hello sr,
Dan is correct here. I am guessing that the distributor cap for this car is well over $500 now (maybe a lot more). They only made 1,860 roadsters and 1,407 gulwings so parts are a premium. These were race cars refined enough to go public. They are very sensuous, flashy, fast, noisy, firm riding etc. They overwhelm the senses. These 300 engines have a high rpm whine like no other. It will attract crowds wherever you go.
If you crunch a fender it will cost as much as an addition on your house.
Buying a good original or a correctly restored will be cheaper than restoring one yourself. The roadsters are actually a better handling, more comfortable, and more refined automobile than the more expensive gull wings.
These are "art on wheels". Make sure you get to know as much as possible about these before you make the plunge so you know what to look for.
I used to own and drive a few back when they were still drivers. In 1974 I bought a 1963 300-SL roadster with disc brakes alloy block, both tops, red on red in excellent running condition for $4,700! A average fixer could be had for a couple grand.


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hauser]

A less expensive alternative would be to find an Ostermeyer 300sl.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Ben]

There was a small buying guide in one of the mags recently, actually I think it was the Daimler Chrysler Classic one, anyway it said that if considering buying one that an expert on these cars should inspect it first.
They said whilst bodywork was important it was the condition of the tubes in the spaceframe chassis that would determine how good an individual car actually was. Inspect for corrosion of the tubes and accident damage.

Usual rule appears to apply......buy the best one you can, as restoration is uneconomical. Then again these cars 'aint gettin' any cheaper !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[Benz Dr.]

The one that went through my place had everything cosmetic done after it was resold to the latest owner. He called me about a month after it left here and said he would likely have about $250.000.00 in it before it was done. These guys spend large on these cars.

As many nice ones as there are out there, most of them have rats and mice crawling around through them. These are cars that have been in the family from when you could buy them as just another used car. Now these same people can't afford to fix them or restore them so they sit in the back of the barn or shop. Most people have no idea that the guy down the street has one in his basement that belonged to his father.

Daniel G Caron

[sammyr]

If any of you guys ever find a 300SL for sale let me know because I really want one. Thanks.

SAMMYRAD@YAHOO.COM

sr

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by sammyr

IF ANY OF YOU GUYS EVER FIND A 300SL FOR SALE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I REALLY WANT ONE. THANKS

SAMMYRAD@YAHOO.COM

sr

Sammy,
If you're serious about spending $150,000 to $200,000 on a 300 SL, you will have to speak with John Olson.  See his site at www.slmarket.com and subscribe to his publication.  Second, you must join the Gullwing Group.  See their site at www.gullwinggroup.org and join up.

Most of us here, with some noted exceptions, love (and can only afford) our $10,000 - $30,000 Pagodas and can't give detailed help with a 300 SL.

Best of luck on getting a true classic!  You're living our dream.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Richard Madison]

As an aside, the new issue of Mercedes Classic magazine just arrived with a pull-out insert of a copy of the original production design drawing of the 300 SL...

Looking forward to the issue that will have the Pagoda drawing...

Richard M

[Douglas]

The Gullwing Group had this classified posted & it made for some entertaining reading:

1956 GULLWING 3OOSL coupe for sale by SYD MEAD, owner for forty three years. The car has Rudge centerlock wheels and recently replaced complete interior and wiring harness by Jerry Hjeltness. I have just replaced the tires. The engine was bored slightly oversize in 1973 and has a special order cam. Gear speeds are 4Omph in first, 8Omph in second, 11O in third and I have drivein the car at 15Omph for about an hour. The car was dealer maintained until my move to Southern California in 1975. Since then, it has been expertly serviced by Steve Marx in Costa Mesa. I am the third owner of the car and it is driven approximately twice or three times a month. The car is garaged in Capistrano Beach, California and has clear California vehicle title.
The lacquer is a light silver blue. The new Interior leather is a duplicate of the original special order indigo blue. The odometer reads 92,6OO. Call for further information on this vehicle: 626 441 3737 or FAX:626 441 3739


Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[n/a]

A friend of mine had a really nice white on blue one for sale a few weeks ago. If you're still interested, I can check to see if he still has it.

quote:Originally posted by sammyr

Does anyone have an opinion about 300SLS 1957-63

I am thinking about buying one.

Anyone know one for sale. Im in California

sr

Admin Note: please use upper and lower case letters. ALL CAPS is for shouting.

Mikey

[Benz Dr.]

Called the people who have the 4 cars and 2 are sold while the Gullwings are in the process of being sold. Last spring no one really knew about them.

The roadsters sold for over $200,000 each and I was told the prices have trended sharply upwards in the past 3 months. You may be too late to pick up a deal like the one that was here at my place.

They are going to keep in touch with me so who knows what might turn up.

Daniel G Caron

[Klaus]

The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach (Stuttgart) presently has the following two cars for sale:
300SL Roadster, 1960, silver, red leather, restored, Euro 245,000.-
300SL Gullwing, 1955, silver, red leather, restored, Euro 355,000.-
Shipping to California is not included...

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[sammyr]

do you have a 300sl parts manual for sale? sammyrad@yahoo.com

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by sammyr

do you have a 300sl parts manual for sale? sammyrad@yahoo.com

 Sorry, but it was sold on Ebay.

[DavidAPease]

sr,

Looks like there's one on eBay now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-300SL-Parts-List-Gullwing-300-SL-W198_W0QQitemZ8018458423QQcategoryZ34227QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

-David Pease
'66 French 230SL

[Chad]

Five years ago I was driving in a DB2 coupe through Winchester, Va behind a w198 Coupe. It had a FOR SALE sign clearly visible on the front windscreen. That was a warm day and the car was smoking ten times worse than any Benz Diesel I've driven on the coldest day. It was so very pretty, even with the rear fender damage. Probably was a decent buy...?

[RBurg]

Just received the SL November newsletter from John Olson with 8 roadsters and 16 coups for sale. John  seems to be the right person to contact.

PS all 300's are private cars. Good luck on your search.

Ron
71 280SL Tobacco "O GIGI"
97 E420 Silver Mist

[Vince Canepa]

Nobody ever mentions Paul Russell and Company, but they are among the best sources for the 300SL.  They started out many years ago as Gullwing Service Company and have restored more show winning 300SLs that anyone.  They do most of Ralph Lauren's cars.  I have a friend, Bill Doyle, and he does all of their 4-cam Carrera engine work.  He tells me they are absolutely first class.  They have also helped me with free advice over the years.  For sales contact Alex Finigan at http://www.paulrussell.com/

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[ranchomerced]

I've got a 1961 disc brake car for sale. Older restoration. Drives good. Needs very minor cosmetics. BASF corporate show car. See my website www.ranchomerced.com