My personal project car

[stickandrudderman]

some of you will know that my own project car is the rarest of all 113; a RHD 5 speed 250.
Here’s a little taster of progress.
https://youtube.com/shorts/2VOyrqWBPgU?si=1PR2IRcne9mw34JX

[JamesL]

Hopefully you have before (and after) shots coming

[zak]

Fabulous work. You could eat off the bottom ! if it weren't upside down.
An early or late 250 SL , may I ask ?

jz

[WhiteBlue]

Fantastic work well done

[AdelaidePagoda]

Looks new out of the factory! How long have you been working on it, and when is it due to be completed?

[stickandrudderman]

Sadly, it's a late 250 so lacking the earlier details. During the restoration i did consider converting it to early spec but decided against it. The only deviation I've made from original spec is to change the tex for leather and fit a 1 key lock set.
i bought the car 12 years ago as a running driving car and immediately stripped it. Since it's my personal project I haven't been able to devote as much time to it as I'd like but I think 2025 will see her finished.

[mdsalemi]

What I see looks beautiful. I am sure they finished car will be even more so.

Exactly how rare is it?

[stickandrudderman]

Thanks Michael,
Since it is known that there were only about 1000 5 speeds produced worldwide across four years of production we must deduce that probably 20% of those were RHD. Late 250s were only made for one year let's assume a split 75% 280 against 25% 250 which gives around 60 cars. So likelyhood is that only around 60 RHD 250SL 5 speeds were made. The number surviving is probably less than half that.

[johnk]

I like how you finished the bottom in the original underbody colors rather than painting everything the body color. Not many people take the extra time to do that. 

[mdsalemi]

Thanks Michael,
Since it is known that there were only about 1000 5 speeds produced worldwide across four years of production we must deduce that probably 20% of those were RHD. Late 250s were only made for one year let's assume a split 75% 280 against 25% 250 which gives around 60 cars. So likelyhood is that only around 60 RHD 250SL 5 speeds were made. The number surviving is probably less than half that.

Indeed a very rare car! And a good find...
Not too many places back in the day where one could use that overdrive 5th gear in the UK...but now you have some good motorways!

[Jack the Knife]

The 250 really is the car. And yours will really be the car.