Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster W198

1957 – 1963: Flying alone is better.

By the end of the 1950s, open two-seaters were so popular that Mercedes-Benz decided to build the 300 SL (W 198) . In the spring of 1957, the legendary “Gullwing” was succeeded by the 300 SL Roadster, bringing the thrill of open-top driving to the range of high-performance sports cars. Equipped with a new rear axle design, this model featured state-of-the-art driving characteristics and in 1961 became the first Mercedes-Benz production car to receive disc brakes on all four wheels.

Hidden beneath the stylish bodywork, the spaceframe remained the load-bearing structure of the roadster, although it had a number of changes. Lower to the sides, the new frame design now allowed for conventional front-hinged doors. This not only made getting in and out of the car easier, it was also an important design requirement for any open vehicle. Thanks to the flatter rear of the frame and a redesigned fuel reservoir, the spare wheel was now stored under the floor and the area under the boot lid could rightly be called a boot. The soft top was easy to operate and stored under a purpose-built hatch behind the seats when not needed. From the end of 1958, Mercedes-Benz also optionally supplied an elegant and easy-to-install hardtop for use when the weather became colder.

 


Article number: S0109 Categories:

Description

1957 – 1963: Flying alone is better.

By the end of the 1950s, open two-seaters were so popular that Mercedes-Benz decided to build the 300 SL (W 198) . In the spring of 1957, the legendary “Gullwing” was succeeded by the 300 SL Roadster, bringing the thrill of open-top driving to the range of high-performance sports cars. Equipped with a new rear axle design, this model featured state-of-the-art driving characteristics and in 1961 became the first Mercedes-Benz production car to receive disc brakes on all four wheels.

Hidden beneath the stylish bodywork, the spaceframe remained the load-bearing structure of the roadster, although it had a number of changes. Lower to the sides, the new frame design now allowed for conventional front-hinged doors. This not only made getting in and out of the car easier, it was also an important design requirement for any open vehicle. Thanks to the flatter rear of the frame and a redesigned fuel reservoir, the spare wheel was now stored under the floor and the area under the boot lid could rightly be called a boot. The soft top was easy to operate and stored under a purpose-built hatch behind the seats when not needed. From the end of 1958, Mercedes-Benz also optionally supplied an elegant and easy-to-install hardtop for use when the weather became colder.

 

Additional information

Year Built
1958
Read odometer reading
90828
Cylinder capacity
2996CC
Amount of cilinders
6
Internal number
S0109

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