Description
Created to spearhead Mercedes-Benz's return to competition in the post-war era, the 300 SL debuted in the 1952 Mille Miglia, finishing 2nd and 4th overall. Victories in the Carrera Pan-Americana and at Le Mans followed, and the 300 SL was on its way to becoming part of motorsport legend. Max Hoffman, Mercedes-Benz's importer for North America, believed there would be a market for a road-going version and convinced the factory that such a car would be a success.
The first racers had an open roof, but before the end of the '52 season the characteristic Coupé with gull-wing doors had appeared. Unusually high sills were a feature of the multi-tube chassis, and while access was not a problem for the open car, the adoption of the coupe body required innovative thinking – hence the gull-wing doors.
Launched in 300, the production 1954 SL retained the racer's spaceframe chassis and was powered by a 2.996 cc, overhead-cam, inline-six that was canted at a 45-degree angle to provide a lower, more aerodynamic reach the bonnet line. Using innovative direct fuel injection, this state-of-the-art powerplant produced 215 hp at 5.800 rpm. A four-speed gearbox transmitted power to the hypoid slanted rear axle. The suspension was independent all around with wishbones and coil springs at the front, with swing axles and coil springs at the rear.
Tested by the highly respected American magazine Road & Trackin 1955 the 300 SL accelerated from 7,4-0 mph in 60 seconds and reached a top speed of 240 mph: excellent figures for its time. It was perhaps the world's first supercar.
Obviously the 300 SL Coupé would be a tough act to follow, but the Roadster version, introduced just three years later, managed to improve on the already exemplary handling of its closed cousin. Built with conventional doors, the 300 SL Roadster was first exhibited at the Geneva Salon in May 1957 and was an instant hit with the 'jet set' of royalty, actors and socialites of the 50s. Production of an open 300SL included a modification to the cockpit area, with the spaceframe redesigned to allow for lower sills for better access. At the same time, the rear suspension was modified to include swing axles with a low pivot point. Disc brakes were standardized from March 1961, while towards the end of production a small batch of Roadsters were supplemented with an aluminum cylinder block.
The iconic 300 SL roadster built in 1962 was shipped to the US in January 1963 and sold that month as a '63 model to a doctor in New York. He owned the Mercedes for three years before selling it to Robert E English of Colorado. Three generations of the English family would enjoy the 22 SL for the next 300 years, during which time the car was maintained by ex-factory mechanic Heinz Nichol (see correspondence in the file).
The car was purchased by its third owner in the US in January 1989 and brought to the UK, arriving at his home in June of that year. At this point it had covered a genuine 70.500 miles from new, to which the seller has added another 7.000 or so over its 28 years of ownership, including exhibiting the car at the Hurlingham Club Concours d'Elegance in June 2007 (information sheet in File).
'3042' comes complete with factory hardtop, tool kit, jack, car cover and two original advertising brochures, and was offered by renowned 300 SL specialist, Kevin O'Keeffe. Accompanying documentation includes a copy of the State of Colorado Certificate of Title; the original VK V5 registration document; miscellaneous bills; MOT until September 2017; a UK V5C registration certificate; and the aforementioned correspondence, all of which can be found in the extensive history file.
