Never before offered for sale publicly, this stunning white-on-blue 57′ Roadster was purchased new during an American honeymoon in Germany and had only one owner until 2005. Chassis 7500446 is a superbly restored, matching numbers 300SL presented in its factory original colors having had only two long term owners from new. A Mercedes-Benz that checks numerous boxes of collectibility given its concours show worthiness and road rally readiness.
Highlights
- Chassis no. 198042-7500446
- Engine no. 198980-7500391
- Body no. 198042-7500371
- Matching numbers throughout
- Two owners from new
- One owner until 2005
- Presented in original colors
- DB 50 Weiß (white) paint
- 333 blue leather interior
- 896 blue soft top
- Radio Becker Mexico
- Original books
- Original tools
- Jack and jack bag
- 60,309 miles
300SL Roadster History
According to the factory data card that accompanies the car today, this 300SL Roadster was completed by Mercedes-Benz on November 28, 1957 and finished in DB 50 Weiß (white) paint with a 333 blue leather interior whilst fitted with an 896 blue soft top. The car was imported as a US specification example via Studebaker Packard of South Bend, Indiana and delivered via the port at New Orleans, eventually making its way to its long time first owner in Fort Worth, Texas. Of particular note, this early Roadster was delivered with the rare factory optioned “blinds” in front of the radiator, a mechanism controlled by switches in the cabin under the glove box that control the flow of air coming in through the grill opening to speed up the process of warming the engine in cold weather. Also noted on the data card, the car came with with a Becker Mexico radio, sealed beam headlights, instruments in English, fog lamps and a 1:3.89 rear end ratio.
The history of this remarkable 300SL Roadster encompasses only two long term and devoted enthusiast owners, beginning romantically in 1957 with a fairy-tale American honeymoon in Germany. Jack Morris of Fort Worth, Texas was married in 1957 and while on on his European getaway, he picked up this US specification 300SL Roadster at the factory, a car he had purchased through a US dealer with the intention of taking delivery personally while in Europe. Morris, the owner of a metal working business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, had the car shipped Stateside to port in New Orleans, and from there by land it made its way to Mr. Morris’ home in Fort Worth. During its time in the Morris ownership, chassis 7500446 300SL Roadster was used regularly for all manner of driving excursions according to the late Jack Morris and by his own account, outside of his family and friends, the car was the most cherished entity in his life.
In 1988, after around 50,000 miles of well cared for use, Jack Morris enlisted the services of highly respected restoration specialist Bob Smith Coachworks of Gainsville, Texas. The task afoot was to perform a complete nut and bolt restoration, a process of full rejuvenation to the original factory build specifications and color combination. The superb quality, craftsmanship and authenticity of the restoration performed by Bob Smith is immediately apparent upon close inspection of the car today. The fits, finishes and paint all remain in an exceptional concours show quality condition due to constant care throughout both enthusiast ownership tenures. Of immediate note upon inspection, the doors open and shut effortlessly, a characteristic reminiscent well kept original 300SL’s, a testament to the meticulous and exacting nature of the restoration by Bob Smith. The chrome fit and finish is nearly unblemished, mirroring that of the superb paint work on display, which itself shows absolutely no signs of degradation. The car performs on the road in a manner equal to its cosmetic presentation, a trait that can be attributed as much to the year round climate controlled storage and maintenance it has received since restoration as it is to the impressive quality of the restoration work itself. Also verified on inspection, the data card specific numbers are correct and original to the car, including body, chassis, engine, transmission, rear end and spindles with not a hint of accident or rust repair noted after deep inspection of the body and chassis.
While living in Woodlands, Texas in the mid-1980’s, the current owner met the car’s original owner, Jack Morris, striking up a friendship with Jack and his wife based initially around their mutual love of classic cars. In addition to friendship, the now current owner was an admirer of the Morris 300SL Roadster because of the car it had clearly received since new and importantly, because of the one owner story left in the wake of the car. Over the course of the next several decades, he made several passes at buying the car from Jack Morris, though each time the request kindly refused…the car was too important to Jack Morris and he was determined to keep it for the rest of his life.
In 2004, Jack Morris passed away, leaving his cherished 300SL Roadster in the capable hands of his wife Linda. In February of 2005, Linda Morris notified the current owner of her willingness to sell the car now that Jack had passed, and, as it would turn out, this was predictably Linda Morris’ first and only attempt to sell the car given how long our consigner had admired the car. On March 5th, 2005, an agreement to the sell the car for the first time since purchased new was made and thus, the stunning white with blue 300SL Roadster began a new life with yet another avid enthusiast in the lofty altitude of beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico. Already the owner of a 300SL Gullwing for many years, the current owner was now able to bring his dream 57′ roadster home, a car he had a personal connection with for over two decades prior to eventually acquiring it from Mrs. Morris.
Over the course of the past 15 years, the car has been driven to the tune of about 6,000 miles, leaving a current odometer reading at 60,309 miles. Of note, in 2009, the car was driven without issue and to much enjoyment to the Gullwing Group Convention in Sedona, Arizona. This journey started with a lovely drive from Santa Fe to Sedona and back, a roughly 850 mile round trip. During the convention, the car took part in a 300SL rally, which led many 300SL participant owners from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, with several of the cars on hand, including this one, hitting 100 mph speeds for large portions of the 300 mile trip. In 2011 at the Santa Fe Concours, this car was shown at a judged event for the first and still only time in its life. At this event, there were 4 types of awards given out by the judges; Best of Show, Best in Class, Legends Choice and The Presidents Award. This special 57′ roadster ended up winning Best in Class for European Sports Cars up to 1959 while also taking home the Legends Choice Award. It just happened to be the case that this particular year’s Santa Fe Concours honorary “Legend”, a person duly tasked with giving the award for his favorite car at the event, was none other than racing legend Sir Stirling Moss! Mr. Moss personally presented the award, graciously thereafter spending about a half hour in the car with the owner for a chat…a conversation and experience that expectedly became the highlight of a 40 year Mercedes-Benz collecting career. There are several photos of this wonderful moment with Stirling Moss that accompany the car.
In 2019, after noticing that the car was not performing as desired, the current owner sent the car to the friendly confines of Bob Smith Coachworks in Texas where an exhaustive, engine-out mechanical recommissioning was performed. This mechanical work included but was not limited to the following: rebuilding the fuel injection pump and injectors, a new stainless-steel exhaust system and hangers, new headers, new bearings and seals on the front and rear wheels, rebuilt brake cylinders, new rubber brake lines, new front wheel drums, new piston rings, new valves, new valve guide and seals, new main and rod bearings, new rod bushings, new rod bolts, new flywheel, new pressure plate, new clutch disc and throw out bearing, new clutch sleeve, reground cam and follower, all new gaskets, crankshaft turned, balanced and magnaflux, new fan belt, all new rubber hoses, new plug wires, new roller chain, new roller chain guides, new and transmission mounts, reworked distributor, harmonic damper balanced, new battery installed and new shifter bushings. Upon driving today, the rewards of this mechanical revitalization are felt in the form of a flawlessly performing road-going 300SL.
It is always a challenging endeavor, and more often than not the dream of those seeking a 300SL, to find a car that “checks all the boxes”. In the case of chassis 7500446, one needn’t look any further than this matching numbers 300SL Roadster presented in its beautiful original color combination having had just two long term enthusiast owners since new. Every bit a “show car” this fine tuned road going Mercedes-Benz is eligible as a 1957 model for the most exclusive touring events in the world and is ready for its next long term caretaker to enjoy. This car comes with original tools, original books, jack and spare.
