Elegant in the extreme, this ‘iron block disc brake’ 300SL Roadster retains factory original DB 158 weisgrau paint with original 201 schwarz leather and retains its factory hard top. This W198 comes equipped with Euro headlights and the rare combination of chrome disc wheels affixed to white wall tires, just as when it left Stuttgart-Unterturkheim for Frankfurt in the spring of 1962. This example comes with a comprehensive Factory ‘Expertise’ book documenting its authenticity as an original Mercedes-Benz product and retains its original service booklet, original manuals, tools, jack and a complete history file replete with original ownership paperwork along with accurate mileage documentation from new. As a Euro delivery example of the lauded and desirable disc brake iron engine W198 Roadster, this Mercedes-Benz is exceptional in a myriad of ways; a car that is hard to find fault with from any angle of approach given its array of rare original qualities. This car is ready for touring or show, and is surely one of the most sincere and elegant original 300SL Roadsters to be found anywhere in the world.
Highlights
- Wonderfully preserved W198 Roadster
- Desirable ‘disc brake iron block” Roadster
- Accompanied by Mercedes-Benz Expertise
- Delivered new to Frankfurt, Germany
- Fully documented history and mileage
- ‘Numbers matching’ example
- Chassis no. 198042.10.003041
- Engine no. 198980.10.003104
- Body no. 198042.10.00053
- Fuel-injected inline 6 cylinder engine
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Factory original DB158 weisgrau paint
- Factory-installed 201 schwarz leather
- Original DB158 factory hard top
- Original chrome wheels w/ white walls
- European headlights
- Soft top (black)
- Period correct safety lap belts
- Books, tools and jack
- Copy of factory data card
Elegance In Weisgrau
In March of 1957, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300SL Roadster as the successor to the race inspired 300SL Gullwing Coupe. Among the upgrades and modifications made in transitioning from coupe to convertible were a new rear-axle design that improved handling, wider wheels for better road grip, a sport cam engine installed as standard equipment and a modified chassis structure allowing for conventionally hinged, horizontal opening doors to be realized without sacrificing the structural integrity of the car. These features of the convertible W198, born into the very first examples produced in 1957, were later enhanced, and by mid-1961 four-wheel disc brakes became standard equipment in place of drum brakes, allowing for better stopping, particularly at high speeds. Over the course of about a year, spanning portions of 1961 and 1962, Mercedes-Benz produced a total of 268 300SL Roadsters featuring the pairing of 4-wheel disc brakes and a 6-cylinder cast iron block engine, a noteworthy specification combination which today is considered by many enthusiasts and experts as the most desirable performance spec of all W198 chassis cars.
According to the factory supplied Mercedes-Benz Expertise verification book accompanying chassis 003041, in addition to original paper documentation and its factory data card, this German delivery 300SL Roadster left Stuttgart-Unterturkheim on March 22nd, 1962 as a disc brake iron engine example wearing DB 158 weisgrau (white-grey) paint with a 201 schwarz (black) leather interior. The car came with a hard top painted DB 158, supplied off the car in a wooden crate, while seat belts were furnished for both seats, and a Becker Mexico radio was installed. Additionally, an 872 black soft top was fitted to the car and, of particular note as a rarely seen factory option combination on W198 chassis cars, this example was special ordered new with white wall tires mounted to chrome disc wheels lending an extra level of panache and a bit of flamboyant style to the subtle elegance of the paint/interior combination.
As noted via this Roadster’s first original registration document and its original service booklet, chassis 003041 was delivered new to popular clothier Ammerschlager KG of Frankfurt, Germany on April 3rd, 1962. Chassis 003041 would remain in Ammerschlager KG family ownership for 32 years with significant early service history record keeping noted in the original service booklet retained by the car. In 1994, the 300SL would be purchased by a Dr. Westphal of Berlin, Germany, who, along with his family, would go on to own this special 300SL for the next 28 years of its life as recorded by German TUV registration documents held within this Mercedes’ robust history file.
After some 60 years under the ownership of Ammerschlager KG and the Westphal family, 300SL Roadster chassis 003041 was acquired in 2022 by its most recent German owner, a collector of many fine cars across numerous marques and an knowledgeable appreciator of originality. The current owner has since proceeded to use the Mercedes sparingly with an appreciation for continuing a tradition set early in 1962 with respect to attentive care and proper storage as a measure to maintain the impressive, still original, factory paint and leather. Under the current private collector ownership, this beautifully preserved Mercedes-Benz was imported into the United States for the very first time in August of 2024 with a goal of preparing the car for sale.
Beyond the excellent documentation detailing chassis 003041’s ownership history over a lifetime spent in Germany, this unusually original disc brake iron engine 300SL also excels given comprehensive documentation of original kilometers accrued from the time the Roadster left the Mercedes-Benz factory in the spring of 1962. Handwritten entries by factory technicians within this 300SL’s original service booklet detail 26 individual services performed by Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft of Frankfurt between April 14th 1962 (at 370 km / 230 miles) and June 4th 1971 (85,356 km / 53,037 miles). This extensive early-life original kilometer documentation in the car’s service booklet is unusual, though not surprising for a car with such a pedigree of long-term care under so few owners. The mileage documentation is further enhanced by later kilometer notations recorded by German TUV documents from the 2nd long term ownership tenture (Westphal family). These German TUV documents detail kilometer readings over time, culminating in a final reading of 114,794 kilometers. Today the car displays 115,876 KM’s, or 72,002 original miles.
On the surface, chassis 003041 presents as an uncompromising, highly sought-after iron engine disc brake 300SL sporting the elegant color combination of DB 158 white-grey paint over 201 black leather. This paint and leather color combo is well complimented by the rarely seen special order option of white-wall tires mounted to chrome wheels. On close inspection, due to what can only be deemed unrelenting care along with no periods of extended time in the sun during its 62 years of life, this unique W198 Roadster retains the vast majority of its original DB 158 weisgrau paint as applied by Mercedes-Benz in 1962.
Not only is much of the original, factory applied 158 white-grey paintwork still present, but the shine of the original paint on the body and hard top displays a luster rarely seen on cars of this age. The famously precise original Mercedes-Benz factory fits are also a feature of chassis 003041, rendered all-the-more precise by the still supple original rubber lining openings of the car, further defining the degree to which proper climate controlled storage has been a central focus over the lifetime of the car. From the exceptional accuracy of the original 2-piece rear bumper fit to the vault-like precision by which the doors click-shut, chassis 003041 is a reminder of superior factory craftsmanship Mercedes-Benz bestowed on its cars in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Complimenting the visual appeal of the original exterior fit and finish is the equally impressive, well contrasted 201 black leather on the interior. The condition of the original leather brings to mind a well-tested and agreed upon truism regarding 50+ year old cars; that original leather condition is an unmistakable expression of how a car has been treated over its lifetime.
The factory installed 201 black leather on the seats, dash and doors all enjoy a patina more akin to 20k miles of careful use than than 72k miles. The paint on the dash is, like the exterior, is indeed the original paint sprayed by Mercedes-Benz as one would expect of a such a car, while the gauges sport little-to-no degradation. The original DB 158 body color tag sits in-situ, still affixed to the inside of drivers side leather panel below the sill while even the most delicate of interior features, such as the wrapped and woven leather pull handle on the passenger door panel displays as worn from use but remains fully usable today. The extreme attention to careful use by its long term owners is another of chassis 003041’s admirable traits.
The dash leather, still in superb condition, exhibits no sun damage and provides unassailable evidence of indoor storage over a lifetime. The door sills remain in a very good condition with original leather present despite the fact that those entrance areas to the cabin of a 300SL are particularly prone to wear from getting in and out of the car. Rounding out evidence of chassis 003041’s original interior qualities is the shifter nob, itself sporting a charming mosaic pattern emanating from below the cleared surface of the ivory-colored top piece, lending an air of age and art to the experience of sitting in the cabin of this elegant 1962 Mercedes-Benz. Further desirable option accents to chassis 003041 that are not shared by the majority of 300SL Roadsters produced include European headlights, a factory hard top still wearing original DB 158 weisgrau paint to match the body and also rare original chrome wheels with painted hubcaps paired to white wall tires. It is quite likely that the totality of the build of chassis 003041 is singularly unique amongst 300SL Roadsters.
Under the hood, the car remains quite original and is also mechanically sound throughout, importantly retaining its original, factory-installed 6-cylinder cast iron block engine. Also in place are factory-installed original tags throughout, including the engine block tag and firewall chassis tag along with the original body tag located on the interior. The chassis, body and engine stampings are all original to the car as confirmed by Mercedes-Benz while the engine compression ratio of 8.5:1 is noted on the engine block on the round pad below the engine tag. Further notes of originality in the engine bay include original yellow/orange water transfer tags on the coolant tank and the expected retention of the original front end (both spindles number 003107) and original rear end (number 003214 with ration 3/64) as also confirmed in the comprehensive Mercedes-Benz factory Expertise document accompanying the car. The car retains a black 872 soft top as originally delivered with original soft top structure and interior headliner, while the exterior black canvas has been refreshed.
This unusually elegant, German delivery example of the lauded and desirable disc brake iron engine W198 Roadster is hard to find fault with from any angle of approach with given its array of original qualities. Superbly preserved as it left the factory, this striking Mercedes-Benz retains original DB 158 weisgrau paint and original 201 schwarz leather with Euro headlights, a factory hard top and chrome wheels affixed to white wall tires as delivered new in 1962. This 300SL comes with a comprehensive Mercedes-Benz Factory Expertise book documenting its authenticity, original service booklet with original manuals, tools, jack and an exceptional history file replete with full ownership history paperwork and excellent mileage documentation. A sensational original “disc brake iron block” 300SL Roadster ready for touring or show, and one of the best preserved 300SL Roadsters to be found anywhere in the world.
