A beautifully restored DB 172 grey metallic over 1079 red leather Roadster desirably equipped from new with 4-wheel disc brakes. Retaining its original iron block engine along with its factory delivered hard top, this exceptional open W198 has been a West Coast car from new and comes with fitted matching luggage along with its original 1960’s California black plates
Highlights
- Desirable disc-brake 300SL Roadster
- Matching numbers throughout
- Lifetime California car
- Chassis no. 198042-10-002898
- Engine no. 198.980-10-002959
- Body no. 00160
- DB 172 grey metallic paint
- 1079 red leather interior
- Hard top
- Becker Mexico radio
- Accompanied by resto process photos
- Original books, jack and tools
- California black plates
- 31,607 miles
Iron Block Disc Brake
According to the original factory data card, this stunning 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster left the factory on August 28th, 1961 and was destined for the United States. Originally painted 334 Hellblau with 205 blue leather, this open W198 was equipped new with 4-wheel disc brakes and equipped with factory hard top in body color. Over the past 50 years, this car has benefitted from a handful of West Coast owners whose careful ownership tenures are largely responsible for the special condition that the car remains in today.
As recorded by the Gullwing Group International Club Register, this desirable iron engine disc brake 300SL was first owned by T.P. Galisch of Beverly Hills, California. After a period of ownership by Galisch, the Mercedes was sold to another Southern California based owner, Mr. Robert Martin of Los Alamitos. Once in the hands of its third owner, Mr. Bruce Baysinger, and electrical engineer residing in Seal Beach, that the then very original 30,000 mile 300SL was completely disassembled in anticipation for a future restoration project. As expected of a person who makes his living as an engineer, all the interior and mechanical parts, together with all pieces of chrome along with hardware components. Everything was meticulously labeled, catalogued and placed in boxes and trunks for long term storage.
Despite Mr. Baysinger’s best laid plans, the restoration project was continuously set aside over the years, while the car itself became somewhat of a legend in Southern California Mercedes-Benz circles with many collectors over the years pursuing it given its purity with absolutely no history of damage or rust. In 2012, Dr. L. Philip Lutfy of Phoenix, Arizona became aware of the 300SL’s availability and moved quickly to purchase the car after inspecting it at length and realizing just how pure and authentic the car truly was…a perfect candidate for complete restoration by Dr. Lutfy, a well known collector of Mercedes-Benz in the United States for the past 60 years.
After purchasing the 300SL, an exhaustive restoration was performed on the car by Lutfy’s team in body-on fashion, with various marque specialists focusing their attention on each area of the car with the goal of achieving an authentic result to Dr. Lutfy’s high standards. Bill Richardson and Robert Webster of Richardson Restoration were enlisted to evaluate and rebuild the engine of this relatively untouched low mileage car, along with the recommissioning of other aspects in the mechanical arena to create a impressive car for the road once complete. Similar to the complete nature of the engine rebuild that used factory sourced pistons and bearings, the transmission was completely disassembled before new bearings, seals and other appropriate components were installed. The cosmetics of the car, including upholstery, body and paint work, were entrusted to Jon Cumpton, Chris Hawkins and Ricardo Miranda, well known high quality purveyors of such work on 300SL’s based in the Western United States. The period colors of DB 172 grey metallic paint over 1079 red leather were chosen and the chrome work was done to the highest of standards as well, all completed for the purposes of possible future showing by Christensen Chrome Plating of Los Angeles.
After a very thorough restoration process spanning 2012 to 2014, the car was sold to a US based collector where it was kept in a climate controlled facility with other collector cars, used sparingly but well cared for mechanically. Brought to Scott Grundfor Company in the summer of 2021 for fine tuning and sorting for regular use, with nuanced work performed to make this car truly show and road ready.
This desirable disc-brake iron engine 300SL Roadster is an excellent restored example of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous convertible production car. Chassis 002898 comes with its original hard top, soft and fitted matching luggage and retains original books, tools and jack.
