Barnfind 300 SL Roadster
There are few cars that embody speed, elegance, innovation, and pure driving emotion like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Born in 1957 as a follow-up to the legendary Gullwing coupe, the 300 SL Roadster offered open-top luxury, yet with the same race-bred engineering that made its predecessor an all-time legend.
Race car adapted to the street
The revolutionary Gullwing with ground breaking fuel-injected inline-six engine and tubular steel chassis made motorsport history with legendary wins such as the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans and a 1-2 sweep at the Carrera Panamericana. While the Roadster was designed with significantly more comfort and refinement than its Gullwing predecessor, it too held its own at the racetrack as it was entered by many privateers in GT-class events and endurance races like Sebring 12 Hours and the Tour de France Automobile. It is the true definition of a race car adapted to the street and was claimed to be the fastest road car (145 mph) at the time of its introduction.
Indulged in luxury
Beyond the sleek bodywork of the Roadster one will find that an important part of the driving emotion lies within: Behold a breath taking interior. Slip inside, and you’re greeted by a cabin that defines pure and utter luxury: supple bucket seats, full leather upholstery and chrome accents everywhere on one of the most distinctive dashboards out there. The dash is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and features an unique element: a rectangular read out that gives information on fuel level, oil pressure, oil temperature and water temperature. The eye-catcher for us though, at the heart of the cockpit, is the beautifully designed ivory-colored steering wheel.
Barn find treasure
Which brings us to this refined centrepiece. Classic Steering Wheel Shop has recently uncovered this original 1957 300 SL Roadster steering wheel, which has been stored for over 43 years in a Dutch barn. Yes, true story!
It carries the patina of time and that’s how we like to find them. It's a rare, tangible link to one of the most sought-after roadsters ever built—a genuine artifact. We will gently clean the dust off this untouched beauty and leave it as is because it’s only original once. It will be listed soon in our store, ready for the next custodian! 🏁
Team Classic Steering Wheel Shop
Photos 1&3 copyright Artcurial©