1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

Ever since it debuted to immediate and widespread acclaim at the March 1957 Geneva Salon, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster has continued to rank among the finest and most influential sports cars ever produced. Clearly based on the outgoing W198 300SL Gullwing coupe, itself derived from Mercedes-Benz’s W194 racing cars of 1952 that dominated international competition, the 300SL Roadster was internally designated W198 II and ushered in numerous welcome updates, all the while maintaining the electrifying all-around performance envelope of its predecessor. While the streamlined, wind-cheating styling of the roadster was certainly similar to that of the prior Gullwing, removal of the fixed roof and carefully engineered chassis revisions allowed the Roadster’s use of conventionally front-hinged doors for easier, more dignified ingress and egress.

As Mercedes-Benz’s well-heeled buyers expected, the 300SL Roadster was an outstanding performer with strong acceleration and a factory-claimed 137 MPH top speed, depending upon the final-drive ratio selected. Despite its formidable performance envelope, the roadster delivered a more pleasant ride and more forgiving handling characteristics than its predecessor. As with the Gullwing before it, development and production of the glamorous 300SL Roadster was championed by famed New York Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffman, who acutely understood the automotive aspirations of his elite clientele.