Coupe or cabrio? It’s a question that has plagued prospective car buyers for almost as long as automobiles have been cruising our streets. While coupes often possess more alluring silhouettes and slightly sharper handling, it’s hard to ignore the limitless headroom and improved in-cabin engine noise that convertibles offer. This decision is made all the more difficult when it comes to the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Sure the hard top boasts those iconic gullwing doors, but the Roadster — such as this outstanding 1957 example for sale with Axel Schuette — is one of the best-looking drop tops ever built. If ever there was a car that begs to be driven with the roof down and the wind in your hair, this is it!
The White-Grey 300 SL Roadster you see here was built in 1957 — the model’s first year of production — for its original USA-based owner. Of 1,858 Roadsters ever built, few remain as truly numbers-matching examples, but that’s exactly what drew Axel Schuette to this example. Not a single important component had been replaced during this 300 SL’s life, making it an excellent candidate for a full body-off restoration, which began in December 2013. Jürgen Kassen was the man for the job, a highly esteemed 300 SL specialist who has worked closely with Axel Schuette on their premises for decades. Every aspect of the restoration was documented, with a stack of detailed invoices and more than 3000 photos reflecting the quality of work on display.
A total of over 422,000 euros was spent returning this lovely roadster to its former glory, and since then it has been carefully driven for a mere 1,400 km. Its paintwork is absolutely spotless, while the re-trimmed, original-specification red leather interior looks as though it just left the assembly line, making this one of the finest examples on the internet. If you want to experience one of the greatest classics from Mercedes’ enormous back-catalogue, but want to avoid the anxiety that can come with an unrestored classic, don’t miss out on this absolute peach!
