Barn find Mercedes-Benz 300SL convertible sells for AU$1.7m

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 04.05.2020

This very dusty 300SL sold for millions within weeks of its discovery

Mere weeks after it was reported online that a very dusty low-mileage 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL convertible had been dragged out of an Indiana garage after 40 years of dormancy; Business Insider reports that the unrestored car has sold for a healthy sum of US$1.095 million.

That’s over AU$1.7 million; but remains fair market value for the ubiquitous blue-chip classic.

What’s astounding about the car is that it bears a staggeringly low odometer reading, covering less than 15,000 miles before it was stashed away in storage over four decades ago.

The car was discovered and quickly listed by New York’s Gullwing Motor Cars dealership, who state that the car represents one of just 249 300SL roadsters built in 1960, and one of 1,848 ever built during the entire production cycle of 1957 to 1963.

While the 300SL's driveline is in ‘matching-numbers’ condition, the original Mercedes-Benz data card indicate that the car was repainted during the early stages of life.

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Originally delivered in rare Blaugrau (blue grey) paint with blue leather interior, the car was unfortunately repainted in quintessential silver, and its blue interior trim dyed in black.

Its seven figure pricetag may be surprising to some given its current unoriginal paint and interior; however restored original examples commonly trade for over US$1.5 million, and this car’s new owner is likely already planning a frame-off restoration to return the car to factory specification.

As Gullwing Motor Cars point out however, this car is one of the very last remaining unrestored 300SL roadsters in the world.

And with its attached original data card from Mercedes-Benz, original hard top, soft top and jack – the car is a compelling starting point for the wealthy collector.

The restoration work involved in returning the car to its unusual factory colour and trim will almost certainly pay dividends.

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