Description
This car is Lot 132 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on 11 July, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Thursday 10 July from 09:00 until 17:00 and Friday 11 July from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Lot 132
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Registration no. 466 XWA
Chassis no. 198. 042. 7500260
Delivered new to the USA
Full matching numbers (body, chassis, engine, gearbox)
Present ownership since 1995
Professional restoration completed in December 2021 (records available)
Original colour scheme
Unused since completion
Outstanding condition
Its accompanying copy Data Card shows that this 300 SL Roadster was delivered to the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. In 1995 the current owner purchased the Mercedes from retired racing driver and former Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan, who had acquired it from US aircraft collector Don Knapp in 1992. Part of a deal that included the purchase of two Spitfire aircraft, the current owner had the Mercedes packed into shipping containers with the Spitfires and all three arrived in the UK in September 1995.
In his accompanying 'Declaration of Provenance' Mr Schuppan states: "In about 1992 I also bought the above named 300SL from Don. At that time the car was in road use. I test drove the car and I clearly remember that it was red and generally in a pretty ropey condition with a very smoky engine. I cannot remember how much I paid for the car, but I bought it on the basis that it needed a full restoration. Don introduced me to restorers specialising in SLs but I have long since forgotten their name. Work seemed to progress slowly and, travelling less to the US than I used to, I had little contact with the restorers beyond paying bills, and never really knew how the work was going. In 1993 for personal reasons, I ceased the restoration, and I had the project shipped to the hanger in Florida where I was storing the two Spitfires." It is understood that Don Knapp had bought the Mercedes in the 1970s, keeping the car in his airfield hanger and using it as a neighbourhood runabout.
Between 1998 and 2002 the 300 SL formed part of the current owner's collection of high-performance and former competition cars. A full body-off restoration to original specification was commissioned in 1998, the task being entrusted to the owner's race engineer renowned for his meticulous detailing and standard of work; it would be the only project he worked on for the next 2½ years. Every mechanical part that was restorable was restored (using specialists where needed) and such parts that had to be replaced (which the engineer estimates at about 5%) were sourced from the USA and Germany. But for a smaller diameter steering wheel and power steering to make it even more of a pleasure to drive, the car is as original as it could possibly be.
The UK's two leading restorers of 300 SLs are Martin Cushway (who has inspected this Roadster, see below) and Kevin O'Keefe. Testifying to the quality of the restorer's work, they describe it as 'perfect' and 'unbelievable'. Following the partial rebuild's completion in 2002, the Mercedes was garaged until 2020, looked after by the owner's same race engineer.
In early 2020 the owner commissioned Kevin O'Keefe to finish the rebuild. The entire car (leather, carpets and hood) was trimmed by Kevin O'Keefe in its original 1957 colours and to the original patterns. The engine and transmission were installed, final re-assembly carried out, and all necessary works completed to bring the car back to the quite exceptional condition it is in today after 20 years of storage at the vendor's home. The finished car returned to the owner in December 2021, 23 years after the restoration had commenced. Only a relative handful of miles has been covered since then.
In addition to the aforementioned Data Card, accompanying documentation includes a 2022 letter of authentication from Mercedes-Benz's Homologation Department; all invoices accumulated during the restoration; an extensive photographic record of the works, including the engine rebuild by Jim Stokes Workshops; and a recent - and highly favourable - inspection report compiled by Martin Cushway (inspection essential). The report concludes: "Photographic file shows engine rebuild was carried out at Jim Stokes Workshops. Waterlooville. It also has pictures of the engine on an engine testing machine. The gearbox and rear axle, front axles, steering, brakes, pipework and fitting up of chassis frame components and mounting of body to chassis were carried out 'in house' using correct equipment and very high attention to detail. The braking system was completely overhauled with many new components. Front axle, engine, gearbox, rear axle, body, exhaust and associated ancillaries received correct painting, plating and new mounting rubbers and brackets and have been positioned correctly. All pipework, flexible hoses, rubber hoses, brake hoses are correct to factory specification.
"This is an exceptional 300 SL Roadster which was received a very accurate, as per factory, full restoration."
Impeccably restored to factory-original specification with outstanding attention to detail, this quite exceptional Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster has to be one of the very best currently available. Offered with a UK V5C Registration document.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
