Rare Mercedes 300 SL Roadster Offered at a Sotheby Auction
A Mercedes 300 SL Roadster from the Gene Ponder collection is up for sale at an auction organised by Sotheby’s auction residence on 22-24 September.
Image: Sotheby
In 1956 income of the Mercedes 300 SL Coupe began to decrease and Mercedes made the decision to develop a roadster model of the 300 SL. The Mercedes 300 SL Roadster was introduced at the Geneva Motor Present in March 1957. The roadster was not really as unusual as the coupe, with slightly a lot more illustrations made: 1,858 as opposed to 1,400 for the coupe. But the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster is a sought-soon after collector’s motor vehicle and its price tag is approaching 2 million USD.
The model available at Sotheby’s auction is element of the Gene Ponder collection, which consists of 120 vehicles, bikes and boats in the East Texas town of Marshall. His assortment also features, between other cars, a 1956 Porsche 350 A 1600 Speedster, a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC and a 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder plus mascots, typical signage, juke bins and gasoline pumps.
The Mercedes 300 SL Roadster presented at auction was shipped on 25 March 1960 to the Orbis Investing Firm, the Mercedes importer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although it was sent to Ethiopia, the auto has United states of america specification with Dunlop tyres, Becker Mexico radio, 3.89 ratio axle, instrument cluster with speedometer in miles, sealed beam headlamps and white fabric roof in addition hardtop which was offered as an choice from September 1958. The motor vehicle was painted white and experienced red leather upholstery.
The history of the car in Ethiopia is not recognised but it is assumed that it was shortly exported to the Usa. In 1988 it was purchased by classic car racer Roy Walzer who took it for a full restoration to pointed out specialist Paul Russell and Business in Essex, Massachusetts. But right here it was spotted by just one of Russell’s clientele, Ervin “Bud” Lyon, who certain Roy to provide it to him.
The automobile was saved at Russell’s garage from 1988 to 2009 and in 1995 it was restored according to Lyon’s have specification. The car was painted darkish pink and Cognac leather-based upholstery changed the aged red leather-based upholstery.
Later on, the automobile was bought to 300 SL collector Bill Kling of California and in August 2018, it grew to become part of the assortment of Gene Ponder who had owned numerous Mercedes 300 SL Coupe versions around the many years.
Ponder participated with this roadster in various Gullwing Team conferences as perfectly as the Copperstate 1000 race. Ponder claimed he likes equally products but the Roadster is “a ton cooler in Texas. You simply cannot beat the Germans for engineering. I did the 300 SL Rally last calendar year in this automobile with out just one flaw”.
The automobile was serviced to the car’s requirements and no fewer than $14,000 was put in to preserve it in great rally-all set situation.
The auto is shipped with the exact Cognac leather-based baggage, spare wheel, initial device kit
the believed marketing price tag is in between 1,7 and 1,9 million USD staying justified by the fantastic issue of the vehicle.
