Evaluation: Final-year 300SL, one of just 26 roadsters built for 1963. Sold new in Germany and with its original owner until the 1990s. Restored in 2008-10. Fuel injection and rear axle overhauled in 2019. Currently has an unstamped engine block fitted early in the car’s life.
Excellent paint finish with only the tiniest of fine swirl lines. Panel fit is excellent, too. The chrome work is impressive with only the finest of swirl lines to show it’s not new. The interior is near perfection. The high-grade seat leather has the right perforations and the short tuft carpets are high quality. There are signs of hand marks in the leather. The underbody is well preserved. The wheels are mint but the tyres are old, from 2003. Very smart engine bay with slight dust in the corners, and the beginnings of surface deterioration on the manifold. All commensurate with 13 years since restoration. The ambient temperature gauge in the Talbot wing mirror is a delight. The colour is subjective but this is a sublime condition 300 SL nonetheless.
Bottom Line: The restoration may not have been done yesterday but it is holding up very well and, save for the engine number issue it’s a very desirable car with good features. This price is a straightforward reflection of all the above, and both parties should be happy.
