Held from 1950 to 1954, the legendary Carrera Panamericana was a grueling race held on the streets and roadways of Mexico spanning over 2,000 miles—border-to-border. Manufacturers and race teams from across the world traveled to Mexico each year with specially built cars designed to compete over rough, unpredictable terrain. Several early 300 SL Gullwing W194 racing cars were prepared for the 1952 event and shipped to Mexico, where they swept the competition: Mercedes-Benz achieved 1st and 2nd place in the race, a stunning achievement which massively helped Mercedes-Benz brand reputation in North America and forever remained in the minds of Mexican car enthusiasts.

The Carrera Panamericana would not have been possible without the support of the then-President of Mexico, Miguel Alemán Valdés. President Alemán was a sponsor, public advocate, and champion for the event with the support of his son, Miguel Alemán Velasco. In fact, it was President Alemán who first created the idea of the Carrera Panamericana as a way to celebrate the highway which his administration had built. President Alemán even personally sponsored two entrants while contributing over $250,000 of government funds to the organizer’s disposal.

The Gullwing’s success, both in competition and as a production car, quickly made it one of the most iconic vehicles of all time. At the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced a convertible version of the celebrated 300 SL coupe, the 300 SL Roadster. In an early suggestion of the increasing focus the manufacturer would place on luxury cars over the ensuing decades, the new Roadster was, above all, a more refined car than its winged predecessor.

There was no denying the 300 SL’s mechanical performance, which had decidedly improved in the Roadster, with the updated six-cylinder engine receiving the competition camshaft used in the NSL racing coupes, good for a boost of 20 horsepower. Handling also benefited from a revised rear suspension with a lower axle pivot-point, minimizing the tendency for oversteer. Despite the added weight of chassis reinforcement required by an open model, the Roadster was every bit the performance car that the Gullwing had proven itself to be. The new 300 SL was an improvement on the Gullwing in nearly every capacity, at least from a roadgoing perspective, and it has since evolved into one of Stuttgart’s most collectable models—a darling of both concours fields and vintage rallies.

This Roadster was originally configured at Sindelfingen during December 1959 as a “standwagen” for an unspecified upcoming exhibition by Mercedes-Benz in the United States (most likely the New York Auto Show in April 1960). Finished with a White-Grey (158) body with a Graphite Grey (190) hardtop, among its special-order features were red leather upholstery finished with white leatherette trim, polyethylene seat covers, a matching luggage set, five whitewall tires, and special “exhibition preparation” for the car’s engine compartment, which most likely refers to a polishing of the intake manifold and miscellaneous hardware.

Following its exhibition duties, the car was subsequently purchased new by Miguel Alemán Velasco, who together with his father, President Miguel Alemán Valdés, had been intimately involved with the organization of the Carrera Panamericana a decade earlier. It seems safe to assume that Mercedes-Benz’ 1-2 finish at the 1952 event they helped organize was still fresh on his mind and contributed to his desire to eventually own a 300 SL of his own. A scanned photo in the history file shows a young Alemán Velasco at the finish line of the 1952 Carrera Panamericana patiently waiting to see the Gullwings come roaring past.

In his own capacity, Alemán Velasco managed and controlled significant telecom and media holdings inherited from his father, President Miguel Alemán Valdés, and later became the Governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz between 1998 and 2004. At numerous points in his career, Alemán Velasco was an outspoken supporter for developing his country’s auto racing infrastructure.

Acquired some years ago by the consignor from another prominent Mexican collector, this remarkable 300 SL Roadster has remained in Mexico since new. It was previously restored to a high standard, and today it remains wonderfully presented in Dark Blue over gray leather with a dark blue soft-top and matching hardtop. Though perhaps not as eye-catching as the car’s original special-order color combination, this especially uncommon and elegant color combination nonetheless lends itself very nicely to the refined proportions and understated styling of the model. Additional features of note include a Talbot mirror, European-spec headlamps, a Becker radio, metric instrumentation, a set of color-matched wheel covers, and a factory-correct ivory-colored steering wheel. An accompanying factory data card copy relays that the car retains its numbers-matching engine, chassis, body, gearbox, and rear axle.

An engineering and design masterpiece that offers a truly sublime driving experience, even over 60 years after it was first introduced, the 300 SL Roadster remains the gold standard for sports cars of its era. This exquisite example checks all the right boxes, and it would undoubtedly be a joy to use spiritedly on the tremendous breadth of tours, rallies, and events for which it is eligible.