At the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced a convertible version of their celebrated 300 SL "Gullwing” Coupe. The new 300 SL Roadster was above all a more refined car than its winged predecessor, and its premiere foreshadowed the increasing focus which the manufacturer would place on luxury cars over the ensuing decades. There was no denying the 300 SL's mechanical performance, which had decidedly improved in the Roadster; the updated six-cylinder engine received the competition camshaft used in the NSL racing coupes, good for a lift 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 roadster's overwhelmingly luxurious character, however, generally obscured its performance capabilities. With a convertible soft top, the model was never subject to the uncomfortably hot cabin issues that bedeviled the Gullwing, and the roadster's redesigned tube frame afforded lower door sills, facilitating far easier access than the Gullwing's challenging ingress and egress.

The new 300 SL Roadster was an improvement on the Gullwing in nearly every capacity, at least from a road-going perspective, and it has since evolved into one of Stuttgart's most collectable models, a darling of both concours fields and vintage rallies.

This magnificent Roadster dates from 1961—a highly desirable year for 300 SL production, as it saw the introduction of Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes (beginning with chassis 002780). One of just 250 Roadsters produced that year, and approximately just the 90th to receive the disc brake upgrade at the factory, chassis 02870 is an original US-market car which left the marque’s Sindelfingen factory clad in White (DB 50) over red leather (1088) beneath a black fabric soft top—precisely the same color combination which it still wears today.

At some point during the late 1960s, this disc-brake Roadster was acquired by Thomas Hosmer of Concord, Massachusetts; the pair were to remain together for more than 20 years of roadgoing enjoyment and active 300 SL Group membership.

By 2007, chassis 2870 had evidently left Hosmer’s long-term care and entered the prominent Mexican collection from which it is proudly offered today. In 2014, the consignor turned over this Roadster to the noted specialists at RM Auto Restoration for execution of a complete and total multi-year restoration, with a special focus paid to “retain and rebuild” as many of the car’s original components, wherever possible.

An extensive set of restoration invoices (on file) from 2014 through 2017 totaling nearly $450,000 clearly exhibit a fastidious attention to detail and a true “cost-is-no-object” approach.

Not a single system of this roadster escaped redress by RM’s world-class team of technicians. The car’s body and spaceframe were duly separated and repaired where required with new metal, while the drivetrain and powertrain were removed and fully sorted. Despite the car’s cosmetic condition, its 3.0-liter engine and four-speed transmission were deemed to be mechanically sound, though both units evidently received a great deal of attention which stopped short of major teardown/rebuilds and new internals. Numerous accessories systems were fully refreshed with component rebuilds, and OEM replacement parts sourced from leading marque specialist suppliers.

Since emerging from RM Auto’s purview in June 2017, this fantastic disc-brake 300 SL Roadster has been greatly enjoyed. Boasting wonderful performance, and robust enough to be enjoyed daily, the 300 SL Roadster is an enthusiast favorite for vintage rallies, long-distance touring, or even use as a regular driver at one’s summer home. A well-restored example is a requisite in any collection, and this handsome disc-brake example, presented in its factory-correct color combination, certainly will not disappoint.