Rare 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is already attracting big money at auction
Published on Sep 01, 2025 at 4:16 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Sep 02, 2025 at 11:14 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Keelin McNamara
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is one of the most beautiful car ever made – and one is going for up for auction.
It is a truly stunning example of 1960s car craftsmanship, yet it sits in the shadow of its sibling.
A truly pristine example has just reared its head, and is coming up for auction.
And, if reports are to be believed, it is already attracting some big money interest.
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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster overshadowed by famous sibling
Despite being a rarer car, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster often sits in the shadows.
It is often overlooked by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe, and not for an unfair reason.
The Gullwing Coupe is the headline act and the showstopper any time one comes up on the auction block.
Even replicas of the Gullwing Coupe fetch values that exceed the prices of many modern supercars.
That being said, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is every bit as beautiful.
The open-top variant is produced in a slightly more subtle, elegant form than its relative.
It generally doesn’t fetch the same money as the Gullwing Coupe, but it still exceeds the seven-figure threshold.
And now, Bring a Trailer is selling a pristine, Pebble Blue example from 1961.
This example, with Chassis No. 002844, is just one of 250 produced in that year.
It is also one of the earliest examples of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster to come with disc brakes.
Stunning car undergoes extensive restoration work
Earlier this year, the example was expertly restored by Coachworks Restoration in Victoria, British Columbia.
The work was extensive, and included an overhaul of the car’s 3.0-liter, inline-six engine.
Overhauls of the driveline, brakes and suspension were also completed by the firm.
A new tan-colored leather upholstery was also inserted into the example at the heart of the auction.
Records and documentation are equally as extensive, showing total restoration costs coming in at over $393,000.
At the time of writing, the current bid sits at $1,035,000 – and there are still four days to go.
If recent history is anything to go by, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster should sell for near the $1.5 million region.
Would you buy this stunning, 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster if you could?
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
