Car of the Week: This $2.6 Million Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Is a Bellwether for the Collector Market300 SL Roadsters featured over the past year. The reason for the frequency is that this model and its sibling coupe are the canaries in the collector-car coal mine, and as such, they have begun chirping vociferously of late. Long an indicator of the market’s health, their prices have recently taken off, gaining altitude akin to a Rüppells Vulture .have been seen as blue-chip investments.
This car, shown with its removable roof, is one of about 100 examples of the model that has its original aluminum engine, as well as original factory stampings on the chassis and body.“The Gullwing is essentially a race car that Mercedes-Benz decided to sell to the public,” says Drew Grundfor of Scott Grundfor Company, a restoration house specializing inprojects. “It offers a much more visceral driving experience.
Since the 1970s, both the 300 SL Gullwing Coupé and 300 SL Roadster have been seen as blue-chip investments.It’s instructive to look at the classic Ferrari market to put Mercedes-Benz’s 300 SL popularity—and values—in context. Unlike many cars of the era, the 300 SL is known for its reliability. “When they are properly set up,” says Grundfor, “there’s nothing collectors must do except change the oil and drive them occasionally.