Equipment
Body color wheels, 6.70x15 Michelin X tires, leather upholstery.
Condition
#4 Fair
Has visible flaws to the naked eye. Runs fine, but could use mechanical or cosmetic attention.
Retained by the second owner for 50 years until 2012. Sound but aged car stored many years and showing it. Bad trim chrome, numerous dents, dings and paint buff-throughs. Interior leather is good but in need of care. Top is good for a pattern.
Market commentary
Based solely on condition, in today's frothy 300SL market this is a $450-500,000 car, a generous price for a tired and neglected 300SL roadster. The bidders at the Amelia Island Plantation saw it in a different light, though, adding a third or more to its value for originality, the collectors' hot button of the moment. Mechanically refurbished so it can be driven (a not inconsiderable or inexpensive task) it will be even more expensive and will still look, uh, neglected. It is a very expensive indulgence to momentary collecting whimsy.