home chevron_right

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

VIN: 19804010002786
visibility 1
View count is the number of times the vehicle detail page has been opened in the past thirty days.
For Sale
$1,961,500
by
verified
verified Verified Seller
Oct 10, 2025
Gallery Aaldering
Lawndale, California, USA
92,896 km (57,723 mi)
Manual
LHD
Original & Highly Original
  • OVERVIEW
  • DESCRIPTION
  • MEDIA
  • SPECS
  • COMPS (30)
  • TAXONOMY
  • outlined_flag Report this Listing

About this 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

VIN: 19804010002786

Gallery Aaldering: Europe’s Largest Classic Car Dealer Since 1975.

Our family-owned business has been dedicated to sourcing and offering the finest classic cars in the world. Today, we proudly present over 450 high-quality classics in stock, making us the biggest dealer in Europe. What you see on [website hidden] is only a small selection. Our full collection awaits at our dealer site. With worldwide shipping, regular sales to the USA, and nearly 50 years of expertise, Gallery Aaldering is your trusted partner in finding and enjoying the car of your dreams.

We are looking at an unrestored Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with an extraordinary and fully documented history. This example is almost beyond belief. A 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, one of only five ever delivered in the dazzling color Phantasiegelb, or Fantasy Yellow. In 1961, it took center stage at the Mercedes-Benz stand during the Geneva International Motor Show. The centerpiece. The undisputed star of the event.

What makes this car even more legendary is the fact that it still retains about 90 percent of its original paint. This is not a restored car, but an authentic time capsule, right down to the finest detail, confirmed through forensic analysis. In the 1960s, it was repainted red, but investigators later discovered that beneath the red finish, the original Phantasiegelb paint had been preserved. That red coating turned out to be more of a protective layer than a true respray. Thanks to meticulous wet-sanding techniques, the original finish was carefully and successfully brought back to life. The result is a Mercedes unlike any other.

This 300 SL Roadster is also completely matching numbers, right down to the smallest components. Engine, gearbox, chassis, bodywork — everything checks out. It comes with a full report including photographs, serial numbers and materials analysis. Without question, this is a genuine 300 SL Roadster in an astonishingly original condition.

Remarkably, both the exterior and interior remain untouched after more than 60 years. The leather, the chrome, the glass, even the soft top — all are original. This is one of those rare cars that leaves you wondering how it could have been preserved so impeccably. Part of the answer lies with its second owner, who kept the car for 53 years. We provide a comprehensive dossier filled with owner history and background, documented in detail.

In 2022, the car underwent a full mechanical overhaul by specialists. Every moving part was addressed, and the car now runs like a Swiss watch. The engine sounds strong, the driving experience is smooth, and it is ready to be enjoyed.

And here’s another special detail: this was the very first 300 SL Roadster with disc brakes ever shown at a public event. So not only is it rare in color, it’s also a technical landmark — a pivotal moment in the evolution of the 300 SL. And this very example was part of that transition.

In short: this 300 SL is exactly how you hope to one day find a 300 SL. Interested? Reach out to Gallery Aaldering today. Since 1975, we have been specializing in the world’s finest classic cars. We ship internationally — just ask us about the options.

Have a question? Ask Rusty
info
These answers are AI generated and may sometimes display incorrect information. They do not represent Classic.com's values or opinions. By using this chatbot you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

Rusty Logo beta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of listing information.

Powered by CLASSIC.com

Market Summary

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - W198 (1957 to 1963) market. See Similar Markets

CMB $1,319,380
The CLASSIC.COM Market Benchmark (CMB) represents a benchmark value for vehicles in this market based on data accumulated by CLASSIC.COM. Actual market value for a specific vehicle will depend on various elements, including the condition of the vehicle.
Loading...
The 300SL Roadster was the open top variant of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Introduced in 1957, the roadster was the successor to the famous 300... Learn more.
There are 8 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - W198 for sale across all model years (1954 to 1963) and variants, 7 are 300 SL Roadster and 1 is model year 1961 . There were 95 300 SL Roadster sold in the last 5 years.

What's it Worth?

There are 30 comps for this 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL indicating a price range from $1,050,000 - $1,669,335 .

Sell Your Vehicle

We'll help you price it right, then you can list it yourself.

Insure with Hagerty

info
Clicking on links for insurance will take you to an unaffiliated third-party-controlled site that is subject to that site owner's privacy policy and terms of use. CLASSIC.COM Inc. does not provide insurance and makes no representations on any coverage or options that are available by such third party.
Your location may include GeoLite2 Data created by MaxMind, available from https://www.maxmind.com.
Get a quote

Comps

Comparable recent listings. See related attributes next to the score.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 38k mi
Manual transmission Manual
LHD steering LHD
Not Sold
$900,000
info
Highest Bid
Aug 13, 2021
93% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • 38K - 76K
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 60k mi
Manual transmission Manual
LHD steering LHD
Sold
$1,045,000
Jan 7, 2023
91% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • 38K - 76K
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 60k mi
Manual transmission Manual
LHD steering LHD
Sold
$1,820,000
Oct 15, 2022
91% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • 38K - 76K
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

Specs

Details about this vehicle - curated by our market specialists.

Year
1961
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
300SL
Model Trim
-
Engine
3.0L I6 (M198 I)
Transmission
Manual
Drive Type
Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
Originality
Original & Highly Original
Mileage
92,896 km (57,723 mi)
VIN
19804010002786
Vehicle Type
Automobile
Body Style
Convertible
Doors
2 Doors
Driver Side
Left Hand Drive
Ext. Color Group
Yellow
Int. Color Group
Black

Taxonomy

Markets related to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - W198.

Mercedes-Benz SL
commute W198
directions_car 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
directions_car 300 SL Gullwing
directions_car 300 SL Roadster
directions_car W121
commute W113
directions_car 230 SL 'Pagoda'
directions_car 250 SL 'Pagoda'
directions_car 280 SL 'Pagoda'
commute R107-C107
directions_car AMG
directions_car 350 SL
directions_car 350 SLC
directions_car 450 SL
directions_car 450 SLC
directions_car 280 SLC
directions_car 280 SL
directions_car 450 SLC 5.0
directions_car 380 SLC
directions_car 500 SLC
directions_car 380 SL
directions_car 500 SL
directions_car 500 SL AMG 5.0
directions_car 300 SL
directions_car 420 SL
directions_car 560 SL
directions_car Koenig Specials
directions_car Race Cars
commute R129
directions_car 500 SL AMG 6.0
directions_car 300 SL
directions_car 300 SL-24
directions_car 500 SL
directions_car SL 60 AMG
directions_car 600 SL
directions_car SL 70 AMG
directions_car SL 280
directions_car SL 320
directions_car SL 500
directions_car SL 600
directions_car SL 72 AMG
directions_car SL 73 AMG
directions_car SL 55 AMG
directions_car Brabus
directions_car Koenig Specials
commute R230
directions_car SL 350
directions_car SL 500
directions_car SL 55 AMG
directions_car SL 600
directions_car SL 65 AMG
directions_car SL 550
directions_car SL 63 AMG
directions_car SL 65 AMG Black Series
directions_car Brabus
commute R231
directions_car SL 350
directions_car SL 500
directions_car SL 65 AMG
directions_car SL 63 AMG
directions_car SL 550
directions_car SL 400
directions_car SL 450
directions_car Brabus
commute R232
directions_car SL 43 AMG
directions_car SL 55 AMG 4MATIC Plus
directions_car SL 63 AMG 4MATIC Plus
directions_car SL 63 S E Performance
directions_car Maybach SL 680
directions_car Brabus