Beautifully Restored 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster with Alloy Engine and Disc Brakes: Final Year of Production
As one of just 26 300SL is built during the final calendar year of production in 1963, this special order, one-of-one color combination W198 Roadster has been restored to concours standards by Mercedes-Benz Classic of Switzerland in the original colors of 648 Gelb over special order 1505 Cognac leather. This ultimate specification 300SL Roadster has a well known history from new and is one of just 209 examples built at the end of production equipped with a light aluminum-alloy engine and 4-wheel disc brakes.
Significant in its rarity as one of only 26 Roadsters completed in the final calender year of production (1963), chassis 3243, the unique and beautifully restored 300SL presented here, was built new as the ultimate specification Roadster model, factory fitted with four-wheel disc brakes and a light aluminum-alloy engine along with desirable European specification headlights. Accompanied by copies of its original factory data card and production order addendum sheet specifying special order options, this 300SL Roadster was commissioned new on January 8th, 1963 and completed just one month later on February 7th for renowned businessman and furniture manufacturer Kurt Barnekow of Hamburg, Germany. Barnekow was the founder of KUBAH, an innovative furniture retail chain during the 1950s that served the whole of Germany. A lifetime automobile enthusiast with a small, unique collection of cars, Mr. Barnekow retained this rare end-of-production Mercedes-Benz alloy-block 300SL Roadster for nearly 40 years with his name noted on the factory build sheet as the private commissioner of the car.
In the early 2000s, noted car collector and Greek shipping magnate Peter Livanos became this 1963 300SLs second private owner. During the Livanos ownership tenure, chassis 3243 was granted a FIVA Identity Card for its travels in Europe and was displayed at the 2005 Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste at Lake Como in Italy as well as the 2006 Gstaad Classic in Switzerland. Subsequently, chassis 3243 was sold to Etienne Veen, a businessman and resident of the Swiss Alps region, who commissioned Pichler GFG AG, the Swiss Mercedes-Benz Classic Center located in Gstaad, to perform an authentic restoration of the car to the highest concours standards. This comprehensive restoration work, carried out between 2008 and 2010, included a return to chassis 3243s distinctive, one-of-a-kind on a 300SL, original color scheme of yellow (Gelb DB 648) paint over special order 1505 Cognac leather, a leather color/texture combination not generally available as a standard option for the W198 Mercedes-Benz model, all of which is set-off by a contrasting black hardtop as originally delivered.
In 2014, following a return to Pichler for service work, the 300SL was sold to noted UK car collector and real estate baron William Ainscough. Ainscogh then sold the car to Philip Noble of Gibralter, and finally in 2021 the car made its way to the United States. As a common occurrence early in life for many of the final 300SLs built with factory installed aluminum engines, chassis 3243 is one of about half of the 209 alloy block 300SL Roadsters produced to have had its alloy short block exchanged early in life. The currently installed M.198.III aluminum block is a proper factory allocated 300SL alloy-engine replacement unit, one importantly retaining its original tauschaggregat (exchange unit) Mercedes-Benz factory tag with associated factory serial number 341350 for the unit. The retention of the factory tauschaggregat tag and accompanying serial number assure that the engine installed is indeed a factory sourced exchange unit and not an engine from another car. The factory exchange unit short block has a casting date of 1965 signaling the date of production for the unit and the likely year that the short block was installed into the car.
As offered, this very late production alloy engine 300SL Roadster is presented in its as-delivered color combination and remains in concours condition with almost no wear present on the 10 year old restoration performed by Mercedes-Benz Classic of Switzerland. Chassis 3243 is a Mercedes-Benz that has received excellent maintenance and care since new, enhanced as a particularly collectible 300SL given its ultimate specification as an alloy-block disc brake example paired with a one-of-a-kind original color combination. The car is accompanied by both body color Gelb painted hubcaps and set to match the black hard top for two uniquely striking presentations of the car.
Further details of note regarding this final specification, last of the breed 300SL Roadster include a clever thermometer housed within the drivers side wing mirror along with a superb set of Cognac leather fitted matching suitcases for the trunk space. Other desirable extras include original tools and jack as well as copies of both the original factory data card and supplemental addendum data card specifying the special order nature of the car. Chassis 3243 retains a FIVA Identity Card from its travels in Europe and a robust history file containing a selection of service records and photos in addition to biographical information detailing the life of its long-term original owner, Kurt Barnekow.
Chassis 3243 300SL is an unusually unique and rare disc-brake alloy-engine example that impresses from all angles of view. Ready for long distance touring use, daily driving and concours showing.
Chassis no. 198042-10-003243
- 1 of Only 26 300SL's Completed in 1963
- Ultimate Specification 300SL Roadster
- Concours Restoration in Original Colors
- Special Order Vehicle
- Disc-Brakes
- One-of-One Color Combination 648 Gelb Paint and 1505 Cognac Leather Interior
- Fitted Matching Cognac Luggage
- Factory Hard Top
- Soft Top (Chocolate Brown)
- Extensive Documentation from New and FIVA Identity Card
- Copies of Original Mercedes-Benz Build Documents
- Original Books, Tools, and Jack
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