1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys The Monterey Auction event, 13 - 15 August 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $1,300,000 - $1,500,000 USD

• Offered from 40 years within the personal collection of noted Hollywood producer, the late James G. Robinson
• Highly desirable alloy-engine, disc-brake model, restored by the consignors team around 2023
• Factory-correct exterior finishes of white with black hardtop; patinaed black leather interior said to be original
• Numbers-matching chassis, body, gearbox, front axles, and rear axle
• Powered by a period factory replacement alloy engine
• Accompanied by copy of original data card, black hardtop, tools, and fitted luggage
• A singular opportunity to acquire the treasured centerpiece from a remarkable collection

Introduced in 1957, three years after the highly acclaimed 300 SL Gullwing coupe, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster offered not just the thrill of open-air motoring, but also numerous improvements over its sibling. Extensive chassis revisions increased torsional rigidity and allowed for conventionally hinged doors with roll-down windows, providing easier entry and egress. A single-pivot trailing arm rear-axle setup, adapted from the 220 A, replaced the Gullwings dual-pivot system, significantly reducing the tendency to oversteer.

An optional removable hardtop, available from October 1958, featured a curved rear window and integrated beautifully with the roadsters svelte bodywork. Notable changes came in March 1961, with the addition of Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes, and in March 1962, when the 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine was upgraded with a much lighter cast-aluminum block.

Mercedes-Benz produced 1,858 300 SL Roadsters from 1957 to 1963. Approximately 210 Roadsters are understood to have been factory-equipped with disc brakes and alloy engine blocks, making them among the most desirable of all 300 SL models.

This 300 SL Roadster is one such model and benefits from more than four decades of ownership within the personal collection of noted Hollywood producer, the late James G. Robinson. Mr. Robinson co-founded Morgan Creek Productions in 1988, leveraging a thriving automotive and parts distribution business he built from the ground up. Morgan Creek delivered 61 films to audiences worldwide, grossing more than $2.2 billion at the box office with such hits as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Major League, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Young Guns, True Romance, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Whole Nine Yards.

A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Robinsons personal collection numbered well over 100 vehicles at the time of his passing in February 2026. This 300 SL Roadster was his favorite among the collector-grade cars in his ownership, acquired out of Denmark. A copy of its original data card on file notes it as a US-spec model. The Roadster resided at his Los Angeles estate, where he enjoyed pulling up in it at the film studio lots because of the image it imparted. The car was later relocated to become part of the collection Mr. Robinson kept in his hometown of Baltimore, where his team completed a restoration around 2023.

The numbers-matching body is finished in its factory-correct color of white with the hardtop in black, as indicated on the data card. The black leather interior shows patina and is said to be original. The car retains its numbers-matching chassis, gearbox, front axles, and rear axle. The engine is a period factory replacement alloy engine with a riveted plate confirming it is an Original Mercedes-Benz Replacement Unit. According to Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, 300 SL Roadster alloy engine blocks are known to have been replaced in period due to the originals incompatibility with oversized pistons, which precluded rebuilding them.

Mr. Robinson spoke of this 300 SL Roadster to his family often and with great affection. Offered with a black hardtop, fitted luggage, and tools, this car represents a singular opportunity to acquire the treasured centerpiece of a notable collection.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.