Description
This is one of just 68 right hand drive examples ever built and it was supplied when new to the extremely successful racing driver and acknowledged Mercedes enthusiast Roy Salvadori.
Several years ago the car was purchased by a very discriminating collector who had always had a wish to own a very good example of this model. He at the time was unable to find a car that had been restored to his standards and so the only remaining option was to find a good original complete car as the basis for a restoration programme. Following inspection this car proved to be by far the best available, with very little corrosion, a good drivetrain and very good leather interior.
The car was sent first to Roger Edwards Motors, the recognised Mercedes engineers, who carried out a mechanical inspection. All faults were addressed and the engine was removed, ancillaries refurbished as necessary and the entire underbonnet area was refinished before the engine was reinstalled. At this time all hoses and rubbers were also replaced.
Following this the car was sent to Charlbury Garage where the entire body was stripped in order that it could be repainted in the original colour, Brilliant Silver. All of the chromework was sent for replating and all new rubber seals were used when the car was put back together.
Kevin O’Keefe, celebrated Mercedes trimmer, was then enlisted to replace all of the carpets and the hood with the correct original Mercedes type materials. Clanfiled Restorations at this time refinished all of the dashboard wood trim and refinished the original leather seats. The original leather was in very good patinated condition.
Finally, following a shakedown drive of a couple of hundred miles the car was returned to Roger Edwards for fine tuning, at this time a newly refurbished Becker Grand Prix was fitted with hidden JBL speakers and a new Hirschmann aerial.
Following completion, the car was enjoyed sparingly during the summer, however shortly after this the owner emigrated to Monaco and so we at Hairpin found him a left drive example. We offered this car for sale in 2010 at which point it was purchased by the last owner to join his significant private collection of very high-quality post war cars. The car has continued to be used sparingly in fine weather and carefully stored and marque specialists Roger Edwards has continued to maintain the car.
We repurchased the car in 2014 and sold it quickly to the last owner where again it joined a collection of high-quality contemporary classics. It has covered just 2, 000 dry miles in the last decade and has been very carefully stored and maintained in this period.
This must be one of the nicest of the 68 right hand drive examples, it is in superb order throughout and is clearly very well sorted as it drives superbly. Roy Salvadori must have created quite a stir arriving at a race circuit in the new Mercedes.
