Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. The Recreation Collection was assembled by a gentleman, now deceased, who had a passion for cars, owning at one stage some 38 vehicles. A particular enthusiasm of his was for replicas of the rarest and therefore most expensive examples. Judging by the receipts on file and the high prices paid in period, he could’ve bought at least one real example for the price he paid for the others! These are special cars and worthy of serious consideration, offered, tantalisingly as they are, without Reserve.
This superb recreation of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster was purchased, together with a replica 300SL Gullwing from Germany in 2020 for a combined sterling equivalent of £305, 000 and was UK-registered on 1st July 2020. Based upon a German-supplied 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230, the car has been fitted with a fibreglass body that mimics the original 300SL Roadster nicely. That is to say, it sits very well and definitely shares the same presence, aided of course by those impressive elongated headlamps mounted in front of the imposing bonnet, whilst the curvaceous rear sweeps down to chrome over-riders.
Powered by the SLK’s 2. 3-litre supercharged Kompressor engine, it starts and runs with far less fuss than the car it replicates, whilst period correct details such as the recessed door handles offer a good first impression. The dashboard has some lovely chrome highlights whilst the steering wheel is as beautiful in its simplicity as the original. The interior is neatly trimmed and the black mohair hood retracts with ease, stowed neatly in the beautifully engineered rear compartment. We must note, however, that the driver’s window was damaged during transit, a remnant of which remains, that contains stickered serial numbers. Sourcing a replacement in time for the auction has proven difficult and it will be the buyer’s responsibility, should the intention that the car be driven with both windows up, to source a replacement if desired.
The base SLK’s original odometer reading is still present and read 134, 378km at the time of cataloguing. Presented to auction with the aforementioned V5C and a valid MOT certificate valid until 26th September 2025, the history file also includes the original SLK’s wallet with handbooks etc.
