This 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster is a pretty incredible find as far as classic cars go. This Bring a Trailer listing out of LA fetched a ridiculous $1,430,356 during a recent auction. What made this 300SL Roadster so special? A lot of things, actually.

A prime example of a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

Buyers on Bring a Trailer don’t mess around, but this was one impressive auction. You can view the complete listing for the 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster on the Bring a Trailer website. A U.S. serviceman originally purchased this 300SL Roadster in Germany. It was imported to the U.S. sometime after that and lived in New Jersey until 1972.

The Papyrus White Mercedes-Benz came with a green soft top and a green leather interior. It offers a 3.0L inline-six engine and only 58,000 miles on the odometer. This Mercedes-Benz has only had three owners and comes with the original records from 1972 until now. It also has some custom Karl Baisch luggage because every 1960s Roadster needs its own luggage. It also comes with an AM/FM radio and a lap belt to keep the new owner safe.

This 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster was one of less than 1,900 examples

Mercedes-Benz only made about 1,858 units of the 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster before the brand replaced it in 1963. The 300SL had new headlights, fenders, and a smaller grille than the Gullwing coupe that came before it. In 1986, the owner repainted it in the same Papyrus White color. The owner installed a new green soft top in 2016. The seller included another grey top in the sale, plus a full-size spare wheel.

There were many other accessories included, like hubcaps, wheel hubs, brakes, and various tools. The bids made impressive jumps throughout the auction on Bring a Trailer, but the ultimate winner paid quite a bit for this Mercedes-Benz. The winner of the auction, Falky, won this 1961 300SL for $1,430,356 back in July.

A record setting sale for the classic car

So far, that is the most expensive 300SL that has sold on the platform. A 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing sold on Bring a Trailer back in 2020 for $1,400,000. Another 1956 300SL Gullwing sold for $1,234,567 in 2019, and a 1957 Gullwing sold for $1,152,000 about a year ago.

It seems that the Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of the more sought-after vehicles from that time. Given the price these classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles are selling for is proof of the popularity. Since 2015, only seven variations of the 300SL have appeared on Bring a Trailer. The cheapest option (a 1961 300SL) was sold back in August of 2015 for $897,000. It seems that was the dip before the price started to increase drastically. By the time the next 1956 300SL sold in 2018, it was up to $1,100,000. Even a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Tool Kit went for $12,500 back in July.

This 60-year-old Mercedes-Benz is still just as popular as ever, and the $1,430,356 sales price is proof. If you have one of these 300SL Mercedes in the driveway, you could probably sell it and buy a new house with the proceeds. Not a bad investment 60 years later.