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Few cars wear green as well as a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, and this one, offered by Broad Arrow Auctions at The Quail Auction 2026, wore it in a rare and spectacular way. Lot 146, a 1957 300 SL Roadster from The Bill and Linda Feldhorn Collection, crossed the block and sold for $2,040,000.
It is easy to see why the bidding got serious. This Roadster was one of just 15 finished new at the factory in Sonderlackierung Light Green Metallic, and it is paired with a striking Green leather interior. Color-matched, correct and unmistakably 1950s Stuttgart, it is the kind of special-order combination that collectors hunt for years to find.
Racing Pedigree and 41 Years in One Family
The car's story is as appealing as its paint. It was formerly owned by Camoradi USA team owner Lucky Casner, a name that carries real weight with anyone who follows American sports car racing history. It then settled into single-family ownership for 41 years, from 1966 until 2007, the sort of long, careful stewardship that keeps a car honest.
A Nut-and-Bolt Restoration by a Marque Expert
The 300 SL was later restored nut-and-bolt by noted marque expert Rudi Koniczek, resulting in an award-winning presentation. It has been diligently serviced by marque specialists and, refreshingly, it has been used: the Roadster has been exercised on several 1,000-mile classic car rallies.
The trophy case backs up the work. The car has earned multiple first-in-class awards, including at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Gull Wing Group Annual Convention, and it has been shown at the invite-only Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance.
Matching Numbers and Period Details
Documentation is strong, too. The chassis, engine, body, transmission, spindles, rear axle and steering box are all matching numbers as per the car's Mercedes-Benz Data Card. Desirable period equipment includes Rudge-style knock-off wheels and a Becker Mexico radio, finishing touches that add to the car's authenticity and charm.
Why the 300 SL Roadster Still Matters
The open-top 300 SL arrived in 1957 as the gentler sibling of the famed Gullwing, pairing a fuel-injected 3.0-liter inline-six with the same engineering swagger and a far easier way in and out. Combine that appeal with a rare factory color, a racing-connected owner, decades of devoted care and a show-winning restoration, and a seven-figure result feels well earned. Broad Arrow's Senior Car Specialist Jakob Greisen handled the listing.
Want more Mercedes-Benz 300 SL action from Broad Arrow? Check out Broad Arrow's first Audrain auction, which brought a Stutz Bearcat, twin 300 SLs and more to Newport.
Photo: Broad Arrow Auctions
