Mercedes-Benz SL-Class W 198 II for Sale

The Mercedes-Benz W 198 II series is the roadster version of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. It was in production from 1957 – 1963 and epitomised the enthusiast’s road going race car.

Mercedes-Benz W 198 II history

The Mercedes-Benz W 198 II was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1957 as the roadster version of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The Benz US distributor, Maximillian E. Hoffman had made the request for the roadster version, as he felt that it would appeal to the affluent US market. It still had the tubular space frame chassis, though modified to lower the very high sills and allow for standard doors to be fitted

Mercedes-Benz W 198 II – Power

The Mercedes-Benz W 198 II was powered by a 3.0 litre overhead cam straight six power-plant which had originally seen service in the W189 Adenauer model, though it was modified with a Bosch mechanical fuel injection system. This ground breaking advancement took the power output from 175 hp to 215 hp for the Mercedes, giving a top speed of 161 mph, making it the fastest road car of its time. However, the fuel injection system did cause an issue as it did not stop injecting fuel immediately on shut down, which led to the unburned fuel diluting the oil in the engine and washing all lubricants off the cylinder walls. The problem led to a Mercedes to advise owners to not stop the engine at anything other than idle speed.

Technical Improvements for the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II

Improvements for the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II over its Mercedes-Benz 300 SL counterpart included a modified rear suspension set-up incorporating a compensating spring, which greatly increased stability and handling. From March 1961, the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II was also equipped with disc brakes front and back and from 1962 it was fitted with a re-designed engine block. Other improvements for the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II included a removable hard top which could be retro fitted.

Mercedes-Benz W 198 II – Sporting History

A special version of the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II was built for the North American Sports Car Championship which was highly modified and was only allowed to run in the ‘D’ category. It was successfully raced by Paul O’shea who managed to win with ease.

The Mercedes-Benz W 198 II Today

Both the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and the Mercedes-Benz W 198 II Roadster are considered to be the very best vehicles of their time and are eminently collectible to this day.