Completed by the factory in May 1957, this 300 SL Roadster was completed in ‘Elfenbein DB608’ (Ivory) over a red leather interior. Options on the build sheet include dials ‘re-written’ in English as this example was dispatched to the Mercedes-Benz in London. Supplied new to it first keeper in 1958, this 300 SL Roadster was the 16th car completed and first owned by Samuel McCrudden Jnr, proprietor of a linen and handkerchief business in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ownership is documented by a scan of the Buff logbook in the car's accompanying history folio. His ownership was brief and the car moved back to England a year later finding residence in Berkshire with Aspro family member Maurice Nicholas, early developers of Aspirin in the 1900s. Initially their tablet had been called Nicholas' Aspirin; but later the product name was changed to Aspro formed from the last two letters of the name 'Nicholas', and the first three of the word 'Product'. The 300 SL was then sold by dealership H.R. Owen to aristocrat, wartime secret-agent, racing driver and naturalist Gavin Maxwell of Ross-shire, Scotland. A keen conservationist, Maxwell split his time between London and Scotland, driving between the two in a series of pre-war Bentleys, including a Corsica-bodied example. Maxwell would go on to own a second 300 SL roadster, the first car notably proved its engineering pedigree with a race from Sandaig to Glasgow for an otter-related emergency. A keen and enthusiastic driver, Maxwell’s biography regales adventures in 300 SLs, one of which Maxwell drove “at fantastic speed on the Moroccan roads — up to 140 mph at times, averaging nearly 98 mph from Marrakesh to Mogador...!” In 1970, the 300 SL found home with the previous and long-term form keeper. Owning the car for 33 years, well-known classic racer Mr Forsdyke took the car off the road and placed it in storage. With the intention of carrying out a total restoration, the car instead sat for an extended period in storage in a partly dismantled state. Purchased by its current custodian in 2003, a decision was made to bare-metal restore the 300 SL Roadster. Opting for the period correct shade of Anthracite Grey (DB172), the comprehensive restoration was carried out on-and-off for 15 years with Kevin O' Keeffe Restorations at a cost of £320,000. Upon completion, the roadster was wholly covered in bespoke paint protection film. Since restoration the car has covered just 2,900 miles and presents superbly. This wonderful 300 SL roadster is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately, accompanied by an original hardtop, period tool kit with jack of the correct type, restoration file and history folio. Furthermore, an inspection report by 300 SL specialist Martin Cushway is available.