According to a copy of the original factory build sheet, this marvelous 1957 300 SL Roadster was first ordered through Mercedes-Benz Sales Inc. in South Bend, Indiana, for a client in Los Angeles. Finished in the rare and supremely elegant color combination of black with a tan leather interior, the SL was equipped with a Becker Mexico radio, US-specification sealed-beam headlamps and a 3:89 rear axle ratio.

This handsome roadster was sold new on the West Coast to Mr. M.P. Garcia of Artesia , California , thereby becoming its first owner. On June 18, 19 65 , the black Roadster gained a new lease on life when the second owner, Mr. Keith C. Gerard, a dentist from Long Beach , California , purchased it. Dr. Gerard and his wife were avid sports car enthusiasts and soon gave their prized Mercedes-Benz the affectionate nickname “Black Beauty”.

Dr. Gerard registered the SL in his wife Carol’s name and it quickly became the family’s pride and joy. Over the years, the Gerard family consistently serviced the car and maintained it in fine order, using it sparingly and ensuring that it led a charmed life in the mild Southern California climate. After Dr. and Mrs. Gerard passed away, their son Grant inherited the car and continued to preserve it in its essentially untouched condition.

Due to their popularity and devoted following, 300 SLs have long been a top-tier collector car and it has become increasingly hard to find an example that has not been completely restored or traded between numerous parties. Presented here is a rare survivor that retains its complete original interior, its original top and the vast majority of its original black paint. The only area that has required a touch-up is the driver’s side front fender and this was done after Grant Gerard, as a young child, accidentally leaned his bike to close too the Roadster.

Today, the odometer displays less than 47,000 original miles and the brown leather shows a beautiful patina. Its feel, texture, character and fit is like a well-worn baseball glove and attests to the loving maintenance and careful use that this car received in over 40 years with the Gerard family. Very correct and proper throughout, the engine bay is tidy and unmolested, the wheels are shod in period-correct Pirelli tires and the panels and gaps are straight and consistent.

This unmolested and very special SL runs extremely well, without smoke or any unwanted noises. It drives just like a low-mileage car that has never been disassembled should. While many classic sports cars have become extremely fragile with age, a Mercedes-Benz, with its inherent quality and strength, should continue to offer many more years of performance if properly maintained and serviced. While it is a prime candidate for the un-restored class at concours, it is not so precious that it couldn’t be entered in a rally such as the California Mille or the Colorado Grand and driven with confidence.

The file that accompanies the sale of this Mercedes-Benz is in keeping with its well-kept condition. It includes the original owner’s manual and workshop manual, Becker warranty book, WISI antenna mounting instructions, a 1965 title in Carol Gerard’s name, archival photos, and the Mercedes-Benz service station handbook that is filled with handwritten service and maintenance notes from the early years of the Gerards’ ownership. Also included is a copy of the original delivery paperwork and a letter to the original owner from Mercedes-Benz Sales Inc.

45 years on, the Gerards’ “Black Beauty” remains just as charming as ever and is only in need of a new caretaker who will continue to treasure this marvelous SL as its previous owners have.