Star cast
Six stunning Mercedes-Benz two-seaters will cross the block in Paris on 28 January 2026.
The RM Sotheby’s sale, which includes two 300SLs, will take place in Les Salles du Carrousel of the Louvre Palace, in the French capital.
It’s one of three massive auctions that coincide with Rétromobile, the world-famous Parisian classic car show.
So let’s find out more – the cars are listed in chronological order.
Prices are given in GBP£, EUR€ and US$; all conversions were correct, according to RM Sotheby’s, at the time of writing
1. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL (est: £1-1.55m/€1.25-1.75m/$1.45-2.05m)
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was a true showstopper when it was revealed at the International Motor Sports Show in New York, USA, on 6 February 1954.
And it wasn’t simply pre-WW2 mechanicals draped in exotic bodywork with gullwing doors: its tubular spaceframe and race-bred engine – which featured fuel injection and a dry sump – were truly innovative.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL (cont.)
This Mercedes-Benz Gullwing is one of the earliest examples. In fact, it was one of just 167 300SLs built in 1954.
For that reason, this silver car is expected to sell for more than £1m when it goes under the hammer in Paris in January 2026 – you’d better start saving.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL (cont.)
This Mercedes-Benz 300SL was delivered to its first owner in New York.
It arrived in the USA with white-grey paintwork and a green-beige chequered fabric interior.
When it was restored in Germany in 2016, it was resprayed metallic-silver and the cabin was refinished with red-leather trim.
2. 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (est: £1.05-1.3m/€1.2-1.5m/$1.2-1.5m)
This bright-red Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster was built around eight years after the Gullwing on the previous slide.
The German maker introduced the drop-top version of the 300SL in 1957.
This was one of 182 examples built in 1962, according to RM Sotheby’s.
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (cont.)
To create the Roadster, the Gullwing’s tubular spaceframe, rear axle and more had to be modified.
It also got conventional doors, plus revised headlights and tail-lights.
This red example was delivered new to the UK. The first owner specified a Becker Mexico stereo, European instruments and a lowered driver’s seat.
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (cont.)
This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster returned to Germany in the mid-1980s.
In 2015, it went back to its maker for a full restoration by Mercedes-Benz Classic.
The near-two-year project was comprehensive: the car’s tubular spaceframe was sandblasted, the interior was reupholstered and the engine was rebuilt.
It’s covered just 1200km (746 miles) since it was completed in September 2016.
3. 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda (est: £105-125,000/€120-140,000/$140-165,000)
The luxurious Mercedes-Benz Pagoda is surely one of the most stylish classics.
This 280SL’s 168bhp straight-six engine ensures it has the urge to match its sports-car looks.
Finished in July 1969, this grey-blue metallic example was delivered new to the USA.
1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda (cont.)
The Pagoda spent its early years Stateside, but returned to Germany in the early 2010s.
In 2014 it was sent to now-defunct specialist Kienle to be restored.
The team at Kienle converted the 280SL to European specification, with new dials and gauges.
1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda (cont.)
This Mercedes-Benz 280SL is powered by its original 2.8-litre ‘six’, which was rebuilt in the mid-2010s.
Inside, the blue-leather seats have been reupholstered and the dashboard has been refreshed.
The original Becker Grand Prix radio has been replaced by a Blaupunkt unit.
4. 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (est: £330-420,000/€375-475,000/$435-550,000)
The next car in this slideshow is around four decades younger than the Mercedes-Benz 280SL.
The supercharged V8-engined SLR McLaren was inspired by the original roadgoing 300SLR Coupé from the 1950s.
2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (cont.)
This drop-top has a top speed of 207mph, so you’ll certainly feel the wind in your hair.
Buyers could customise their SLR McLaren to a great extent, and the carbonfibre seats were available in five sizes.
This two-owner car has extra-large buckets, 19in turbine-style wheels and Crystal Laurit Silver Metallic paintwork.
2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (cont.)
Just 520 were built and this Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster left the factory on 1 September 2008, although it wasn’t registered until it arrived in Germany in 2010.
It joined this remarkable Mercedes-Benz collection a few years later.
The 17-year-old car has covered just 6016km (3738 miles).
5. 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé (est: £210-255,000/€240-290,000/$280-335,000)
The gullwing-doored Mercedes-Benz SLS was a modern take on the 300SL.
Unlike the ’50s original’s straight-six motor, the 21st-century SLS was powered by a 6.2-litre V8.
When it was released, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG’s eight-cylinder was the most powerful naturally aspirated engine available in a production car.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé (cont.)
Thankfully, Mercedes-Benz also supplanted the 300SL’s swing-axle rear suspension with a double-wishbone set-up.
In fact, this is not simply an imitation of Mercedes’ most iconic model, but a thoroughly modern supercar that could hold a candle to Ferrari’s 458.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé (cont.)
This Iridium Silver Metallic example has lots of desirable options, including an AMG steering wheel, silver brake calipers and a rear-view camera.
It’s also covered just 6074km (3774 miles) since it was new.
6. 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster (est: £185-225,000/€210-260,000/$245-305,000)
Like the 300SL and SLR McLaren that came before it, the Mercedes-Benz SLS was also available as a soft-top.
And surely this is the best way to appreciate its thunderous V8 soundtrack?
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster (cont.)
Values for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster are slightly lower than for its coupé sibling.
RM Sotheby’s expects this car, which has a similar mileage to the hardtop it is also offering, to achieve £185-225,000, around £15,000 less than the coupé’s pre-sale estimate.
Which one would you prefer?
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster (cont.)
This Obsidian Black car was finished in November 2012 and delivered to its first owner in Munich, Germany. It’s got ceramic brakes, a carbonfibre-trimmed cabin and more.
It became part of this collection of three-pointed stars in 2020.
These Mercedes will be offered during the RM Sotheby’s sale in Paris on 28 January 2026.