Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, Red

Max Hoffman, Mercedes' importer in the United States, had pushed for an open 300 SL, and in March 1957 the Roadster made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. It kept the Gullwing's fuel-injected three-litre six but gained conventional doors and a new single-pivot swing axle that steadied the rear; 1,858 were built before production ended in 1963. CMC modelled this one on a particular early car. Built in 1957, early enough to have no lock on the passenger door, it was delivered new to Madrid, to a buyer whose name was never made public, common practice then for well-known customers. It came to Germany around 1970, stayed with one collector for decades, and was completely restored in 2000.

The model is shown open, the soft top stowed beneath its cover, so the cabin is on full view: black leather on folding seats, a red-painted fascia banded in chrome and a slim black steering wheel. The paint is red, DB 568, carried onto the steel wheels. The bonnet opens forward on its stay to the six with its long ribbed intake manifold, the boot holds the spare, and the side windows wind up and down on their cranks. A limited edition of 1,500 pieces; CMC builds it at 1:18, from more than 1,050 parts.