Just look at this glorious, fully restored Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

A company that specialises in restoring old cars has revealed a very special restoration of an old car. This is Hilton & Moss’s entirely reconditioned Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, and, yes, it is mind-numbingly gorgeous.

It is also mind-numbingly expensive too, because said 300SL Roadster is actually up for sale. For a rather large amount, which, considering the car’s legacy, rarity and looks, feels about right in 2024’s hyper-inflated world of Old Automobiles. Still, you can always stop and stare.

Dubbed the world’s first true ‘supercar’, the 300 SL was of course born out of the wonderful Merc W194 endurance racer from the Fifties – a car that took wins at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Carrera Panamericana.

Noted dealer Max Hoffman thought a road-going version would be a good thing, and convinced Merc to build one. And build it Merc did, complete with a 3.0-litre straight-six punching out 225bhp to the rear wheels. That gave it pace – 0-60mph in 7.5s – and bragging rights of a 140mph top speed. In the 1950s, this was radical performance.

And in 2024? This particular car began life in the USA, and made its way to the UK via Germany, with its previous owner desiring a full structural, interior and mechanical restoration.

Hilton & Moss spent 3,500 hours bringing it back to life: stripping it down, repairing the original panels, restoring the interior, keeping the colours period correct, completely overhauling the six-pot, giving it a good clean and spit polish. You know the drill.

“With restorations of this calibre taking many years to meticulously complete and over 3,500 man hours finding a car of this quality can be few and far between,” said Hilton & Moss’s general manager William Garrett.

As such, it’ll set you back £1.25m. Maybe better to stop and stare.