Makes › Mercedes-Benz › 300 › 300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II) · Rare production · 1956–1958 Extremely Rare

Mercedes-Benz
300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II)

Fuel-injected 300 Sc, rarest body style.

53BuiltFactory reported

0Chassis documentedin this archive

?SurvivingNot yet verified

Contents

01Overview
02Production & history
03Specifications
- Technical specifications
04Colours & options
- Factory colours & interiors
- Factory options & codes
05Individual cars
06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built: 53 Built
Years: 1956–1958
Engine: Straight-six with mechanical direct fuel injection · 3,000 cc / 3 LFactory: 3 L
Power: 130 kW / 177 PSFactory: 175 hp · converted
Top speed: 180 km/hFactory: 180 km/h
Body: Not yet verified
Designer: Hermann Ahrens
In this archive: Not yet verified
Surviving: Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 300 Sc was the final development of the 300 S, adding Gullwing-style mechanical direct fuel injection to the 3.0-litre six. With only 53 built in Roadster form, the Sc Roadster is among the most exclusive Mercedes-Benz models of the 1950s.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityExtremely Rare 53 · Built^1,2

Specification rarityNot yet assessed

Colour rarityNot yet assessed

Individual rarityNot yet assessed

Historical rarityNot yet assessed

Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster)
Photo: Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster)
Photo: Rex Gray from Southern California · CC BY 2.0
Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster)
Photo: Rex Gray from Southern California · CC BY 2.0

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is counted	Figure	Basis	Status
Total model productionexamples built as Sc Roadster	53^1,2	Factory production	Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The 300 S of 1951 represented the top of the Mercedes-Benz range and shared many chassis, engine and suspension components with the 300 SL. The updated 300 Sc arrived in 1955 with direct fuel injection, offered as coupé, cabriolet and roadster, of which 53 roadsters were built.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine family	Not yet verified
Engine code	M 199 / 199.980¹
Layout	Straight-six with mechanical direct fuel injection³ Independently researched
Cylinders	6¹
Displacement	3,000 cc / 3 LFactory: 3 L³ Independently researched
Bore	85 mmFactory: 85 mm¹
Stroke	88 mmFactory: 88 mm¹
Compression ratio	8.55:1¹
Valvetrain	1 overhead camshaft; camshaft drive: double roller chain¹
Fuel system	direct injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 6-plunger injection pump¹
Power	130 kW / 177 PSFactory: 175 hp · converted¹Rating: manufacturer
Power at	5,400 rpm¹
Torque	255 Nm / 26 kgmFactory: 26 kgm¹Source unit is "mkg".
Torque at	4,300 rpm¹

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox	Four-speed manual, column shift³ Independently researched
Gears	4¹
Gear ratios	I. 3.44; II. 2.30; III. 1.53; IV. 1.0; R. 3.08¹
Final drive	4.11¹
Driven wheels	rear wheels¹

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassis	cruciform oval-tube frame with centre reinforcement¹
Front suspension	double wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser¹
Rear suspension	single-joint swing axle; double coil springs¹
Brakes	hydraulic, with vacuum booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes¹
Steering	recirculating-ball steering¹
Body construction	steel unit body¹
Wheelbase	2,900 mmFactory: 2,900 mm¹
Length	4,700 mmFactory: 4,700 mm¹
Width	1,916 mmFactory: 1,916 mm¹
Height	1,510 mmFactory: 1,510 mm¹
Front track	1,480 mmFactory: 1,480 mm¹
Rear track	1,525 mmFactory: 1,525 mm¹
Kerb weight	1,780 kgFactory: 1,780 kg¹DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit.
Dry weight	Not yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed	180 km/hFactory: 180 km/h¹
0–100 km/h	14 s¹
Fuel tank	85 LFactory: 85 L¹
Fuel consumption	12.5 L/100kmFactory: 12.5 L/100km¹Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 12.5 l (DIN 70030: at 3/4 of top speed, not more than 110 km/h, plus 10 %)

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Mechanical direct fuel injection on the 3.0-litre straight-six distinguishes the Sc from the carburetted 300 S. Matching numbers can be checked across chassis (188.015...), engine (199.980...), gearbox, body (A188.015...) and rear-axle numbers.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1
300 Sc Roadster / W 188 II, 1956 - 1958 Level A Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
- Units produced : 53
- Engine type : M 199 / 199.980 (Specifications)
- Number of cylinders / arrangement : 6 / in-line (Specifications)
- Bore x Stroke : 85 x 88 mm (Specifications)
- Compression ratio : 8,55 (Specifications)
- Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft (Specifications)
- Fuel system : direct injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 6-plunger injection pump (Specifications)
- Rated output : 175 hp at 5400 rpm (Specifications)
- Rated torque : 26 mkg at 4300 rpm (Specifications)
- Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Specifications)
- Gear ratios : I. 3.44; II. 2.30; III. 1.53; IV. 1.0; R. 3.08 (Specifications)
- Final drive ratio : 4.11 (Specifications)
- Driven wheels : rear wheels (Specifications)
- Frame design : cruciform oval-tube frame with centre reinforcement / steel unit body (Specifications)
- Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Specifications)
- Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle (Specifications)
- Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic, with vacuum booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; (Specifications)
- Steering : recirculating-ball steering (Specifications)
- Wheelbase : 2900 mm (Specifications)
- Length : 4700 mm (Specifications)
- Width : 1916 mm (Specifications)
- Height : 1510 mm (Specifications)
- Front / rear track : 1480 / 1525 mm (Specifications)
- Kerb weight : 1780 kg (Specifications)
- Maximum speed : 180 km/h (Specifications)
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 14 s (Specifications)
- Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 85 l (Specifications)
- Fuel consumption : 12.5 l (Specifications)
Accessed 2026-11-12
2
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster | RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba 2023 Level B
- 53 examples built as Sc Roadster
Accessed 2026-11-11
3
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (Lot 149, Villa Erba 2023) Level B RM Sotheby's
- 3.0-litre straight-six, mechanical direct fuel-injection
- 3.0-litre
- four-speed manual with column-shift
Accessed 2026-11-12

Research coverage

Production figures1 recorded

Technical data35 verified values

Factory coloursNot yet researched

Option codesNot yet researched

Chassis documented0 of 53

Photographs3

Shows what this archive has recorded so far – not how much of the history is known.

Editorial status

Reviewed · 2026-11-11

Revision history (5)

2026-11-11 Basic profile published from discovery research; production figure re-checked against its source page.
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (6 values).
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (35 values).
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (1 values).
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (1 values).

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Mercedes-Benz
300 Sc Roadster (W 188 II)

At a glance

Why it matters

How rare is it?

Photos

Production

History

Variants