1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster No reserve Swedish registration Chassis no. 198.042 7500119 Engine no. 198.980 7500135 - The 51st 300 SL roadster built - Racing achievements with first owner Gunther Philipp - Factory-fitted period upgrades, Rudge center-fixed wheels - Top-level restoration by one of the world's leading specialists - Exceptionally well-documented history - No reserve One of the special features of this car is that it was delivered new to a famous Austrian actor, Gunter Placheta, whose stage name was Gunther Philipp. An accomplished sportsman and champion swimmer (he held the Austrian record for the 100-meter breaststroke), he began by studying philosophy, psychology and medicine before opening a practice in Eberstazell. A theater enthusiast, in 1946 he formed a cabaret troupe, "Die kleinen Vier", with three friends, and in 1949 decided to give up his work as a doctor to devote himself entirely to acting. His filmography includes dozens of popular films and series, from the 1950s to 2000. But Gunther Philipp was a man of many passions, and motor sport was one of them. In the early 50s, he founded his own racing team under the name "Ecurie Vienne", and went on to win the Austrian GT Championship in the 60s. Then, after hanging up his helmet, he and Jochen Rindt hosted the ORF radio program Motorama. It was against this enthusiastic backdrop that he acquired this Mercedes 300 SL roadster, which was delivered to him on July 25, 1957 with a mileage of 3,735 km, and registered in Berlin via Herbert Schulze Automobile, under the number B-PP 99. According to information supplied by Éric Lemoine, an acknowledged specialist in the model, several letters exchanged with the factory bear witness to the numerous improvements made to this car, at the request of its particularly discerning and demanding owner. For example, a letter dated August 14, 1957, addressed to Mercedes Munich, mentions in very direct terms a number of defects that Gunther Philipp would like to see remedied as soon as possible. He deplores a lack of engine power and suspects that the axle ratio is not what he ordered. He also points out that "the brakes are dangerous on wet surfaces", and that "the clutch jams and has too short a travel". He also complains that "the bodywork vibrates too much, especially around the doors, and that cracks in the trunk need to be repaired and repainted, which will mean repainting the whole car". Finally, he orders Rudge center-fixed wheels. These letters did not go unanswered: improvements were made to the braking system, and a letter from Mercedes Munich dated September 6, 1957 confirmed the fitting of chrome Rudge wheels (four plus a spare). As Mercedes had no use for the original wheels, they were left to Gunther Philipp. In addition, a letter attests to the probable replacement of the original engine, probably in August 1957, which may explain why the car's engine number has been re-stamped. On a work order dated August 21, 1957, Gunther Philipp asks for the price of sport camshafts, but it is not specified whether these will eventually be fitted. On May 11, 1959, the car was repainted in white (code DB 50), clocking up 40,345 km and still bearing its Berlin registration. A little later, a shorter rear axle (1:3.64) was fitted in preparation for a race scheduled for September 30, 1959. Between his acting engagements, Gunther Philipp took part in various regional events, as attested in particular by several photos attached to the documentation and taken at the following races: - May 23-24, 1959, Internationale Semperit-Rallye (result unknown). - October 4, 1959, Internationales Autorennen Innsbruck (withdrawal). - June 12, 1960, Internationales Autorennen Flugplatz Linz, fifth overall and victory in GT over 1600. - September 25, 1960, Internationales Flugplatzrennen Klagenfurt (result unknown). In September 1960, Gunther Philipp adopts the pseudonym "Constantine", when he enters his 300 SL roadster in the Gaisberg hill-climb, an event counting towards the European Mountain Championship. Four years later, in 1964, he took part in the same race under the name Placheta, driving a Ferrari 250 GT short-chassis berlinetta. Having put his 300 SL to good use, the actor and amateur racer parted with it in the early 1960s. Until 1962, it was registered in the name of Herbe