MERCEDES · MERCEDES 300 · Cars
MERCEDES 300 Uncommon
As of 2026 Q2, 8,323 MERCEDES 300s remain registered in the UK — an increasingly uncommon sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 10,058 in 2014 Q3 — only 83% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 1,735 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 104 a year (1.2% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2081 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. Tellingly, 65% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Uncommon — a few thousand still about (8,323).
Rarer than 18% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 104 a year (1.2% of survivors). At that pace roughly 7,817 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2081.
About the 300
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (chassis code W 198) is a two-seat sports car that was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1954 to 1957 as a gullwinged coupé and from 1957 to 1963 as a roadster. The 300 SL traces its origins to the company's 1952 racing car, the W194, and was equipped with a mechanical direct fuel-injection system that increased the power output of its three-liter overhead camshaft straight-six engine. The 300 SL was capable of reaching 260 km/h (162 mph), earning it a reputation as a sports car racing champion and making it the fastest production car of its time. The car's iconic gullwing...
MERCEDES 300 — questions & answers
How many MERCEDES 300 are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q2, 8,323 MERCEDES 300 were still registered in the UK — 2,880 licensed and on the road, plus 5,443 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the MERCEDES 300 rare?
The MERCEDES 300 is uncommon, with 8,323 still about, making it rarer than 18% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Is the MERCEDES 300 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of MERCEDES 300 on UK roads fell by 33 (0.4%). At the current rate of decline, roughly 7,817 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most MERCEDES 300 use?
Most MERCEDES 300 run on petrol — about 77% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel, hybrid.
When did the MERCEDES 300 peak?
The MERCEDES 300 peaked at 10,058 registered in 2014 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.