A Photographic Joyride Through the Golden Age of Open-Air European Sports Cars

By Shaun Tolson. All photographs courtesy of RM Sotheby’s. As American automakers were dreaming up the cars of the future in the wake of World War II, European designers and executives—none more famous than Enzo Ferrari—were focused on the here and now, inspired by the new age of jet-powered airplanes, and motivated to build artfully shaped vehicles that drove as fast as they looked. The sumptuous curves born from those endeavors were the automotive epitome of an ideology that embraced the beauty of life—a mantra that, in Ferrari’s homeland, took root as la dolce vita . Simply put, the mid to late 1950s and early 1960s were golden, especially by the standards of today’s classic automobile enthusiasts. Across the decades that have followed, the allure of these mid-century European speedsters, especially in their convertible forms, has never wavered. Adulation for that era’s Ferraris, BMWs, Maseratis, and Mercedes-Benzes has permeated classic car clubs for the better part of half a century, and even had an influence on Hollywood from time to time. View full issue. 963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster This late-production 300 SL Roadster benefited from a complete engine rebuild in 2017 (executed by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Germany) and later, in 2023, a thorough restoration that exceeded $250,000. Boasting a matching-numbers chassis, body, engine, gearbox, steering box, and both axles, this roadster is a prime example of the model, which explains why it sold for more than $2 million when it crossed the RM Sotheby’s auction block in Miami earlier this year. (Photo by Karissa Hosek) The means necessary to own such cars have only increased with time, which also speaks to the desirability of these drop-top beauties. Today, matching-numbers examples of long-wheelbase Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders, for example, command almost $10 million at auction. Moreover, a handful of those cars’ contemporaries also carry seven-figure price tags. Acquiring a Series II BMW 507 Roadster from the late 1950s, for example, will require at least $2 million. Similarly, prospective buyers will need to pony up at least $4 million for a Spyder variant of Maserati’s A6G2000, as fewer than 30 of those convertibles were built. The average value of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster has risen by about $500,000 over the past five years, according to classic.com (a digital pricing database and search engine for collector cars); and two stellar examples recently sold for more than $2 million apiece at auctions hosted by RM Sotheby’s and Gooding & Company. 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II BMW produced fewer than 260 of its 507 Roadsters between 1956 and 1959, though the examples built from the middle of 1957 onward are the most desirable. Branded Series II, these cars benefited from more spacious cabins and increased luggage space in the trunk. This particular car, which features a matching-numbers chassis and engine (verified by BMW), sold for almost $2 million as part of an RM Sotheby’s auction in Munich in late 2022. (Photo by Paolo Carlini) These classic convertibles may carry potential for notable financial appreciation, but equally significant, they’re a thrill to drive. As hybrid and all-electric engines render today’s vehicles mostly silent and demure, the engagement between car and driver in a late-1950s European sports convertible is unparalleled. These open-air speedsters are a reminder that driving is—or at least should be—a visceral experience. With the wind in your hair, the guttural growl of a fuel-injected V12 engine in your ears, and a smile plastered across your face as you maneuver the car in and out of corners, you’ll understand where the term joyride originated. 1955 Maserati A6G54 2000 Spyder Zagato Sold privately via RM Sotheby’s after the firm’s 2022 auction in Monterey, California, this one-off A62000 is the only Spyder variant to feature bodywork designed by coachbuilder Zagato. It was treated to a comprehensive restoration in 2003 and went on to claim Best of Show honors at the Concorso Italiano two years later. During an Art of the Automobile auction hosted by RM Sotheby’s in New York in 2013, this car commanded a $4.5 million hammer price. (Photo by Motorcar Studios)