300 SL Gullwing Coupe (Germany, 1954)

This historic model’s life started out when the post-World War II European circumstances couldn’t allow Mercedes-Benz to maintain its pre-War Grand Prix program. Instead, they would start focusing on an out-of-the-circuits sports cars production.

Making its first public appearance at the 1954 New York Motorshow, the 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ coupé would stand as Daimler-Benz’s first post-War sports car.
Drawn from its preceding racing model, this new 300 SL would preserve its characteristic upward-opening doors and yet appear more sophisticated, as well as being the first road car to have a fuel injection system.
The company’s official American importer, Max E. Hoffman, is the one responsible for the conversion from “race version” to “road version” of the 300 SL, as he predicted that a commercial version of this model would be a guaranteed success in the United States. Indeed, over 80% of the 300 SL units produced were sold there.

The ‘Gullwing’ nickname was evidently given to the 1954 300 SL because of the upward way of opening the passenger doors, which made the car look like a bird with outstretched wings when seen from the front.
Opposite to what one could immediately assume, these ‘gullwing’ doors weren’t there for a mere design reason, but actually in order to provide adjustment for this coupé’s tubular chassis, where ordinary doors just couldn’t fit.

However, the innovative Gullwing would quite quickly be replaced, only three years after having been launched, for the convertible ‘roadster’ version of the 300 SL.
Still, this model stands as one of the most legendary Mercedes-Benz cars, as well as one of the most remarkable coupés of the 50’s.

The “Gullwing” bears a SOHC 3 liter front-mounted engine, which reaches a 240hp output and a top speed of 146 mi/h (235 km/h).
A 4-speed manual transmission supports this rear-wheel drive car.
 

Tubular space frame chassis.   Platform Mercedes-Benz W198 platform.   Suspension Four-wheel independent suspension, plugged to the differential; rear swing axle. Front axle: double wishbones with coil springs over telescopic dampers. Rear (swing) axle: half axles with coil springs over telescopic dampers.   Steering Recirculating ball.   Brakes Drum brakes.