The Mercedes 300SL Gullwing - The Definition of Cool in the '50s
Slideshow: Powered by a race car-inspired engine, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was a true supercar that was years beyond its time.
A Little Bit of History
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL first debuted as a coupe with gullwing doors at the New York International Motor Sports Show in 1954. It went into production until 1957. Mercedes then introduced a roadster version that lasted until 1963. The letters SL are German for "super-light", which was in reference to the light tubular frame construction. As for the number 300, Mercedes decided to name the car after its engine capacity, which was 300 centiliters. The car was voted as the "Sports Car of the Century" in 1999.
Photo Courtesy of GQ-Magazine.co.uk.
A Dime in the 50's
Not a lot of motors had made their way to Hollywood in the 1950s. Perhaps it was the numerous coupes with swept wheel arches and the straight-nosed saloons. The 300 SL was, and still is, one of the sexiest contemporary supercars that have survived the test of time. Very few roadsters could cut a dash like the 300SL back in the day.
Photo Courtesy of GQ-Magazine.co.uk.
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The Roadster
In 1956, sales for the coupe started to fall. Instead of discontinuing the model entirely, Mercedes decided to do a model change. The Roadster version was then built to meet the California market. It was 276 pounds heavier than the Coupe. It was also more powerful with 240 hp. Room for luggage was increased and the doors modified to accommodate a more comfortable entry. Sales then increased, exceeding those of the Coupe.
Photo Courtesy of GQ-Magazine.co.uk.
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A Site for Sore Eyes
To date, the 300SL still looks like a car from the future. The soaring doors, rocket-ship silver finish, endless nose, and aerodynamic accents introduce to the world what it meant to be a streamlined coupe back in the day.
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Setting the Pace
The 300SL set a precedent for almost all the supercars that tried to ape its gullwing portals. The tricky entry was a source of innovation as the automaker hinged the steering wheel just to ensure that buyers looked and felt as graceful while stepping in and out.
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Power
A 3.0-liter straight-6 was available under its hood and featured direct fuel injection from Bosch. The engine was a race car-inspired W194 that could make up to 215 bhp. Its top speed was 150 mph. For a car that had a complex rear suspension and no seat belts back then, steering was remarkably precise. This supercar also offered better handling and a more comfortable ride compared to other cars.
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Exterior
The 300SL was mostly made out of steel except for the aluminum hood, dashboard, trunk, and door skin. The construction of the body frame made it impossible to install conventional doors. This was largely due to the small frontal area that was reduced to allow for better aerodynamics.
Photo Courtesy of GQ-Magazine.co.uk.
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Interior
There were three standard checkered fabric patterns for the 300SL. Buyers could either get a gray/blue, cream/red, or a gray/green combination. The leather upholstery was only available in the roadster. The steering was pivoted 90 degrees away from the dash to allow for easy entry. The coupe had a small trunk, which was largely filled by the vehicle's tank and spare wheel. It also had non-retractable side windows and forward triangular vent windows.
Photo Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
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Worth Today
The Mercedes 300SL is one of the most valuable collectible cars in the world. It's gullwing doors, low production numbers, and technological firsts price it at between $1,000,000 and $2,500,000 today. Two 300SLs went on sale in 2009. Each was sold for over $1,300,000. An ultra-rare all-aluminum model from 1955 went on sale in 2012 for $4,620,000.
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