The 300 SL was introduced in February 1954 at New York’s International Motor Sports Show. Max Hoffman had committed to 1,000 cars, making the project viable on American demand.
The W198 was engineered from the 1952 W194 racing car which won Le Mans outright. Gull-wing doors were engineering necessity — the spaceframe’s high sills left no room for conventional openings.
Between 1954 and 1957, 1,400 gullwing coupés were built. Combined with the Roadster: 3,258 units. Every Mercedes SL built since traces directly back to this car.
Tubular steel spaceframe, approximately 70 kg. Kerb weight: 1,295 kg. 29 all-aluminium examples were built, each roughly 80 kg lighter.
The 3.0-litre M198 inline-six, tilted 50 degrees for bonnet clearance. Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection — an industry first for a road car. Output: 215 PS at 5,800 rpm. Dry-sump lubrication. Top speed: up to 260 km/h.
The 300 SL held the title of world’s fastest production car from 1954. Documented owners include Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, the Aga Khan, and the Shah of Iran.
A 300 SL won the 1955 European Rally Championship. John Fitch took class honours at the 1955 Mille Miglia. Auction values confirm canonical status — steel-bodied gullwings trade above €1.5 million.
The 300 SL is a 70-year-old hand-built car that rewards complete respect for original specification.
Provenance. Matching numbers and documented history determine both value and safety.
Critical concerns. Bosch direct injection is complex and sensitive to fuel quality. Swing-axle rear suspension must be set precisely. Tubular frame rust is catastrophic.
Specialists. Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Stuttgart is the authoritative reference.
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