300 SL Coupé and 300 SL Roadster (W 198).

Racing sport genes.

300 SL Coupé and 300
SL Roadster (W 198).

The 300 SL production sports car Mercedes-Benz presented in New York on 6 February 1954 was a sensation.

Development of two sports-car models.

300 SL Coupé and 300 SL Roadster (W 198).

Development of two sports-car models.

For the board of directors of Daimler-Benz, Hoffman’s plan to sell sportscars with the Mercedes star on the bonnet, was a welcome opportunity to open the US-market for Daimler-Benz and so they were easily persuaded: In September 1953 the development of two sports-car models was launched. The serial version of the 300 SL, which was presented as the result of this development in February 1954 at the “International Motor Sports Show” in New York, was based on the racing-car of the 1952 season.

Unusual doors.

300 SL Coupé and 300 SL Roadster (W 198).

Unusual doors.

Its salient feature was taken from this racing-car, the unusual doors, which earned the car the nickname “gullwing” in English-speaking countries. This unusual design solution was not intended as a publicity stunt, but, as had been the case with the racing car, from a construction point of view, this was an absolute necessity. The tubular space frame, derived from the SL racing-car, which weighed a mere 50 kg, had the drawback that because of its overall height conventional doors were simply not feasible.

Streamlined body.

300 SL Coupé and 300 SL Roadster (W 198).

Streamlined body.

The streamlined body concealed several other novelties: for the first time fuel injection was used in a serial car by Mercedes-Benz; this resulted in an increase of horse power of 40 PS as compared to the carburettor racing car model. The engine was inclined towards the side, in order to ensure a flat and streamlined front design.

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Original parts for this series.

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