Valuable Classics Part 5: The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

With its sensational success, at the Panamerica in 1952 the 300 SL R sure made some headlines at the time. No wonder the idea to offer this car to well-off customers hatched at Mercedes headquarters immediately. Especially the strong US market was targeted. So the 300 SL was first presented to the public at the 1954 New York Motor Show.

A dream come true – the mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” 

The engine of the SL may have been the same as the one in the rather mediocre 300 “Adenauer”, the technical key data however made it clear that this was a real sports car. The new Bosch injection system enabled a liter output of 71 hp, obliterating all the competition. The lightweight construction with a tubular frame ensured a weight of only 1.3 tons. This enabled the six-cylinder engine’s 250 hp to bring the streamlined Coupé to a top speed of a whopping 260 km / h. Servo-assisted aluminum drum brakes made for a safe deceleration. For all its sporty values the SL was still quite comfortable. As the press stated at the time, the fully synchronized 4-speed gearbox could be controlled “as easily as a housewife controls her vacuum cleaner”. Not really a statement fit for this day and age. The spacious interior with high-quality equipment offered a good all-round visibility and very little wind noise even at high speeds. The interior however turned into the equivalent of a sauna on wheels during summer.

The 300 SL – A luxurious sports car

At a price of DM 29,000 the SL was reserved for the happy few. To put the price in a bit of perspective; your regular blue collar worker was dreaming of a beetle with a price tag of around DM 3,000 at the time. And so, among the lucky owners, names like Sophia Loren, Romy Schneider and Elvis Presley appear. In the USA, the “Gullwing” ,as the 300 SL is also called due to its unconventional doors, was offered for around $ 7,500.

It made its price half that of a Ferrari 250 Europa, but significantly more expensive than the Aston Martin DB2/4 which stood at about $ 6,000. In May 1957, the gullwing was replaced by the 300 SL Roadster. By then, 1,400 vehicles had rolled of the production lines in Stuttgart.

Price performance data courtesy of:

Photos Tomini Classics & Arthur Bechtel Classic Motors

Author: Classic Trader

Die Classic Trader Redaktion besteht aus Oldtimer-Enthusiasten, die Euch mit spannenden Geschichten versorgen. Kaufberatungen, unsere Traum Klassiker, Händlerportraits und Erfahrungsberichte von Messen, Rallyes und Events. #drivenbydesire View all posts by Classic Trader →