Mercedes-Benz 300SL

When Mercedes-Benz made their welcome return to motor racing in 1952, they did so with a stunning looking space-framed Gullwing 300SL sports racing Coupe. The results achieved that year were noteworthy, including winning both the 24 Hours Le Mans race and the grueling Carrera Panamericana, and coming in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Mille Miglia. At the end of the season these cars were officially retired, but in the meantime their enthusiastic New York agent was trying to persuade the factory to turn their racing sports car into a production super car.

After initially discarding the idea, they reversed their decision upon receipt of one thousand orders, and the 1954 Motor Show saw the launch of the 300SL Gullwing sports road car.

It was a sensation, and closely resembled the race cars, excecpt the all alloy bodywork was now steel, and the 40-degree slanted 3-liter six-cylinder engine had Bosch direct fuel injection which increased the power to 240 bhp....