Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
A competition-derived grand tourer remembered for its gullwing doors and direct-injection straight-six.
Overview
Mercedes-Benz presented the road-going 300 SL at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954. Developed from the W194 competition car, the new model carried the internal designation W198 and became an important part of the company’s return to international markets after the Second World War.
Its lightweight tubular spaceframe rose high along the sides of the passenger compartment. Conventional doors could not be fitted without weakening that structure, so the coupé received roof-hinged doors that created its enduring “Gullwing” identity.
Power came from a 3.0-litre inline-six using direct petrol injection, an unusual production-car technology at the time. The engine was inclined to reduce bonnet height, helping the 300 SL combine high performance with a low, aerodynamic profile.
Body styles
300 SL Gullwing (W198 I, 1954–1957)
The closed 300 SL established the model’s defining shape, with gullwing doors, a compact cabin and pronounced wheel-arch forms. It was conceived with the American market in mind and launched in New York rather than at a European motor show.
300 SL Roadster (W198 II, 1957–1963)
The roadster replaced the coupé in 1957. Revisions to the spaceframe permitted conventional doors and improved access, while the open body broadened the 300 SL’s appeal as a high-performance touring car.