My pick of the week is the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
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| src: barret-jackson.com |
The first incarnation of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was the W194 issued by Mercedes-Benz for the racing season of 1952. It saw wins at Le Mans, N
ΓΌrburgring and the Carrera Panamericana thanks mostly to its design rather than what was under the hood as the original model only saw up to 175hp on average. It was its weight and aerodynamics which ultimately made the model competitive.
More after the jump...
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| src: myautoworld.com |
It wasn't until 1954 that the production model was introduced at the New York Auto Show. The adaption for the road saw the birth of one of the most iconic designs in automotive history. Due to the high sil styling, the addition of upward swinging doors were added to make access to the vehicle a little easier giving the model its distinctive 'gullwing' design. Even so, getting in and out of this vehicle was pretty cumbersome. A tilt steering wheel was added to try and rectify this.
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| src: hobbydb.com |
Mercedes-Benz also made big leaps in the industry under the hood. The 300SL had the first fuel injector engine in a production car which suffered from oil dilution problems early in its production run. It also featured four-wheel independent suspension which improved handling markedly.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL entered the market at $2483.
Vital Statistics
| Wheelbase |
2.4m |
| Length |
4.5m |
| Width |
1.8m |
| Height |
1.3m |
| Engine |
2966 cc M198 SOHC I6 |
| Gross HP |
212-222 HP |
| Transmission |
4-speed manual |
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