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Mercedes-Benz 300SL


300SL
Vehicle Model

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Wikipedia: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

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Article Index
A sports car produced by Mercedes-Benz.  Production versions are from model years 1954-1963, but race cars were produced as early as 1952.  Designed by Friedrich Geiger and Walter Haecker.

The coupe version is often referred to as the Gullwing, a name that comes from the top-hinged doors.

Awards and acknowledgements include:
Among "The 25 Most Beautiful Cars of All Time" by Automobile, September 2006

A silver Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing with an open door appears in the background of the advertising for the 2017 film Trust Fund.

History

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Mercedes-Benz 300 SL page on 29 November 2015, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer and fastest production car of its day. Introduced in 1954 as a two-seat coupé with distinctive gull-wing doors, it was later offered as an open roadster.

Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the direct fuel injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted overhead cam straight 6 1952 racer, the W194.

The idea of a toned-down Gran Prix car tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by Max Hoffman. Mercedes accepted the gamble and the new 300 SL – 300 for its 3.0 litre engine displacement and SL for Sport Leicht (Sport Light) – was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show rather than the Frankfurt or Geneva gatherings company models made their usual debuts.

Immediately successful and today iconic, the 300 SL stood alone with its distinctive doors, first-ever production fuel-injection, and world's fastest top speed. The original coupé was available from March 1955 to 1957, the roadster from 1957 to 1963.

A notably smaller, lighter, and less luxurious 1.9 liter roadster was introduced in 1955 as the 190 SL. Both the 300 SL and the 190 SL were followed in the Mercedes line by the 230SL. Today's 571 hp (426 kW), nearly 200 mph (320 km/h), gull-winged Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is regarded as the 300 SL's spiritual successor.


Documents

DateDocument Name & DetailsDocuments
17 July 2014In the Matter of Lakeside Capital Management, LLC and Dennis H. Daugs, Jr.
Order Instituting Administrative Cease-And-Desist Proceedings
Securities and Exchange Commission

PDF
- 65KB - 11 pages


Images


View "Gullwings" (Framed) - 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Art - 45KB
1991 Fallbrook Vintage Car Show Poster - 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1991 Fallbrook Vintage Car Show
Artist: Ken Eberts
Cars: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Event: Fallbrook Vintage Car Show
Image courtesy CarArt.us
View 1991 Fallbrook Vintage Car Show Poster - 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 62KB
Gullwings 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Art Gullwings
Artist: Ken Eberts
Car: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Image courtesy CarArt.us
View "Gullwings" - 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Art - 79KB
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 79KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 58KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 84KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Door Mechanism
I don't think there is a single part in our 2004 Mazda 3 that is as polished as this hydraulic doodad.
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 67KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
I don't know who this guy is, but clearly, homie loves his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupes.
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 74KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1955
Photo by Joe Cheng
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
June 29, 2005
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL - 73KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Dashboard Photo courtesy of Image*After
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Dashboard - 857KB
Custom Mercedes-Benz 300SL Model Car Custom
Built by Frank LuQue
Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden
February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Model - 3,451KB
Custom Mercedes-Benz 300SL Model Car Custom
Built by Frank LuQue
Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden
February 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature
View photo of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Model - 3,576KB


Quotes

"Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways."  Alfred Neubauer, after checking the rules, answering Mercedes-Benz's concern that the doors may cause the car to be challenged if the car won races.


Sales Records

Records of first sales of 300SL models.  Incomplete list.

Commission #Engine #Registration #First OwnerDelivery DateCountry
654 558198 980-45 00201WPF 8Mr. GrantFebruary 1955
654 559198 980-45 00199PLE 3P.F. ScruttonFebruary 1955
655 384198 980-45 00189PYE 704Sir Jeremy BolesFebruary 1955
656 572198 980-45 00124PAR 1Gordon ClaridgeMarch 1955
659 266198 980-45 00091Mr. PottsJanuary 1955
659 267198 980-45 00155ROB 2R. Walker
659 258198 980-45 00022RGO 30Compton & EcclestoneMay 1955
659 701198 980-45 00003PLB 23
682 292198 980-55 00075Taylor & CrawleyMarch 1955
682 293198 980-55 00076Standard Wharves, Ltd.March 1955
682 294198 980-55 00106Raymond Way (Motors)March 1955
682 296198 980-55 001702 DMYV.D. YatesApril 1955
682 301198 980-55 00263RGW 66W. MachlowMay 1955
669 798198 980-45 00184David BrownJanuary 1955
682 295198 980-45 00157PYN 1Mr. BournerMarch 1955
682 297198 980-55 00194HJT 11Lt. Cmd. Home KidstonApril 1955
682 298198 980-55 00332RGO 28Sir James Scott DouglasJune 1955
682 299198 980-55 00156AEL 1W.G. RileyMay 1955
682 300198 980-55 00382RGW 78R.S. WilkinsJune 1955
682 301198 980-55 00263RGW 66W. MacalowMay 1955
682 302198 980-55 00383RGW 79C.C. LawrenceJune 1955
682 303198 980-55 00392SVF 10R.C. LaweranceJune 1955
682 304198 980-55 00486RLT 8A.R. MarshJuly 1955
682 305198 980-55 00503RLT 9Chalwyn Lamps, Ltd.July 1955
682 306198 980-55 00422MLT 3P.F. ScruttonJune 1955
753 870198 980-55 ?????LXN 5IshmaelMay 1955
753 871198 980-55 ?????ZZ 3636The Rt. Hon Lord O'NeillAugust 1955
753 973198 980-55 00372RLD 4W.J.F. TillyardJuly 1955
754 792198 980-55 00338A. KeillerMay 1955
754 793198 980-55 00362RLD 7Mr. Aitkins
755 099198 980-55 00389RLX 9H.J. HyamsJuly 1955
755 326198 980-55 ?????RLW 8E. Read-OstlerAugust 1955
755 328198 980-55 00647H.G.H. RusselAugust 1955
758 906198 980-55 ?????H.M. King of JordanAugust 1955
758 907198 980-55 00593T. ArendaleSeptember 1955
758 908198 980-55 00632Ministry of SupplyOctober 1955
758 909198 980-55 00661RLX 442H.C. Bentley, Ltd.September 1955
758 910198 980-55 00648YPE 3W. Lockley CookOctober 1955
758 911198 980-55 00692RXW 14MercedesSeptember 1955
760 266198 980-55 00723EverettOctober 1955
761 439198 980-55 00731RLX 11J. Whitaker EllisonSeptember 1955
762 128198 980-55 00682DYK 5Earl HoweFebruary 1956
763 581198 980-55 00861MON 6W. HeadlamNovember 1955
764 150198 980-55 00831RYN 9D. de FerrantiNovember 1955
764 294198 980-55 00848NVN 1Mill Garages (London)February 1956
764 295198 980-55 00869BY 1Taylor & CrawleyNovember 1955
765 266198 980-55 00857TVF 642A. FountaineDecember 1955
765 913198 980-55 07881YPL 300F.P. Massy-DawsonJanuary 1956
765 914198 980-55 00872RYT 28MercedesJanuary 1956
765 915198 980-55 00867SL 300E.C. MathesonFebruary 1956
766 081198 980-55 00885
767 036198 980-55 00801SLR 1Mr. AtkinsDecember 1955
767 037198 980-55 00800ROB 2Mr. Rob WalkerDecember
767 091198 980-55 00811RXW 25H. CollinsonDecember 1955
767 597198 980-55 00905YPK 808Barnet InstrumentsMarch 1956
768 137198 980-65 00031SLE 42C.D. PottsMarch 1956
768 138198 980-65 00040
804 544198 980-65 60082
811 543198 980-65 00103


Article Index

DateArticleAuthor/Source
17 July 2014SEC Charges Seattle Firm and Owner With Misusing Client Assets for Vacation Home and Vintage AutomobileSecurities and Exchange Commission
27 November 2015Classics found on the road: 1960 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster Parks McCants, TorqueNews





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