Among automotive legends, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) ranks near the very top. The car was produced as a Gullwing Coupe (1954–1957) and also a Roadster (1957–1963). With a top speed in the 160 MPH range, the 300 SL was the fastest production car of its day.
The original 300 SL (w194) was an endurance racing car. In1952, it racked up an impressive string of victories including wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the Bern-Bremgarten, the Eifelrennen at Nürburgring, and Mexico's Carrera Panamericana races. At the urging of Daimler-Benz's official United States distributor. Max Hoffman, the street version 300 SL Gullwing (W198) was developed with the first production cars going on sale in 1954.
The most iconic feature of the car is the upward-opening "gullwing" doors. This was the result of the lightweight tubular spaceframe chassis which was utilized. The geometry of the chassis included structural members on the sides precluding the use of traditional side opening doors.
The 3.0 liter inline six-cylinder engine featured an overhead-camshaft and mechanical direct fuel injection. Very advanced for the time. Producing up to 240 HP and 217 lb/ft of torque, the 2,855 lb car was very fast. The car is also legendary for being extremely stable and comfortable to drive at such speeds.
There were 1,400 Gullwing Coupés built. Today, the 300 SL sells for millions of dollars at high-end collector auctions. Rare variants, such as alloy-an bodied Gullwing, have commanded record-breaking prices exceeding $9.3 million.
The artwork depicts a 1956 300 SL Coupe.