Mercedes-Benz · 1954–1955

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (chassis code W 198) is a two-seat sports car that was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1954 to 1957 as a gullwinged coupé and from 1957 to 1963 as a roadster. The road going 1954 fuel injected 300 SL (W198) traces its origins to the company's original 1952 300 SL carburetted racing car, the Mercedes-Benz W194. As one of the first automobiles to be equipped with a mechanical direct gasoline fuel-injection system, the power output of its three-liter overhead camshaft slanted straight-six engine surpassed that of its successful racing predecessor. Depending on configuration of axle ratio, camshaft, bumpers etc., the 300 SL was capable of reaching 260 km/h (162 mph), earning it a reputation as a sports car racing champion, and making it the fastest production car of its time. The car's iconic gullwing doors and innovative lightweight tubular-frame construction were groundbreaking. The designation "300 SL" is derived from the 1951 two-door luxury sports tourer Mercedes-Benz W188 "300 S", with the use of the S being not defined. The additional L, as 20 years earlier in the SSKL, is an abbreviation of the German term leicht, meaning "light", a reference to the car's racing-bred lightweight construction. Even in modern times it is disputed whether SL stood for Super Leicht or Sport Leicht. Following the 1952 successes, like winning the 24h of Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana, Max Hoffman, importer of Mercedes-Benz and other European brands to the United States at the time, recognized the potential demand for a high-performance sports car among American buyers. Due to his suggestion, an improved 300 SL was introduced to the American market in 1954/55. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL remains a highly sought-after classic car and is celebrated for its performance, design, and technological advancements.

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Successor: Mercedes-Benz W 113

All Mercedes-Benz 300 SL data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development

=== Origin in the W194 racing car === The 300 SL traces its origin to an endurance racer, the Mercedes-Benz W194, developed by Daimler-Benz in 1951. It used the 3-liter inline-6 M186 engine, shared by the company flagship 300 "Adenauer" saloon (W186) and the two-seat 300 S grand tourer (W188). Although W194's 175 hp (130 kW) engine produced less power than competing cars by Ferrari and Jaguar, its low weight and low aerodynamic drag made the W194 fast enough to be competitive in endurance races. Mercedes-Benz developed a new version for the 1953 racing season by replacing the M186's carburetors with mechanical direct fuel-injection, and shifting to 16-inch wheels; the gearbox was installed on its rear axle. Its body was made of Elektron, a magnesium alloy, which reduced its weight by 85 kilograms (187 pounds). Mercedes-Benz decided not to race this alloy car, choosing instead to begin participating in Formula One in 1954. Later versions revised the body to lower air resistance, and did not continue the transmission arrangement. Origin of the 300 SL. The idea of Mercedes producing a toned-down Grand Prix car targeted to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by the company's U.S. importer, Max Hoffman, at a 1953 directors' meeting in Stuttgart. Mercedes' new general director, Fritz Konecke, agreed to Hoffman's order for 1,000 cars to guarantee the success of the production run; the 300 SL was introduced at the February 1954 New York International Auto Show instead of the Frankfurt or Geneva shows, where company models usually debuted. In addition, the production of a smaller roadster, the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, was announced after Hoffman placed an initial order for 1,000 to support their production. Mercedes received a posi

Overview

The 300 SL has a steel tubular frame chassis, with a steel body combined with an aluminum bonnet, doors, dashboard, and boot lid to further reduce weight. An additional 80 kilograms (176 pounds) could be eliminated with an expensive all-aluminum body, but only 29 were made. Depending on the rear axle ratio, fuel consumption was 17 liters per 100 km (14 miles per US gallon; 17 miles per imperial gallon). Interior. Three checkered-pattern seat fabrics were standard: grey and green, grey and blue, and cream and red. Most customers opted for leather upholstery, which became standard on the roadster. With upward-opening doors, the coupé has an unusually-high sill; entering and exiting the car is problematic. The steering wheel pivots on its hub 90 degrees away from the dashboard to facilitate entry. Storage space for luggage is behind the seats in the coupé; the boot only holds a spare wheel and fuel tank. The roadster was available with two custom-fitted leather suitcases for the larger boot. The coupé's windows are fixed and roll down in the roadster. Exterior. The body consists mainly of sheet steel, with the bonnet, boot lid, dashboard, sill, and door skins made of aluminum. Silver-grey was the standard color; all others were options. The objective of the overall design was to make the vehicle as streamlined as possible. The width of the tubular frame along the cockpit allowed the cabin roofline to be inset considerably on both sides, dramatically reducing the front area. The structure was also quite high between the wheels, prohibiting the attachment of standard doors. The only option – already used on the W194 race car – which would allow passengers over its high, deep sill was a gullwing door. The car’s distinctive eyebrows are a functional feature in the front, both

Roadster

In mid-1956, sales of the 300SL Gullwing began to decline, prompting the Mercedes-Benz board to consider a convertible version tailored to the California market. A prototype was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957, and by May the factory had been converted for roadster production. As the gullwing coupe the roadster was adapted from did not have conventional doors, its alloy-steel tubular frame was redesigned to lower its sills, create strong points for door hinges, make space for a proper trunk, and reinforce the frame for rigidity lost transforming it from a coupe to an open car. In spite of following the coupe's lead and using aluminum panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, sills, floors, and bulkhead, the roadster gained 35 kg (77 lb), bringing the new car's weight up to 1,330 kg (2,930 lb). Mechanically, the M198 engine power was boosted to 240 hp (179 kW), and the rear suspension enhanced by lowering the swing axle's pivot point 87 millimetres (3.4 in) below the differential centerline. The resulting notable improvements in handling and ride comfort were not lost on lead engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who had sought the design on the coupe but been rebuffed by the Mercedes board, which opted to utilize an existing inventory of approximately 3,000 axle units to offset the vehicle's already high production costs. Not only was the considerably more driver-friendly roadster easier to get in and out of, it was available with custom configured leather luggage to maximize trunk space gained by moving the spare tire beneath its floor and shrinking the fuel tank. Originally, the roadster came with a stowable soft top. In September 1958, an optional weatherproof hardtop became available. It proved such an attractive option that in spite of its considerable 1,

Racing

Mercedes decided to return to international motorsport at the beginning of the 1950s, and Alfred Neubauer was again entrusted with the task. In 1951, the company built five V8 W165 cars and engines to enter the Grand Prix. Ferrari's V12 performed well at Silverstone, however, and Neubauer knew that the W165 could not win; Mercedes began planning a V12 W195. The FIA sporting commission changed the rules for 1954 in October 1951, and the W195s could not compete; the company began to develop a six-cylinder 300 SL for racing. Its doors originally extended onto the bottom of the side windows, and access through them required a removable steering wheel. 1952. The 300 SL's first race was the 1952 Mille Miglia. The 1,564-kilometre (972 mi) race was from Brescia to Rome and back, pitting Karl Kling's 300 SL against Giovanni Bracco's new 3-liter V-12 Ferrari. Bracco won, besting the second place Mercedes by four minutes and 32 seconds. Driving a car with a less-powerful engine, Rudolf Caracciola placed fourth. Two weeks after the Mille Miglia, the original four cars raced at Bern before the Grand Prix. Concerned that Le Mans officials would not accept the gullwing-door design, Daimler-Benz revised the door down into the side of the body. Rear-brake locking was a continuing problem for the 300 SL; Caracciola's coupé hit a tree head-on, and he did not race again. Kling, Hermann Lang and Fritz Riess finished first, second and third when the 4.1-liter Ferrari broke down at the start. Three new cars were built for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in June. The engines were detuned for the long race to 166 bhp, and the fuel-tank filler rose above the rear window. The team brought an experimental spare car with a rooftop air brake which folded flat until the driver activated it. The unusual

Reception and sales

Sales quintupled in the model's second year but dropped off over the next three years. Roadster sales were initially high before leveling off to about 200 a year. Initially, the model was distributed only by Max Hoffman, later on by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Production numbers.

Legacy

Building on the 1954 debut of the 300 SL, a less-expensive, 1.9-liter roadster was introduced the following year as the 190 SL. The latter was succeeded by the then only SL in the Mercedes line, the 230 SL, in 1963, produced in increasing displacement and cost up to a 280 SL through 1971. Subsequent SL generations include the R107 (variously produced in models and displacements from 280 SL to 560 SL from 1971 to 1989) and the R129 (likewise, in 280 SL through 600 SL from 1989 to 2001). The two generations of the SL that have followed are grand tourers available as coupe convertibles. The gullwing-door V8 SLS AMG debuted in 2009 as the spiritual successor of the original 300 SL coupé. Produced through the end of 2014, it was replaced by the AMG GT, with traditional doors. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL owners are supported by Gull Wing Group International, which began in 1961.

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Specifications

name: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz
Production: 1954–1957 (Coupé): 1,400, 1957–1963 (Roadster): 1,858, 1955 (300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé): 2, 3,258 built
Assembly: West Germany: Stuttgart-Untertürkheim
Designer: Friedrich Geiger
Class: Sports car, Grand tourer
Body style: 2-door coupé, roadster
Platform: Coupé W198 I, Roadster W198 II
Related: Mercedes-Benz W121 BII (190 SL)
Layout: FR layout
Engine: 2996 cc M198 straight-six engine
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2400 mm
Length: 4520 mm
Width: 1790 mm
Height: 1300 mm
Kerb weight: Coupé 1295 kg, Roadster 1330 kg, from 1961 1370 kg
Predecessor: Mercedes-Benz W194 (racing car)
Successor: Mercedes-Benz W113 (230SL) , Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG