1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Introduced at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, the open successor to the Gullwing required substantial chassis redesign to compensate for the loss of the fixed roof structure. Engineers lowered the tubular frame’s sills and reinforced critical areas while creating space for conventional door hinges and an enlarged trunk.
A new low-pivot swing axle rear suspension, developed for the 300 Sc and later adopted across the Mercedes-Benz range, dramatically improved handling characteristics compared to the Gullwing’s earlier high-pivot design.
Despite aluminum panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, and floors, the Roadster gained approximately 220 pounds over its predecessor. Wider 5.5-inch wheels and revised proportions accompanied the fully lined convertible top and roll-up windows. A removable hardtop was available.
The 183-cubic-inch (3.0-liter) overhead-cam inline-six retained Bosch mechanical fuel injection and produced 240 horsepower. A fully synchronized four-speed manual transmission replaced the Gullwing’s non-synchronized gearbox. Multiple final drive ratios allowed customers to tailor performance characteristics, with 3.89:1 becoming standard for American-market cars.
Production spanned from 1957 through 1963, yielding 1,858 examples. Four-wheel disc brakes arrived in 1961, followed by an aluminum engine block in 1962.
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