1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’
The top-hinged doors cutting into the roofline resulted from engineering necessity rather than stylistic intent. Mercedes-Benz developed an exceptionally rigid tubular space-frame chassis for the road-going descendant of the W194 competition coupe.
This lattice frame weighed roughly 180 pounds and featured very tall side members, which made conventional side-hinged doors impractical without compromising structural integrity.
As a solution, the engineers adopted roof-hinged doors, an arrangement that became the car’s defining visual hallmark.
The W194 racing version had already demonstrated its capability, securing first and second place finishes at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans. Encouraged by the success of the competition car, New York importer Max Hoffman convinced Mercedes-Benz there was a viable American market for a road-going version.
The production 300 SL was unveiled at the New York International Motor Sports Show in January 1954. Production began later that year, with each coupe powered by an inline six-cylinder engine equipped with Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection, a rarity in production automobiles at the time.
From 1954 through 1957, Mercedes-Benz produced approximately 1,400 examples of the 300 SL (Sport Leicht) Gullwing coupe, establishing it as one of the most technically advanced and recognizable sports cars of its era.
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