VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT: 1955 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SL

1955 MERCEDES 

300SL COUPE “GULLWING”

HORSEPOWER: 215

TOP SPEED: 155 mph

ENGINE: 3.0-liter inline-6

NUMBER BUILT: 867 (1955 300SLs)

PRODUCTION YEARS: 1954-1957

Originally designed for road racing, the 300SL was the world’s first production car with fuel injection. The lightweight construction of the SL, or “super leicht” (super light) was achieved by a rigid tube frame substructure and allowed for much higher speeds than mainstream cars with body-on-chassis construction. Although the structural lattice work provided great strength, each side was so high that the car had to be equipped with roof-hinged doors which, when opened, resembled the wings of a bird in flight, hence the unofficial nickname “Gullwing.” The “SL” designation is still used today in the model names of Mercedes-Benz’s sportiest cars.

COLLECTION OF BRUCE MEYER