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The history
of the famous Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) started with the successful
Mercedes-Benz 1952 (W194) 300 SL race car and it's successor, the
tremendous 1955 (W196S) 300 SLR.
The W194 300
SL race car was engineered by a team under supervision of racing
engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut. They based the W194 upon mechanical
components of the Mercedes-Benz W186 (300 S) limousine. To compensate
the lack of engine power they faced in a field of stronger competitors
the W194 300 SL race car was built ultra light. The engineers designed a
very light and stiff space frame on which aluminium body panels were
fitted.
The W194 300 SL proved very competitive, the car achieved many successes
on the circuit and during other demanding races. In the year 1952 the
car won the 24 Hours endurance race of Le Mans, the Eifelrennen on the Nürburgring
and the very harsh Carrera Panamericana. During the first outing in the
1952 Mille Miglia W194 racing cars finished second and fourth.
The W194 race car evolved to the W196 race car in 1954. In the year 1955
it was up rated again resulting in the tremendous and world famous 300
SLR (W196S) of which eight cars were built. The 300 SLR became the most
famous and most bespoke Mercedes-Benz racing car ever. In the year 1955
driver Stirling Moss and navigator Alan Jenkinson won the Mille
Miglia! They drove the 1600 km road race with an incredible average
speed of 157.56 kilometer per hour! A record that still stands and will
never be broken!
All successes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL race cars were followed with
interest by the American Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffmann.
Hoffmann convinced the factory board that a 300 SL road car would be a
great commercial success on the American market.
The factory took this challenge and in the year 1955 the 300 SL (W198) 'Gullwing'
saw the light of day. The technical layout was almost identical to the
race car. Because of the space frame construction the sills would be too
high and wide to fit regular doors to the car. The engineers decided to
opt for vertically opening doors, the 'Gullwing' was born. Still it was
not easy to step into the cockpit. A swiveling steering wheel was
incorporated for easier access to the drivers seat. Not only the 'Gullwing'
doors were unique to the 300 SL, also the introduction of petrol
injection was new to a road car. In the year 1957 the 'Gullwing' coupe
was discontinued and succeeded by the 300 SL roadster. The steel space
frame was modified and strengthened and small but functional normal
doors could be incorporated. The roadster also was a breath taking
beautiful car and a very handsome hard top was optionally available.
Between the years 1954 and 1957 'only' 1400 300 SL 'Gullwings' (W198 I)
were built and between 1957 and 1963 'only' 1858 300 SL (W198 II) roadsters.
We say 'only' but we have to remember that the 300 SL was a very pricy
sports car (just above 25.000 DM) in those days. The Mercedes-Benz
300 SL is nowadays the most sought after Mercedes-Benz and it is one of
the greatest icons in the history of the automobile.
Technical
data
6 cylinder
in-line engine
cylinder capacity: 2996 cc.
Bosch direct petrol injection
capacity: 215 DIN bhp. at 5800 rpm.
torque: 274 Nm. at 4600 rpm.
top-speed: 235, 250 of 260 km/h depending on the
chosen final drive.
gearbox: 4-speed, manual
brakes: servo assisted drum brakes all round
weight: 1093 kg.
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