1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL chassis information. 5288

Exterior Photos

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is a two-seat, closed sports car with characteristic gull-wing doors, and later, offered as an open roadster. The gullwing doors, hinged at the roof and so named because the open doors resembled a bird's outstretched wings, were implemented as such to accommodate the car's tubular chassis.

The 300SL was best known for both its distinctive gullwing or butterfly wing doors and for being the first-ever gasoline-powered car equipped with fuel injection directly into the combustion chamber. The gullwing version was available from March 1955 to 1957. In Mercedes-Benz fashion, the '300' referred tot eh engine's cylinder displacement - in this case, three liters. The 'SL' stood for 'Sport Leicht' or 'Sport Light.'

The 300SL is credited for changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid, but staid, automobiles to that of a producer of sporty cars. The body was mainly steel, except for the aluminum bonnet (hood), doors and boot (trunk) lid. The 300SL could also be ordered with an all-aluminum outer skin, saving 80 kg (176 lb), but at tremendous added cost.

This 300SL displayed here is a Feature Car and is a restoration project from 'Dream Car Garage.'

Event	Group
Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance	Sports Cars Post 1956