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This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was introduced in 1954 when only 146 units were produced.
This 1955 model is powered by an overhead-cam, fuel-injected, inline, 183 cubic-inch (3.0-liter) 6-cylinder engine developing 190 horsepower. The engine is coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission and can go from 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 152 miles per hour.
The chassis gave the car strength and lightness ('SL' stands for 'Sports Light'), but there was a problem: an essential part of the frame lay right where the door hinge in a conventional car would have been. The solution: put the hinge on the roof and let the door swing up.
In 1957, it was the end of the line for the Gullwing, and it took its place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. | |
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