1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe

This is the 60th vehicle produced, and one of 146 units built by Mercedes-Benz in 1954. The mileage is correctly record on the speedometer at just under 50 thousand miles. It was the first series of Gran Turismo (GT) cars imported into the United States. The GT is often defined as a vehicle designed to 'transport two people and their luggage between two points of interest in comfort and in a minimum of time.' The interest in this 1954 Teutonic wonder car is in its' design. In order to save weight, the doors, hood and deck lid are aluminum. The frame also precluded the normal vertical hinges on the door, so the solution was the famous characteristic of the car, the Gullwing doors hinged along a centerline near the center of the roof. The 2996 cubic-inch overhead cam, Bosch fuel injected engine is an inline six-cylinder with an optional racing camshaft and develops 240 horsepower.

This very early version has the obvious welting around the horizontal fender flares. It is also fitted with the early Bendix treadle-Vac brakes booster unit. This braking system had problems that resulted in the startling experience of no brakes when this unit failed. This problem was rectified after the first few cars were built.