1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe

Mercedes-Benz is one of the world's most recognized names; a division of the German company Daimler AG. The brand is known for luxury vehicles, buses, and trucks. The name appeared in 1926 with the merger of the firms of Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. Benz's 1886 Patent-Motorwagen is regarded as the first gasoline-powered automobile.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the first iteration of today's SL-Class. They were developed for racing in Europe in 1952. The standard production of this car began in 1954 and ended in 1957. Introduced in 1954 at the New York Auto Show, it was a two-seat sports coupe with distinctive gull wing doors and later offered as a roadster. Based on a successful racecar, it was the brainchild of importer Max Hoffman. He suggested a modified model tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market.

The '300' refers to its 3.0 liter straight six-cylinder engine, and 'SL' stands for 'Sport Leicht' (Sport Light). Just 1,400 examples were built. A costly and complex tubular space frame required a high entry point with gull wing doors. The coupe was available from March 1955 to 1957, the roadster from 1957 to 1963. The SOHC engine produces 212 horsepower, the first-ever production direct fuel injection, and a four-speed manual transmission. Front suspension is double wishbone with coil springs, and a high pivot swing axle is in the rear. Drum brakes are on four wheels.

This 1954 300SL Gullwing was produced in November 1954 and is number 155, there were approximately 1,400 built during this period of time.

The current owner has owned this car for 41 years; the car has 50,000 original miles. The car has recently been restored to factory standard using mostly original parts during the restoration process. The car is equipped with a 2996cc Fuel-Injected 6-cylinder engine, generating 240 horsepower. It has a Bird Cage Chromatic Frame, aluminum doors, hood and trunk lid. It is equipped with its original Tredelvac Brake System and the original Knock-Off Lug Wheels and the AM/FM Signal Seeking radio. The original selling price was $5,600 in 1954.

The 300 SL coupe was introduced in 1954 and built until 1957. The roadster version was built from 1957 to 1963.

The coupe was best known for its 'gull wing' or 'butterfly' doors as well as being the first gasoline-powered car equipped with fuel-injection directly into the engine's combustion chamber. The '300' designation refers to the engine size (three liters); the 'SL' stood for 'Sport Leicht' (or Sport Light).

The six-cylinder, 2996cc engine developed 212 horsepower at 5800 RPM. Sports Car International magazine ranked the 300SL among the top five sports cars of all time.

The current owner's father purchased this car in 1967 from a man in Pittsburgh who is believed to have been the original owner. In 2008, the car was completely restored, maintaining its original Rudge wheels and Becker radio.