Photo: Daimler AG
Auto, Motor un Sport test editors recently had the probably once in a lifetime opportunity to choose and actually drive five of their all-time dream cars. What would a Top Five Dream Cars be without the inclusion of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gull-wing”, you ask? Well, we don't know, because the AMS top has one, and they've driven it.
Sure, the maintenance costs of such an exclusive and most for all rare piece of automotive history (only 1500 units for the model built between 1954 and 1957) are probably sky high, not to mention the auction price for such a car, which in recent years has jumped to a seven figures territory when talking about the earlier models.
The first production automobile with direct injection, the original 300 SL W198 was a road-going grand tourer derived from a racing car. The gull-wing doors, for example, were chosen not necessarily for aesthetic reasons but for functionality, because the car's tubular chassis didn't allow the use of “normal” doors.
In its time, the 260 km/h (162 mph) top speed of the 300 SL made it the fastest production car in the world, another first for a post-war Mercedes-Benz. In other words, we can't help but feel lots and lots of envy on the AMS editors for having driven such a beautiful old car (production number 1100, US-model, from what we gathered in their review). Meanwhile, you can check out some images of the gorgeous car in the gallery below.
Story via Auto, Motor und Sport
The first production automobile with direct injection, the original 300 SL W198 was a road-going grand tourer derived from a racing car. The gull-wing doors, for example, were chosen not necessarily for aesthetic reasons but for functionality, because the car's tubular chassis didn't allow the use of “normal” doors.
In its time, the 260 km/h (162 mph) top speed of the 300 SL made it the fastest production car in the world, another first for a post-war Mercedes-Benz. In other words, we can't help but feel lots and lots of envy on the AMS editors for having driven such a beautiful old car (production number 1100, US-model, from what we gathered in their review). Meanwhile, you can check out some images of the gorgeous car in the gallery below.
Story via Auto, Motor und Sport
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