1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL (chassis code W 198) is a two-seat sports car that was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1954 to 1957 as a gullwinged coupé and from 1957 to 1963 as a roadster. The 300SL traces its origins to the company's 1952 racing car, the W194, and was equipped with a mechanical direct fuel-injection system that increased the power output of its three-liter overhead camshaft straight-six engine. The 300SL was capable of reaching 260 km/h (162 mph), earning it a reputation as a sports car racing champion and making it the fastest production car of its time. The car's iconic gullwing doors and innovative lightweight tubular-frame construction were groundbreaking.

The designation "SL" is an abbreviation of the German term super-leicht, meaning "super-light", a reference to the car's racing-bred lightweight construction. The 300SL was introduced to the American market at the suggestion of Max Hoffman, Mercedes-Benz's United States importer at the time, who recognized the potential demand for a high-performance sports car among American buyers. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL remains a highly sought-after classic car and is celebrated for its performance, design, and technological advancements.

The idea of Mercedes producing a toned-down Grand Prix car targeted to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by the company's U.S. importer, Max Hoffman, at a 1953 directors' meeting in Stuttgart. Mercedes' new general director, Fritz Konecke, agreed to Hoffman's order for 1,000 cars to guarantee the success of the production run; the 300SL was introduced at the February 1954 New York International Auto Show instead of the Frankfurt or Geneva shows, where company models usually debuted. In addition, the production of a smaller roadster, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL, was announced after Hoffman placed an initial order for 1,000 to support their production. Mercedes received a positive visitor response to both cars in New York, and production began at the Sindelfingen plant in August of that year.