Vehicle exhibits

The 300SL coupe debuted at the New York Auto Show in February 1954 and was an instant sensation. It soon became the ultimate auto status symbol, bought by celebrities and prominent movie stars.

The half-height doors, hinged at the roof centre to lift upward, led the 300SL to be nicknamed "Gullwing" because the car resembled a gull with its wings raised when the doors were up. 

The six-cylinder engine featured several new modifications, one of which saw the carburettor replaced by a direction injection system – a technical advance which was years ahead of its time. 

This new technology boosted output to 158 kW (220 hp) and the car’s maximum speed up as far as 260 km/h, depending on the rear axle ratio. Customers could order their SL with a choice of five different ratios. The 300 SL hit 100 km/h in just 10 seconds.

The engine had to be tilted 45 degrees to the left in order to squeeze under the hood of what was an extremely flat car, thus reducing the amount of space in the passenger-side foot well.

 The SL’s centre of gravity was almost exactly in the middle of the car, laying the perfect foundations for fast and precise cornering. 

Today, the 300 SL with its gull wing doors, technological firsts, and low production numbers is considered one of the most collectible and valuable Mercedes-Benz models.