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🏎️ Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W198) I
📍 Germany
🛠️ 6-cylinder 3.0 215HP
💶 No longer on sale

What is it?

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was born with the intention of creating a luxury car that restores the sense of elegance that has characterized the German brand since its inception. It is also the first Mercedes signed “SL”, which means “Sport Leicht”, Sport Leggera. Under the code name “W198”, the 300 SL was produced in two generations from 1954 to 1963.

1st generation

Released in 1957, the first generation is nicknamed “Gullwing” as it has eye-catching gull-wing doors. The bodywork is made entirely of sheet steel, although a variant with an aluminum body was created exclusively for important competitions. There is also a single unit made of fiberglass. This generation was very important from a mechanical point of view, as its engine, a 215HP 3 liter in-line 6 cylinder, was the first to use fuel injection on a road car. The engine was mated to a 4-speed gearbox and a ZF limited-slip differential. The brakes are all drum brakes.

2nd generation

The 2nd gen. of the W198 is not a Coupe, but exclusively a Roadster produced from 1957 to 1963. While the engine power has been increased from 215 to 225HP, for obvious reasons there are no gull-wing doors and the chassis has been slightly redesigned. In 1958, the hard-top arrived as a paid option, while in 1961 the drum brakes were all four replaced by disc brakes.

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