The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (chassis code W 198) is a two-seat sports car that was produced by Mercedes-Benz as a gullwinged coupe (1954–1957) and roadster (1957–1963).

It was based on the company's 1952 racer, the W194, with mechanical direct fuel-injection which boosted power almost 50% on its 3-litre overhead camshaft straight-6 engine.

Capable of reaching a top speed of up to 263 km/h (163 mph), it was both a sports car racing champion and the fastest production car of its time.

Max Hoffman, Mercedes-Benz's authorized United States importer at the time, inspired the 300 SL and correctly perceived an American market for such a car. The company introduced the 300 SL in February 1954 at the International Motor Sports Show in New York instead of in Europe to get it into U.S. buyers' hands sooner.

SL is the short form for "super-light" in German, Mercedes' first use of the designation, referring to the car's racing-bred light tubular frame construction.

The 300 SL was voted the "sports car of the century" in 1999.Origin in the W194 racing car

The 300 SL (also called W198) traces its origin back to a racing sports car, the Mercedes-Benz W194. In 1951, Daimler-Benz decided to take part in races and build a sports car for this purpose. Mercedes' largest engine, the M186 shared between the 300 "Adenauer" saloon (W186) and luxurious 300 S two-seat tourer (W188), was developed.


Mercedes-Benz W194 racing car

In 1952, the W194 took part in the most important races of the year. The new SL competed in the Mille Miglia at the beginning of May and achieved second place. It won the top three places at the Bern Sports Car Prize 131.04 kilometres (81.42 mi). At the 24-hour race at Le Mans, the 300 SL won the top two places. First place went to Hermann Lang and Fritz Riess with an overall average 155.6 km/h (96.7 mph), they achieved a new record in Le Mans history. Second place went to Theo Helfrich and Helmut Niedermayr. A race at the Nürburgring ended with a four-fold success. At the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, the 300 SL again won with Karl Kling and Hans Klenk – despite having a vulture flying through the windscreen.[8]


W194 at the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, 1952

These successes, especially those on the high-speed open road races, were somewhat surprising as the W194 engine was fitted only with carburettors, producing 175 hp (130 kW), which was not only less than the competing cars by Ferrari and Jaguar, but also less than the 300 SL road car developed from it introduced in 1954. Low weight and low aerodynamic drag made the W194 fast enough to be competitive in endurance races.


1953 intermediate model at Pebble Beach in 2012
 

Mercedes-Benz developed a new version for the 1953 racing season by adding fuel injection and 16-inch wheels. The gearbox was installed on the rear axle. Its body was made of Elektron, a magnesium alloy, to reduce the weight by 85 kilograms (187 pounds). However, the car was not used because Mercedes-Benz decided to take part in Formula One from 1954 onward.

Later versions revised the body for lower air resistance and did not adopt the transmission arrangement.

Start of the 300 SL

New York Auto Show 1954

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL prototype
 

Mass production of the 300 SL was initially not planned. The idea of a toned-down Grand Prix car tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by Max Hoffman at a director's meeting in Stuttgart, in 1953.

Mercedes' new General Director Fritz Konecke agreed when Hoffman put an order in for 1000 cars and the new 300 SL was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show rather than the Frankfurt or Geneva gatherings where company models made their usual debuts. Also, the production of a smaller Roadster, the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL was announced[11] after Hoffman put another order in for 1,000 of the 190SLs.

The two sports cars premiered at the "International Motor Sports Show" in New York, which took place in February 1954. Mercedes-Benz experienced a very positive visitor response to the 300 SL and the 190 SL at the Motor Show. Serial production began in August 1954 at the Sindelfingen plant.