Description
The A presents the 300 SL. Against all the odds, American importer Max Hoffman succeeds in convincing the German manufacturer Mercedes to launch a civilian version of the Carrera Panamerica-winning W194, and undertakes to order and sell the first thousand units himself.
The legend of the 300 SL, born for racing, could at last continue on the road...
Powered by a 3-litre, 6-cylinder engine developing 225 bhp and wrapped in "Super Leicht" bodywork thanks to its tubular chassis, the 300 SL sold 80% in the United States, as Max Hoffman had predicted.
A great commercial success, it enabled the marque to boost its image in the market. Customers raved about its racing history and its slim, elegant lines, but it was above all its gullwing doors that made it the talk of the town.
In 1956, the decision was taken to stop production of coupes and start production of a roadster.
This new model, available with a hard top from 1957, met the growing demand from the Californian market. Just as slim and elegant, 150 kg heavier and 15 bhp more powerful, the roadster was produced for seven years (compared with four years for the coupé). A total of 1, 858 roadsters were produced in Sindelfingen (compared with 1, 400 coupes, 29 of them in aluminium).
Our example for sale, in highly respected original condition, is in the purest timeless livery, Silber Grau code db 180 Rot interior.
The 300 SL is the absolute icon of the marque and one of the most sought-after cars on the planet. - details above
