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Reading
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster – Wingless Gull
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1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Photo: Casey Annis
Roadcar Articles

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster – Wingless Gull

 Casey Annis

The story of the production model 300 SL really picks up where our story about the W194 Le Mans racecar ends. After a highly successful 1952 racing season where the W194 “Gullwing” won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana, the entire sports car program was closed, as Mercedes-Benz turned its attention to a return to Formula One racing. However, the Gullwing made a deep impression on enthusiasts from around the world. And perhaps none more so than U.S. Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffman. With America’s fast growing appetite for European sports cars, Hoffman saw real potential in selling a road going version of the W194. In fact, Hoffman was so taken by the idea that he travelled to Stuttgart to discuss it with the Daimler-Benz management committee. Present at the meeting were a number of Daimler-Benz executives including Technical Director Dr. Fritz Nallinger. Despite having headed the team that built and developed the W194, Nallinger was very much against the idea. While agreeing that Mercedes needed a road going sports car, he felt that it would be better to build one around the platform frame, which was then being used in the 180 sedan. Hoffman, however, was adamant that that would not appeal to the American market. But Hoffman took it one step further by stating to the committee that if Mercedes built a roadgoing version of the Gullwing, he would commit to buying 500 units. Unable to resist the prospect of such an order, the committee ultimately decided to do both, build a new, smaller SL sports car based around the 180 platform frame (the 190 SL) and construct what would become the ultimate “supercar” of the day, the production 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupe.

Photo: Casey Annis
Photo: Casey Annis

Wings for the Masses

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Brand (Jaguar)Brand (Mercedes-Benz)Featured (Roadcar Feature)Group (SCCA (Sports Car Club of America))People (Dr. Fritz Nallinger)People (Max Hoffman)People (Paul O'Shea)People (Rob Walker)Place (Geneva)Profiles (Roadcar Profile)Profiles (The Cars)Race (24 Hours of Le Mans)Race (Carrera Panamericana)

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Casey Annis
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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