Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
|---|
|
| Topic Navigation |
|---|
|
Wikipedia: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
Page Sections History Bibliography Documents Images Quotes Sales Records Article Index |
History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Mercedes-Benz 300 SL page on 29 November 2015, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer and fastest production car of its day. Introduced in 1954 as a two-seat coupé with distinctive gull-wing doors, it was later offered as an open roadster.
Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the direct fuel injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted overhead cam straight 6 1952 racer, the W194.
The idea of a toned-down Gran Prix car tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by Max Hoffman. Mercedes accepted the gamble and the new 300 SL – 300 for its 3.0 litre engine displacement and SL for Sport Leicht (Sport Light) – was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show rather than the Frankfurt or Geneva gatherings company models made their usual debuts.
Immediately successful and today iconic, the 300 SL stood alone with its distinctive doors, first-ever production fuel-injection, and world's fastest top speed. The original coupé was available from March 1955 to 1957, the roadster from 1957 to 1963.
A notably smaller, lighter, and less luxurious 1.9 liter roadster was introduced in 1955 as the 190 SL. Both the 300 SL and the 190 SL were followed in the Mercedes line by the 230SL. Today's 571 hp (426 kW), nearly 200 mph (320 km/h), gull-winged Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is regarded as the 300 SL's spiritual successor.
| Title & Subtitle | Details |
|---|---|
Faszination SL 300 SL (W194) | Year & Type: 2002 Nonfiction Languages: German  & EnglishForeword: Max-Gerrit von Pein Publisher: Mercedes-Benz Dimensions: 8.875" x 12.5" hardcover Content: 96 pages w/color photos ISBN: 3-89365-133-0 Topic: Mercedes-Benz 300SL Availability: Reference Desk |
| Date | Document Name & Details | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 17 July 2014 | In the Matter of Lakeside Capital Management, LLC and Dennis H. Daugs, Jr. Order Instituting Administrative Cease-And-Desist Proceedings Securities and Exchange Commission |  PDF - 65KB - 11 pages |
"Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways." Alfred Neubauer, after checking the rules, answering Mercedes-Benz's concern that the doors may cause the car to be challenged if the car won races.
Records of first sales of 300SL models. Incomplete list.
| Commission # | Engine # | Registration # | First Owner | Delivery Date | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 654 558 | 198 980-45 00201 | WPF 8 | Mr. Grant | February 1955 |  |
| 654 559 | 198 980-45 00199 | PLE 3 | P.F. Scrutton | February 1955 | |
| 655 384 | 198 980-45 00189 | PYE 704 | Sir Jeremy Boles | February 1955 | |
| 656 572 | 198 980-45 00124 | PAR 1 | Gordon Claridge | March 1955 | |
| 659 266 | 198 980-45 00091 | Mr. Potts | January 1955 | | |
| 659 267 | 198 980-45 00155 | ROB 2 | R. Walker | | |
| 659 258 | 198 980-45 00022 | RGO 30 | Compton & Ecclestone | May 1955 | |
| 659 701 | 198 980-45 00003 | PLB 23 | | ||
| 682 292 | 198 980-55 00075 | Taylor & Crawley | March 1955 | | |
| 682 293 | 198 980-55 00076 | Standard Wharves, Ltd. | March 1955 | | |
| 682 294 | 198 980-55 00106 | Raymond Way (Motors) | March 1955 | | |
| 682 296 | 198 980-55 00170 | 2 DMY | V.D. Yates | April 1955 | |
| 682 301 | 198 980-55 00263 | RGW 66 | W. Machlow | May 1955 | |
| 669 798 | 198 980-45 00184 | David Brown | January 1955 | | |
| 682 295 | 198 980-45 00157 | PYN 1 | Mr. Bourner | March 1955 | |
| 682 297 | 198 980-55 00194 | HJT 11 | Lt. Cmd. Home Kidston | April 1955 | |
| 682 298 | 198 980-55 00332 | RGO 28 | Sir James Scott Douglas | June 1955 | |
| 682 299 | 198 980-55 00156 | AEL 1 | W.G. Riley | May 1955 | |
| 682 300 | 198 980-55 00382 | RGW 78 | R.S. Wilkins | June 1955 | |
| 682 301 | 198 980-55 00263 | RGW 66 | W. Macalow | May 1955 | |
| 682 302 | 198 980-55 00383 | RGW 79 | C.C. Lawrence | June 1955 | |
| 682 303 | 198 980-55 00392 | SVF 10 | R.C. Lawerance | June 1955 | |
| 682 304 | 198 980-55 00486 | RLT 8 | A.R. Marsh | July 1955 | |
| 682 305 | 198 980-55 00503 | RLT 9 | Chalwyn Lamps, Ltd. | July 1955 | |
| 682 306 | 198 980-55 00422 | MLT 3 | P.F. Scrutton | June 1955 | |
| 753 870 | 198 980-55 ????? | LXN 5 | Ishmael | May 1955 | |
| 753 871 | 198 980-55 ????? | ZZ 3636 | The Rt. Hon Lord O'Neill | August 1955 | |
| 753 973 | 198 980-55 00372 | RLD 4 | W.J.F. Tillyard | July 1955 | |
| 754 792 | 198 980-55 00338 | A. Keiller | May 1955 | | |
| 754 793 | 198 980-55 00362 | RLD 7 | Mr. Aitkins | | |
| 755 099 | 198 980-55 00389 | RLX 9 | H.J. Hyams | July 1955 | |
| 755 326 | 198 980-55 ????? | RLW 8 | E. Read-Ostler | August 1955 | |
| 755 328 | 198 980-55 00647 | H.G.H. Russel | August 1955 | | |
| 758 906 | 198 980-55 ????? | H.M. King of Jordan | August 1955 | | |
| 758 907 | 198 980-55 00593 | T. Arendale | September 1955 | | |
| 758 908 | 198 980-55 00632 | Ministry of Supply | October 1955 | | |
| 758 909 | 198 980-55 00661 | RLX 442 | H.C. Bentley, Ltd. | September 1955 | |
| 758 910 | 198 980-55 00648 | YPE 3 | W. Lockley Cook | October 1955 | |
| 758 911 | 198 980-55 00692 | RXW 14 | Mercedes | September 1955 | |
| 760 266 | 198 980-55 00723 | Everett | October 1955 | | |
| 761 439 | 198 980-55 00731 | RLX 11 | J. Whitaker Ellison | September 1955 | |
| 762 128 | 198 980-55 00682 | DYK 5 | Earl Howe | February 1956 | |
| 763 581 | 198 980-55 00861 | MON 6 | W. Headlam | November 1955 | |
| 764 150 | 198 980-55 00831 | RYN 9 | D. de Ferranti | November 1955 | |
| 764 294 | 198 980-55 00848 | NVN 1 | Mill Garages (London) | February 1956 | |
| 764 295 | 198 980-55 00869 | BY 1 | Taylor & Crawley | November 1955 | |
| 765 266 | 198 980-55 00857 | TVF 642 | A. Fountaine | December 1955 | |
| 765 913 | 198 980-55 07881 | YPL 300 | F.P. Massy-Dawson | January 1956 | |
| 765 914 | 198 980-55 00872 | RYT 28 | Mercedes | January 1956 | |
| 765 915 | 198 980-55 00867 | SL 300 | E.C. Matheson | February 1956 | |
| 766 081 | 198 980-55 00885 | | |||
| 767 036 | 198 980-55 00801 | SLR 1 | Mr. Atkins | December 1955 | |
| 767 037 | 198 980-55 00800 | ROB 2 | Mr. Rob Walker | December | |
| 767 091 | 198 980-55 00811 | RXW 25 | H. Collinson | December 1955 | |
| 767 597 | 198 980-55 00905 | YPK 808 | Barnet Instruments | March 1956 | |
| 768 137 | 198 980-65 00031 | SLE 42 | C.D. Potts | March 1956 | |
| 768 138 | 198 980-65 00040 | | |||
| 804 544 | 198 980-65 60082 | | |||
| 811 543 | 198 980-65 00103 | |
| Date | Article | Author/Source |
|---|---|---|
| 17 July 2014 | SEC Charges Seattle Firm and Owner With Misusing Client Assets for Vacation Home and Vintage Automobile | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 27 November 2015 | Classics found on the road: 1960 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster  | Parks McCants, TorqueNews |
