Mercedes-Benz Whensday: The Greatest Sports Car of the 20th Century

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing W198 Debut

For a car enthusiast, hearing the name Mercedes-Benz triggers a string of thoughts that starts with the AMG GT, transitions through other AMG models, and ends with the 300SL. There are many reasons the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing W198 fantasy still exists today, starting with its famous United States debut.

SL-Class gets redesigned again for 2017!

United States

The year is 1953. Eisenhower has just taken the oval office from Truman, The Crucibal just opened on Broadway, and the first Peter Pan hit the big screen not one month ago. European sports car importer Maximillian Hoffman gets attention from Mercedes-Benz and somehow convinces them that America needs a Mercedes-Benz sports car immediately. Less than a year later, Mercedes-Benz introduces the 300 SL Gullwing to the United States for $11,000 and the legend was born.

Roadster

In 1957, the Gullwing became the SL Roadster that we know and love today. It is basically the same as the gullwing except that the doors had to open normally due to lack of roof. Now, 60 years later, the SL-Class is one of the most sought after luxury sports cars in the world.

Most Famous Mercedes-Benz of All Time

The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing W198 debut marks one of the most famous vehicle releases in the history of the automobile. It was one of the first sports cars that was comfortable on the road and it featured a timeless design. On top of all of that, it came with a 200+ horsepower engine, which still an impressive amount of horsepower by today’s standards. Today, an authentic 300 SL Gullwing can sell for millions of dollars. Even a replica will cost you six figures!  If you want to learn more about the greatest sports car of all time, let us know! Do you have a 300 SL story? Do you think our claim is valid?