Silverstone Auctions always attracts high caliber lots that are often fought over by collectors. The up and coming event at Silverstone Classics is on home turf for the British auction house, and so it has selected a very charismatic (German) machine to headline the sale. Feast your eyes on this early 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.

Feast your eyes on this early 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.

These Gullwing models are always an impressive sight, but this car even more so due to its great condition, and status as one of the first produced. Early examples of the 300SL feature ‘full belly pans’ of which are highly sought after amongst collectors. In total, just 1400 300SLs were ever built.

This example isn’t totally original, although it wouldn’t take too much work to return it to factory specification. It was delivered new on 27th December 1954 to New York, wearing a traditional shade of Mercedes Racing Silver. However, it has subsequently been repainted Fire Engine Red and hosts a camshaft upgrade. Another alteration includes the addition of electric power steering.

The car has been well maintained by specialists over the years and comes will an extensive history file. An interesting footnote in its past is that the Mercedes was owned by former Lotus Team Manager, the late Peter Warr. He owned the car for four years from 1989 to 1993. Its current custodian has cherished the car for the past 26 years.

Far from a garage queen, this Gullwing has taken part in many European tours through Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, and Monaco. It has also competed in the Ecurie Ecosse Scottish Tour an incredible 12 times.

Nick Whale, Managing Director of Silverstone Auctions said: ‘We are privileged to offer this car fresh to market from the same private ownership as the 300SL Roadster that we sold at the Silverstone Classic in 2018.’ He continued: ‘It has clearly been loved and cherished by our enthusiastic vendor who is now ready to let the car enjoy its next chapter.’

The 1954 Mercedes-Benz Sl300 Gullwing will be auctioned at the 27 – 28 July 2019 event and has an estimate of £850,000 – £1,000,000 ($1,100,000 – $1,300,000).

Just in time for Christmas, a classic silver grey 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is now up for auction – with no reserve. Best known for the distinctive gull-wing doors and its direct fuel injection, in its day, this postwar model was the fastest production car and the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer.

This particular 300 SL had its first hime in New York with owner Ambie Collins before heading across the Atlantic in 1979 to join the Wiesenthal Collection in Vienna. The car still has its W-7990 number plate issued on February 28, 1979, making it likely to be one of the last Gullwings in the country with a black plate. The model, with matching numbers, was meticulously restored in the ’90s with thorough documentation, replacing its original checker print interior with black leather.

Take a look and place a bid on the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing at Dorotheum auction house.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Press Release:

Chassis 198 040 5500200
Motor 198 980 5500225
Aufbau 198 040 5500185

In the Wiesenthal Collection since 1979
The center piece of the collection
Matching Numbers

Mercedes watched the new World Automobile Championship in 1950 with great interest. Ultimately, the competitors from the past placed their bets on the cars from the past, and the miracle cars from those days that were gathering dust in the cellar, thought to still be able to win as they had done back then. Nobody wanted to embarrass themselves, however, so the old race cars were first tested in South America, away from the big stage. And all of a sudden, that their former dominance was shattered. A new ruling that considerably cut down cylinder capacity for Formula 1 in 1952 meant that new developments were in order. As a result, executives decided against Formula 1 and for the World Sportscar Championship. All well and good – but they did not have a car to race in that, either.

With the new 300 series Mercedes had shown the world that they were once again the people to beat in the superior class.

Its 3-litre engine had potential and could actually get up to 170 horsepower. However, the unit was heavy, which meant that the body had to be light. An aerodynamic body made of light aluminium with a drag coefficent of 0.25 was shaped around a skeleton of a spaceframe. The frame itself weighed just 50 kilos. Standard doors would have taken the stability away from the construction, but the problem was solved by giving the 300 SL race cars the characteristic that everyone remembers them for today: their gull-wing doors.

It was not long before it enjoyed success on the race track. No matter whether at the Nürburgring, Carrera Panamericana or at Le Mans, in 1952, the 300 SL won practically every race it competed in. However, retirement was announced as soon as the end of August for the ten race cars that had been built. Ultimately, Mercedes wanted to return to Formula 1 in 1954. It looked like the 300 SL’s fate was sealed before it had even properly got started. A fresh approach was taken to the situation in December. Rudolf Uhlenhaut wanted to have five cars built for 1953 – after all, there was room for improvement, especially in terms of power. Despite this, the chop came once and for all at the start of 1953. They had won everything, dominance had been sufficiently asserted, and Mercedes could confidently dispense with providing further proof.

One of the five cars for which the death knell had sounded was almost finished. This car was now the guinea pig for the Experimental Department. The aim was to make it even lighter, even more streamlined, and above all, even more powerful. While experiments with superchargers had been carried out in the previous year, now fuel injection technology was intended to provide a boost, along with increased compression and bigger inlets and outlets. Work on aircraft engines provided experience in this domain, and the 6-stample injection pump brought it up to 215 horsepower.

We have a man from Vienna, who had emigrated to New York, to thank for the fact that it did not just remain a prototype. Max Hoffmann had been importing Mercedes cars since 1952, but he offered much more than that. He was an aficionado of fast cars and had a keen sense of what the New World wanted. The success of the 300 SL had left an impression on him: the impression that a car like that could make good money.

Hoffman begged the executives in Stuttgart to produce the SL en masse, and even ordered 1,000 of them, until they gave in, in autumn 1953. The racing prototypes gave birth to a mass-produced sports car, just toned down where necessary. The SL was given bumpers, and to save money, the light alloy was dispensed with apart from for the bonnet and doors. The gear-box was returned to the front of the car, by the engine. However, the engine was the same injection-based racing unit from the prototypes. It was rocket science when compared to everything else trundling down the roads.

Mercedes unveiled the finished production 300 SL at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, along with its smaller, more civilized brother, the 190 SL. Production began in August, but the first cars stayed in Europe – so Hoffman and his New World had to be patient. Despite the eye-watering price of DM 29,000, it became a triumph. With larger numbers built from 1955 onwards, it also enjoyed success, especially in the USA, where the majority of the cars were sold.

Precisely 1,400 cars were built in just three years. 29 of them were made purely from aluminium and one had a fibreglass body. The 300 SL was continuously improved throughout the period it was produced. It had been a legend for years by the time it was replaced by the Roadster in 1957!

The 300 SL Roadster was revealed in 1957 and replaced the coupé. In terms of design, it was bang up-to-date, and in Stuttgart, they once again exploited their knowledge to the max, giving the Roadster a new rear axle to drastically improve its handling. Later, disc brakes were added, and, finally, an engine block made from aluminium. The Roadster was quite a bit more expensive than the coupé, but it was also quite a bit more successful. 1,858 of them had rolled off the assembly lines by 1963.

The 300 SL in the Wiesenthal Collection is the 200th car produced in 1955. This year saw 855 gullwings produced, the most of any production year. One reason behind this was that this was the year when supply to the USA really began in force – the country where, thanks to Max Hoffman, almost 80% were sold. This car was also sent to New York in a lightweight shipping box, along with a kilo of paint in its DB 180 silver grey. It was cloaked in this most traditional of colours, as were almost 40% of its fellow 300 SLs. Even the interior was standard, inasmuch as you can say that about a vehicle like this: L1, blue-checkered fabric and L, grey upholstery on the doors. Add-ons came in the form of instruments in English, sealed-beam headlights, bumper guards and an SWF windscreen washing system.

This is how the 300 SL arrived to greet Ambie Collins, its first owner, in Port Chester in New York State. She was followed by two more owners before this 300 SL made its way to the Wiesenthal Collection in Vienna in February 1979. It, too, crossed the Atlantic via the network of dealers in the USA. In addition to its open-topped counterpart and the 300 S, it is one of the center pieces of the collection. It still has the number plate issued to it on 28 February 1979: W-7990. This might well make it the last gullwing in the country with black plates.

The old photo in the „Einzelgenehmigung“ reveals that the SL was in good condition back then. Even prior to that, in the USA, the interior had been refreshed in black leather: the checkered fabric had not been made to survive for ever. The body was fully restored in the company’s in-house workshop in 1992 and 1993. The work is documented down to the smallest detail with invoices and numerous polaroids, and, 25 years on, its quality speaks for itself. Ultimately, the engine was also completely overhauled at the turn of the millennium. The SL cropped up at rallies time and time again in the years that followed: it successfully competed at the Alpenfahrt, Ennstal Classic and, last but not least, the Mille Miglia. The SL club meeting in Laxenburg was always a firm date in its diary. Covering 20,000 miles in almost 20 years, it has been kept as inteded to.

It will take a good while before another car can compete with this one, having spent 40 years owned by the same company. With a wonderful patina on the inside and an outstanding restoration performed on its exterior, its overall appearance is fascinating. The 300 SL has always been more than just an automobile: it is a race car that is dressed for the road, more of a piece of art than a car. Every single one is unique – and this one is even more so!

Automotive fascination and high tech of the highest order – these are the characteristics embodied by the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The super sports car boasts a purist design, consistent lightweight design, superior driving dynamics and exemplary safety.

The new super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG dazzles with its unparalleled technology package: an aluminium space-frame bodyshell with gullwing doors; an AMG 6.3-litre, front-mid V8 engine with 420 kW/571 hp peak output, 650 Nm of torque, and dry sump lubrication; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration; and sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbones. It’s a unique combination that guarantees supreme driving dynamics. The car’s ideal weight distribution between the front and rear axles (47 to 53 percent respectively), its low centre of gravity and DIN kerb weight of 1,620 kilograms emphasize the outstanding sports car concept. The Gullwing model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited). The fuel consumption of 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined) is best-in-class (all values provisional).

2010 Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing super sports car

Design: Purist, distinctive, and passionate

The purist design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG dazzles with its passionate sportiness and reinterprets the breathtaking design of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The stylistic highlight is without a doubt the gullwing doors, which impart the SLS AMG with incomparable charisma. The long bonnet, the low greenhouse positioned far back, and the short rear with the extendable rear spoiler symbolise dynamics, as do the long wheelbase, the wide track, and the large wheels. It is not just the gullwing doors that awaken reminiscences of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The wide radiator grille with the large Mercedes star, the wing-like cross fin on the bonnet and the vehicle flanks are also reminiscent of the legendary sports car.

Aviation engineering provided the inspiration to the Mercedes-Benz designers for the interior. The characteristic styling feature is the dashboard, whose powerful and dramatic wing-shape makes for an impression of width. The four prominent dashboard air vents with their adjustable, cruciform nozzles are reminiscent of a jet’s engines. The elongated centre console made of solid matt metal also takes up the plane cockpit theme. Among other things, the centre console incorporates the AMG DRIVE UNIT, which enables SLS owners to customise their vehicle set-up. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission is operated by means of the E-SELECT lever, which resembles a jet’s thrust control. Despite the low seating position typical of a sports car, the wide opening gullwing doors ensure easy entry and exit. The gullwing doors require less room to open than do conventional coupe doors and can be completely opened in standard sized garages.

Aluminium space frame for light weight and highest strength

The SLS is taking a new approach in its body concept. For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are presenting an automobile, whose chassis and body are made of aluminium. This leads to significant weight savings compared to the traditional steel construction, as shown by the car’s DIN kerb weight of only 1,620 kilograms. The newly developed aluminium space-frame bodyshell combines intelligent, lightweight design with high strength – and thus benefits the excellent handling dynamics. The aluminium space frame is 45 per cent aluminium profiles, 31 per cent aluminium panelling, 20 per cent cast aluminium and four per cent steel. The use of ultra high-tensile, hot-rolled steel in the A-pillars provides a further increase in occupant safety. The shell weighs 241 kilograms – an absolute peak value in the super sports car segment. The highest possible degree of passive safety is guaranteed for the occupants by the vehicle’s standard equipment, which includes three-point seatbelts, seat-belt tensioners, belt force limiters, and eight airbags.

Further-developed AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine with an output of 420 kW/571 hp

The heart of the SLS is a powerful eight-cylinder engine with dry sump lubrication. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 produces 420 kW/571 hp at 6,800 rpm and develops a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The SLS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h (all figures are preliminary). The SLS AMG consumes 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined, preliminary figure). Efficiency-enhancement measures include not only the LDS cylinder bore linings but also a need-based fuel delivery and the recovery of braking energy.

The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine delivers its power to the rear axle via a dual-clutch transmission permanently connected to the engine housing via a torque tube. A carbon shaft rotates at engine speed inside the torque tube. Power transfer is via the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission. This dual-clutch transmission boasts fast gear changes with no interruption of tractive force and offers four driving modes. The mechanical differential lock guarantees optimum traction.

Sophisticated chassis layout with double-wishbone suspension

All four wheels are guided on dual A-arms with track rod. The A-arms, the steering knuckles and hub carriers at the front and rear axles are made of aluminium. The Gullwing model comes with a 3-stage ESP® as standard. The AMG high-performance brake system with composite brake discs on the front axle ensures short braking distances. Even better braking performance is offered by the optional ceramic-composite brake system. Weight-optimised AMG light alloy wheels in accordance with the new, innovative flow-forming principle, 9.5 x 19 inches at the front, and 11.0 x 20 inch at the rear, are fitted with 265/35 R 19 tyres up front and 295/30 R 20 tyres at the rear.

The reinterpretation of the Gullwing model will celebrate its market launch in spring 2010. The price will be 177,310 euros (incl. 19% VAT).

New Gullwing model with purely electric high-tech drive system: The electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG concept car – the exciting future of the super sports car

Mercedes AMG is paving the way ahead. In the form of the new SLS AMG with electric drive, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars is developing an exciting super sports car with a zero-emission high-tech drive system. With this model, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are displaying their expertise in the development of alternative drive solutions for high-performance super sports cars, delivering further proof of their pioneering status in this market segment.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with electric drive transforms the vision of powerful and locally emission-free super sports cars into reality thanks to an innovative drive system. Powerful forward thrust is provided by four electric motors with a combined peak output of 392 kW and a maximum torque of 880 Nm. The four electric motors are positioned near the wheels, substantially reducing the unsprung masses compared to wheel-hub motors. One transmission per axle transmits the power. This intelligent all-wheel drive system allows dynamically optimised power transmission without any losses by means of torque vectoring – in other words the specific, targeted acceleration of individual wheels. In its first, pilot phase, the SLS AMG with electric drive incorporates a liquid-cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery of modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The 400-volt battery is charged by means of targeted regeneration during braking whilst the car is being driven.

Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds

When it comes to dynamics, the electrically driven SLS AMG delivers an unequivocal statement: The Gullwing model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds, putting it on the same high level as the SLS AMG with a 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 420 kW/571 hp.

“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just an issue of responsibility. We attach just as much importance to fascination and classic AMG performance,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Optimal weight distribution and low centre of gravity

The purely electric drive system was factored into the equation as early as the concept phase when the new Gullwing model was being developed by Mercedes-Benz and AMG. It is ideally packaged for the integration of high-performance, zero-emission technology. By way of example, the four electric motors and the two transmissions can be positioned near the wheels and very low down in the vehicle. The same applies to the modular high-current battery, whose modules are located in front of the bulkhead, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages of this solution include the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution – ideal conditions for optimum handling, which the electrically powered SLS AMG shares with its petrol-driven sister model.

Key data at a glance:

Peak output: 392 kW

Torque: 880 Nm

0-100 km/h: Approx. 4 sec.

Rated capacity: 40 Ah (at 400 V)

Energy content: 3x 16 kWh = 48 kWh

The installation of the drive components required no changes whatsoever to the Gullwing model’s aluminium space-frame bodyshell. And there were just as few constraints when it came to maintaining the excellent level of passive safety and high degree of long-distance comfort that are hallmarks of Mercedes cars.

Strategic alliance for fast electrification of the car

With the electrically powered SLS AMG, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are continuing to pursue their aim of minimizing the amount of time it will take to bring about the electrification of the car. The strategic involvement in Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG, will provide the battery technology required in future. Daimler has the leading role in this joint venture, whose mission is to develop and produce batteries and battery systems for automotive applications.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT boasts enhanced driving dynamics and even better race track performance. Developed using experience gained from racing the SLS AMG GT3, the SLS GT features a better-breathing and higher compression version of the celebrated 6.3-liter V-8, now producing 583 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. With the added power, this hand-built eight-cylinder rockets the SLS GT to 60 mph in a stunningly quick 3.6 seconds, the newly remapped AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission changing gears even faster than before.

Masculine and decidedly athletic: with darkened headlamps and tail lights as well as red-painted brake callipers, the new SLS AMG GT also features a unique look. The wing-shaped cross fins and the star recess in the radiator grille also retain a high-gloss finish, as do the exterior mirrors and the fins on the bonnet and wings. The AMG logo on the right of the boot lid also features the additional letters “GT”.

One look at the technical specifications highlights the fact that AMG has succeeded in enhancing the dynamic profile of the SLS AMG GT even further. The maximum output of the AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid-engine is 435 kW (591 hp) at 6800 rpm, while the maximum torque is 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. The SLS AMG GT accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, and can reach a speed of 200 km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The key data at a glance:

Mercedes-AMG has achieved the output of 435 kW (591 hp) through in-engine dethrottling measures in conjunction with an increase in peak pressure. The GT version of the AMG 6.3-litre eight-cylinder front mid-engine responds with even greater agility to accelerator pedal movements and excites with even sportier-tuned performance characteristics. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7‑speed sports transmission located on the rear axle is more direct and spontaneous in the manual “M” transmission mode: thanks to newly developed gear change functions and optimised transmission control, it has been possible to shorten reaction time significantly. When changing gears manually via the real metal shift paddles on the AMG Performance steering wheel, control commands right through to the noticeable gear change are executed markedly quicker than previously – all of which is ideal when striving to achieve some ambitious lap times on a closed-off race circuit.

The reaction time experienced by the driver is made even more emotional as a result of more distinct gear changes. The automatic double-declutching function when shifting down is also more pronounced in the SLS AMG GT. Due to an increase in engine torque in manual mode, the shift procedure is even quicker than previously – and is accompanied by some passionate acoustic feedback for the driver. Overall, the optimisation of the dual clutch transmission complements the sporty nature of the SLS AMG GT perfectly.

New AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension

But it is not just the AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid-engine and the optimised dual clutch transmission which are responsible for increasing the driving dynamics of the SLS AMG GT. The newly developed AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension also enhances the vehicle’s sportiness. In the case of the SLS AMG GT, Mercedes-AMG has combined the sophisticated suspension layout with twin aluminium wishbones all round and variable, electronically controlled damping. Compared with the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension, the new AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension features basically stiffer spring/damper tuning and dispenses with “Comfort” mode.

“Sport” mode is recommended as the optimum setting for undulating road surfaces and routes requiring increased suspension travel – such as found on rural roads or the legendary North Loop of the Nürburgring, for example. The control algorithm of the AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension reacts best to fluctuations in the road surface with a tendency towards lower damper force levels. The resulting effect is the best possible performance by effectively preventing rolling and pitching and providing excellent contact with the road when adopting a sporty driving style. The enhanced driving dynamics and even better race track performance are measureable: as part of an internal comparison with the SLS AMG, the SLS AMG GT was able to achieve faster lap times on a race track.

“Sport plus” provides higher damping forces and features specific control algorithms which have been adjusted for a decidedly sporty driving style on routes with a level road surface – such as when trying to achieve ambitious lap times on a race circuit such as Hockenheim.

Selection of suspension modes via the AMG DRIVE UNIT

Depending on the driving conditions, speed and vehicle load, the AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension adjusts the damping characteristics at lightning speed and automatically reduces the roll angle of the body. The two modes can be selected via a button on the AMG DRIVE UNIT. The activated suspension mode is indicated by means of indicator lamps on the button and the display in the AMG main menu.

As standard, the vehicle comes with 265/35 R 19 tyres on the front and 295/30 R 20 tyres on the rear, fitted to weight-optimised AMG forged light-alloy wheels featuring a 10-spoke design and painted in matt black and with a high-sheen finish. Three additional AMG light-alloy wheels are also available.

Interior with consistently sporty highlights

The interior too features a consistently sporty design: the SLS AMG GT combines the high-quality, exclusive ambience of a true AMG model with the functional atmosphere of a racing car. The sports seats not only have an embossed badge on the head restraints, but the centre sections are also finished in Alcantara ® . Continuing the theme, Alcantara ® is also found on the door centre panels. The black interior appointments are combined with red seat belts, plus all of the contrasting stitching on the AMG sports seats, the centre console and the door panel lining is finished in red too. The floor mats also feature red edging.

The high-gloss black AMG trim on the centre console and door panel lining perfectly matches the high-gloss black edging on the adjustable cross-shaped air vents and the high-gloss real metal insert on the AMG Performance steering wheel with flattened lower section. The grip area is finished in Alcantara®, while the upper part of the steering wheel has a red 12 o’clock marking. The AMG instrument cluster is fitted with a black faceplate – at the top it also features an upshift indicator with seven LEDs.

AMG designo Exclusive STYLE leather for all SLS AMG models

Also now available for all SLS AMG models is a new, highly exclusive optional extra in the form of AMG designo Exclusive STYLE leather. This high-quality extra is available in single or two-tone finishes and comprises distinctive upholstery with a diamond design with contrasting stitching. The lavishly finished diamond design features not only on the AMG sports seats, but also on the door centre panels.

Other highlights include a designo leather finish for the entire dashboard, the beltlines and door armrests, the handrest on the centre console, AMG floor mats in black with porcelain leather edging, roof lining in Alcantara ® porcelain, and the parcel shelf (Coupé) or roll-over bar (Roadster). Seams finished in contrasting colours create exciting highlights and underscore the high-quality, hand-finished nature of this new leather package. Available colour combinations include mocha brown/porcelain, titanium grey pearl/porcelain and mystic red/porcelain. The colours of all of the elements of the interior appointment such as the roof liner, carpet and centre console are perfectly matched to each other.

Other attractive optional extras for all SLS AMG models include (extract):

• AMG carbon-fibre exterior mirrors
• AMG carbon-fibre engine compartment cover
• AMG Interior Carbon-Fibre package (carbon-fibre trim, trim on seat backrest and side, door sill panels)
• AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system
• AMG Performance Media
• AMG 10-spoke forged wheels in other colour variants
• AMG carbon-fibre trim
• AIRSCARF (Roadster)
• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG surround sound system

The market launch of the SLS AMG GT will commence in October 2012. An overview of the pricing for Germany is as follows (incl. 19% VAT):

• SLS AMG GT 204,680 euros
• SLS AMG GT Roadster 213,010 euros
• AMG designo Exclusive STYLE leather 5771.50 euros

Six SLS AMG models

The SLS AMG Coupé presented in 2009 was the first vehicle developed independently by Mercedes-AMG. The spectacular gullwing model was followed in 2011 by the open-top SLS AMG Roadster as well as the SLS AMG GT3 customer sports racing car. Having secured 26 victories and the FIA GT3 European championship title, the SLS AMG GT3 was the most successful newcomer to the world of motorsport in 2011. With the new SLS AMG GT, available as a Coupé and Roadster, the model range has now grown to five variants. The sixth model is expected to follow in 2013 in the form of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL: Mercedes-AMG is planning an exclusive series-production run of the purely electric-driven super sports car.

The specific assembly area for the SLS AMG is located in the largest Mercedes-Benz production plant in Sindelfingen. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine comes directly from the AMG engine workshop in Affalterbach, where it is hand-assembled according to the traditional “one man, one engine” philosophy.

40 significant awards for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The SLS AMG has succeeded in winning numerous comparison tests against a host of international competitors conducted by the international specialist media – both as the gullwing model and the Roadster. Since its world premiere at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 2009 and the presentation of the SLS AMG Roadster in May 2011, the super sports car from Mercedes-AMG has picked up a total of 40 awards – including such major prizes as the “German Design Award”, the “Red Dot Design Award”, the “Golden Steering Wheel 2009”, “Classic of the Future”, “Sports Car of the Year”, “Best Performance Car” and “Legends on Wheels”.

For the past 60 years, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has represented the brand with its elegant lines, technical innovations and its speed. The SL’s success stories began with the 300 SL race car in 1952 when it began winning several international races. These victories provided the initial spark for the 300 SL Gullwing (W 198 I, built from 1954) and 190 SL (W 121, from 1955) production vehicles. Later model series of this powerhouse car – the W 113 ‘pagoda’ and the R 107, R 129 and R 230 – brought the SL-Class seamlessly into the new millennium.

The SL sports cars have always sold extremely well, particularly in terms of exports. By the end of the 1950s, the 300 SL gullwing coupé and the 190 SL roadster had already set quite a standard for international sales, although later SL models were also able to match the success of the sports car’s first generation.

The design and engineering innovations of each SL model put it at the forefront of its time. But customers have also benefited greatly in the long-term from the purchase of an SL sports car. And why? Because the models of the 1950s and later generations have long since been regarded as vintage cars of value or coveted modern classics. Mercedes-Benz Classic is committed to helping owners retain and increase the value of their cars. It still supplies genuine spare parts, for example, and sells vintage cars through its Young Classics dealership or under the Mercedes-Benz Classic banner.

The R 231 model being launched in 2012 is the latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL. The foundation for its success are 60 outstanding years of Mercedes-Benz sports car history under the Super-Leicht (super lightweight) or SL designation.

Exclusive sports cars for the world

Groundbreaking technology and international triumphs – in 1952, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W 194) appeared to pick up where the pre-war Silver Arrow had left off. And just as in those days, the success of the 300 SL brought the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer back to the attention of a motor sport-loving worldwide public. In a period which saw Germany rebuilding after the war, this proved of inestimable value to the company. There was one major difference, however, between the pre-war Grand-Prix racers and the gullwing coupés with their tubular space frames. Whereas the Silver Arrow never broke free from its racing mould, the 300 SL was reborn two years after its competition debut in the form of a breathtaking series sports car.

This Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198 I) burst onto the world stage in February 1954 at the International Motor Sports Show in New York. This luxury coupé – which shared its DNA with the internationally successful SL sports car – did, after all, emerge from a partnership between Germany and America. Mercedes-Benz’s official US importer Maximilian E. Hoffman was the man who convinced senior management in Stuttgart to build a series sports car modelled on the W 194. And so it was fitting for the W 198 I to be publicly unveiled in New York to automotive experts from all over the world, alongside a prototype of the 190 SL (W 121).

Born in Vienna in 1904 as Maximilian Edwin Hoffmann, the automotive enthusiast had previously worked as an importer in Austria in the 1920s and 1930s. Volvo saloons were among the cars that his company sold. Hoffmann, son of a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, emigrated to France in the late 1930s. To escape the Nazis, he fled France for the United States of America in 1941, where he re-established himself as an automotive importer after the Second World War. In 1947, he opened his first showroom on New York’s Park Avenue and had his last name anglicised to Hoffman.

From 1951 onwards, Hoffman sold Mercedes-Benz cars as well. The exclusive German automotive brand matched not only the ethos of his business, but also his personality. A New York Times retrospective described the automotive dealer as follows: “Hoffman was compared to the legendary art dealer of the early 20th century for his ability to captivate clients with his salesmanship, superb taste and forceful personality.”

On top of all this, Hoffman had a keen nose for trends. This made itself felt in September 1952, when he secured the contract to become the official importer of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars for the eastern United States – a sales territory that later expanded to cover the west coast as well. Crucially, Hoffman did not restrict himself to merely selling Mercedes-Benz cars in America. His influence on the Stuttgart-based company was much more direct than that; most notably, he demanded that they offer sporty, good-looking cars.

In September 1953, at a meeting with the board of directors of what was then Daimler-Benz AG, he pressed for the introduction of new sports cars. Hoffman correctly judged the market for such an extraordinary series sports car as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, but even in 1954 he would still much rather have been selling the open-top roadster version. This followed in 1957 in the form of the 300 SL Roadster (W 198 II).

The new sports car was an immediate success, particularly in the USA. Within 17 months, 996 gullwings had been sold, of which 850 went to the USA. That was 85 percent of all the models produced in 1954 and 1955. The US export ratio did level off afterwards, but it remained impressive. Up to 1963, Mercedes-Benz exported more than half of its 300 SL W 198 models to the USA, exactly 51 percent of all the 1,400 coupés and 1,858 roadsters that were produced. The export ratio for all international markets put together was 86 percent.

Even before the launch in New York, there was a sense at Mercedes-Benz that this exceptional sports cars had huge potential to be a style icon. In February 1954, Friedrich Nallinger and Rudolf Uhlenhaut registered a design patent for the gullwing on behalf of Daimler-Benz AG. In December 1955, the United States Patent Office published the relevant document (design number 176,278), which protected “the ornamental design for an automobile, substantially as shown and described herein”. The patent serves both as the birth certificate of the Mercedes-Benz’s SL series sports cars and as and as evidence of the designers’ awareness that this pioneering vehicle was truly original.

Introduced in prototype form in 1954 and built as a production vehicle from 1955, the 190 SL became just as captivating a symbol of the sporty motoring ethos of Mercedes-Benz as the 300 SL coupé – the car from which the designers borrowed so heavily. From 1955 onwards, almost 80 per cent of the 25,881 vehicles produced were exported, and nearly 40 percent of all 190 SL models were sold in the USA. 1956 is thought to be a record year: from January to December, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 3,109 passenger cars in the United States – and no fewer than 1,849 of these were SL 190 sports cars, almost 60 percent of the company’s entire US exports for the year.

The manner in which the SL sports car – from a standing start – established itself as a sought-after automobile for sporty and style-conscious drivers in key export markets was instrumental in Mercedes-Benz’s success. Most important of all, of course, were sales to customers in the USA and other foreign markets, which generated huge revenues from cars in the upper range of the Mercedes-Benz price list. In addition, the SL sports car conveyed the image of a modern automotive brand whose vehicles united a sporty aesthetic with groundbreaking technology. Millionaires, actors, artists – it was often celebrities who proudly turned out in their 300 SLs and other Mercedes-Benz cars, raising the profile of the brand in the public eye.

This international success was reflected time and time again in the exceptionally high export ratios of the various SL model series. For some vehicle generations, four out of every five cars went abroad. And – as remained the case down the decades – the biggest market for them was almost always the USA.

It was no different for the W 113, which appeared in spring 1963 as the replacement for the 300 SL Roadster and 190 SL. The designers and engineers at Mercedes Benz struck a delicate balance to position the car, which became known as the ‘pagoda’ because of its distinctive, slightly concave hardtop, between the high-performance 300 SL Roadster sports car and its ‘baby brother’, the 190 SL. The result was a luxurious, two-seater tourer boasting great performance and optimum handling safety. Nearly 70 percent of all pagodas were exported; once again, this model sold best in the USA (40 percent of the entire production).

For the W 113, Mercedes-Benz responded to the specific demands of the export markets through specific modifications. Customers in the United States ordered far more cars with automatic transmission, air conditioning and whitewall tyres than their counterparts in Europe. The USA even supplied the name for a special version of the Mercedes-Benz roadster – the ‘California Coupé’, which had two fold-down seats instead of the soft top. This edition could only be driven open-top or hard-top.

The 107 series roadster, made between 1971 and 1989, has the highest US export rate of any SL model to date: 62 percent of all cars in this series went to the United States and almost four fifths of the 237,287 vehicles produced in total were exported. Mercedes-Benz developed a low-compression version of the 350 SL solely for export to North America, which had a 143 kW (195 bhp) 4.5 litre V8 engine adapted to meet US legislation regulating exhaust emissions. In April 1973, both versions of the 107 series, the roadster and the coupé, were introduced to other markets as well in the 4.5 litre V8 format, which now had an output of 165 kW (225 bhp).

Another special edition for North America, Japan and Australia arrived in 1985 in the form of the 560 SL, whose 5.6 litre V8 engine delivered 170 kW (230 bhp). It was sold in these markets instead of the 500 SL. This spectacular sports car had the same V8 engine as the 500 SL but with an extended stroke.

Modifications of this kind were necessary to meet the strict regulations on emission reductions in the USA. The bulky rubber bumpers, introduced in 1974, were also a byproduct of North American legislation. In the case of the SL R 107, this protection against collision was around 20 centimetres thick. Together with the modified headlamps of the export version, this gave the US model series a highly distinctive look.

The R 129 SL Roadsters gave a whole new meaning to the term ‘special model’. For the first time, the company produced exclusive editions for specific markets instead of merely adapting the cars to meet the legal requirements and aesthetic preferences of the export countries. This included, of course, the ’40th Anniversary Roadster Edition’ of the SL 320 and SL 500, released in the US market in 1997. Producing 750 vehicles in total, Mercedes-Benz commemorated the launch of the 300 SL Roadster (W 198 I) in 1957. The ‘Silver Arrow Edition USA’, made in 2001, comprised 1,515 vehicles in the SL 500 and SL 600 formats.

But the focus was not exclusively on the USA. There were special versions for the UK and Japanese markets as well, such as the one-off ‘designo MB UK’ series (150 cars) and ‘designo MB Japan’ (67 cars), and the ‘designo-Vintage Edition UK’ and ‘designo-Heritage Edition UK’ (49 cars each). As in North America, Mercedes-Benz sold the R 129 in the UK market as a final one-off series limited to 100 vehicles – the ‘Silver Arrow Edition UK’.

The R 230 series, the first SL Roadster with a steel vario roof, appeared in the summer of 2001. By October 2011, almost 170,000 of these sports cars had been sold. And with an export ratio of 78 percent (USA: 45 percent), this vehicle generation was an international bestseller in the great SL tradition. For both the R 230 and the R 129, there were few special models with modified engines. Although developed for the European market, the models had long since fulfilled the strict emissions standards of North America and other export markets as well. Nevertheless, there were still subtle differences between the US versions and the series models for Europe. The European SL 500, for example, was not renamed after being given a facelift in 2006, even though its M 113 5-litre V8 engine had been replaced by a 5.5 litre equivalent. In North America, the sports car’s cubic capacity increased by 10 percent (engine output rose as well from 225 kW/306 bhp to 285 kW/388 bhp), and its new name was worn proudly on the boot lid – the SL 550.

In 2012, a new SL in the R 231 series arrived on the market. Sports cars enthusiasts around the world heralded the latest generation of a legend that had been established 60 years earlier by the 300 SL racing car.

“Better than shares”: The SL as a classic car and long-term investment

The strong values of the SL-Class apply not only to Mercedes-Benz’s current sports cars generation, but also to the veterans of the series. Within a short time after production had ended, the iconic 300 SL was thought of by many as the ultimate dream car – so it was only fitting that in 1999 it was voted sportscar of the century by an expert panel of judges.

But also the 190 SL, the W 113 ‘pagodas’ and the R 107 and R 129 SL Roadster have long been sought-after as vintage cars or modern classics. The timeless appeal of these extraordinary sports cars is reflected not only in the passion that they inspire in people, but also in how much they retain their value. In November 2011, Motor Klassik magazine described certain classic cars as being “better than shares”. Included in this category is, of course, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL gullwing. Examples of this model series in good condition have grown in value by 171 percent since 2001.

This is not a flash in the pan, but a long-term trend. And on this basis, experts at Mercedes-Benz Classic believe that prices will continue to rise for well-looked-after SL classics. The January 2012 edition of Motor Klassik magazine gave the following piece of advice to potential buyers of the 300 SL, series W 198 I: “For most classic car fans, owning a gullwing coupé will remain a dream. Top-of-the-line models reach prices of more than one million euros at auction.”

The classic car magazine also took a close look at the other SL models. Its top performers were cars that offer “something for all tastes” (R 107) because of the many different types that were made, and those that are regarded as “future classics” (R 129). But for a classic sports car to retain its value – and this is the crucial point – it must be maintained to an adequate standard.

In this respect, Mercedes-Benz Classic lends its help to owners both of vintage SL sports cars and modern classics. The outstanding availability of spare parts, including the central star on the radiator grill of the 1950s 300 SL, is securing the future of these vehicles as mobile museum pieces. Mercedes-Benz Classic provides knowledgeable, expert advice to owners of classic cars. But this is about more than just providing a service. It also helps to preserve a special chapter in the story of automotive engineering.

Since the 300 SL gullwing and the 190 SL made their debuts, the SL series sports cars have consistently set standards in terms of technical excellence and aesthetics. Top engineering innovations include the direct injection in the W 198, the safety bodyshell of the ‘pagoda’ and the pop-up roll bar of the R 129. And as a style icon that moves with the times, the sports car can still be seen today at international classic car rallies, in films and in prestigious collections all over the world.

Designed originally as a racing car in 1952, the SL became a production model in 1954 and met the world as a 300 SL Gullwing.  Even the very first SL’s offered powerful sportiness, exciting design, effortlessly superior style, technical innovations and the ultimate in engineering artistry, offerings that can still be found in today’s Mercedes SL after 60 years.

The unique combination of systematic sportiness, refined luxury and yet unrestricted suitability for everyday use at the same time is what makes the Mercedes-Benz SL the dream car it is – and it is also what lies behind its success where sales are concerned. The SL was always ahead of its time technically – even when it was rolling off the production line for 18 years at a time, as was the case with the SL bearing the internal code R 107 (from 1971 to 1989). Over 650,000 SL vehicles have left the production halls in Sindelfingen and Bremen since 1954, and from the last model generation alone – which celebrated its premiere in 2001 – nearly 170,000 specimens found their way into the hearts of the enthusiasts amongst fans of high-calibre sports cars.

The new generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL now being presented is the sixth generation model to follow the 1952 racing car. In the unique tradition of the SL it is entering its era as an athlete, refined aesthete and innovative trendsetter with an extraordinarily high utility value. Mercedes-Benz is initially offering the new SL with two engines – as the SL 350 with a V6 engine and as the SL 500 with a V8. The new BlueDIRECT engines have an output of 225 kW (306 hp) in the SL 350 and 320 kW (435 hp) in the SL 500 (a 12-percent increase over the predecessor).

Moreover, the new SL breathes new life into the meaning of the famous abbreviation “SL” – super-light – through systematic weight reduction. For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz is implementing an all-aluminium bodyshell in series production. The newly developed vehicle weights approximately 110 kilograms less than a comparable bodyshell made of sheet steel. Nevertheless it is even more rigid – and safer – than its predecessor. Mercedes-Benz has achieved this through a systematic intelligent material mix of aluminium alloys and aluminium components which are tailor-made for the respective requirements, combined with just a few portions of high-strength steel and magnesium.

Although the new SL is even more comfortable and has more safety devices on board than its predecessor and therefore does actually sacrifice some of the weight saved through the aluminium bodyshell, the scales show some astonishing figures: the new SL 500 (3,935 lbs) weighs around 275 lbs less than its predecessor. On balance, the SL 350 (3,715 lbs) is 308 lbs lighter – all thanks to a host of other intelligent enhanced details to reduce weight, which Mercedes-Benz has also implemented in the new SL in addition to the aluminium bodyshell.

And these measurement results do not just impress as figures on the page; they are very much perceptible and tangible in practice, too. The resulting increase in longitudinal and lateral dynamics facilitates superb performance with a decided passion for cornering. The greater track width at both the front (+ 38 mm) and rear (+ 77 mm) axle serves the handling which is at once sporty and agile and keeps the car under safe control. Drivers will find the new SL even more agile than its predecessor – sheer pleasure for those of a sporty orientation.

There are two suspension variants from which to choose. The SL is supplied as standard with semi-active adjustable damping (lowered by ten millimetres in the AMG sports package). The active suspension system ABC (Active Body Control) is available as an optional extra. Unique the world over, it has been enhanced especially for the new SL.

In keeping with the Mercedes-Benz tradition, the new SL couples its sharpened athletic profile and agile nimbleness with a luxurious ambience. Its high-quality equipment and appointments contribute to the exquisite motoring pleasure that can be experienced every kilometre of the way. Fine materials, finished with great attention to detail, shape its style and character. The levels of comfort here – unique in the segment of luxury sports cars – blend with high everyday practicality, for the new SL shines with top marks where open-top motoring, suspension comfort and comfort on long journeys are concerned – plus its exemplarily low background noise, which is comparable with that of a saloon. This all adds up to the fact that this vehicle is a Gran Turismo in the very best sense of the word.

The safest and the most sparing

Thanks to the crash-optimised aluminium structure, standard-fit PRE-SAFE® and assistance systems on the same high level as the S-Class, the SL is the world’s safest roadster.

What’s more, it is the most frugal one in its class. The SL 350 consumes 6.9 litres over 100 kilometres, which is virtually 30 percent less than its predecessor (CO2 159 g/km). The SL 500, too, posts a persuasive set of efficiency figures: 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres (minus 22%) correspond to 212g/km CO2.

The design, meanwhile, displays all the classic proportions so characteristic of the SL. Right from the first glance the masculine-looking roadster with a broad tail end is immediately identifiable as a member of the current family of sports cars from Mercedes-Benz. It emphasises its autonomy through a multitude of details created with loving care.

The sixth generation of the SL also offers a vario-roof that can be retracted into the boot using an electrohydraulic mechanism to save space, converting the SL into a roadster or a coupé, depending on the driver’s wishes and the weather. Unlike its predecessor, three versions are available for the new SL: painted, with a glass roof or with the unique panoramic vario-roof featuring MAGIC SKY CONTROL. The transparent roof switches to light or dark at the push of a button. When light it is virtually transparent, offering an open-air experience even in cold weather. In its dark state the roof provides welcome shade and prevents the interior from heating up in bright sunlight.

MAGIC VISION CONTROL is a new intelligent, high-efficiency windscreen wiper/washer system. Its system of channels supplies water to the windscreen just in front of the laser-cut wiper blade lip. As a result, when spraying, there are no gushes of water on the windscreen to disrupt visibility, and yet the windscreen is kept clean.

Also unique, the Frontbass system uses the free spaces in the aluminium structures in front of the footwell for housing the bass loudspeakers. As a result, the new SL features clear, crisp bass sounds that facilitate a concert hall ambience even with the top down.

Both innovations are part of the extensive standard equipment of the new SL.

Back in 2010, Wheelsandmore produced a tuning kit for the Mercedes SLS AMG, improving on the standard 571 horsepower up to a whopping 624hp and 690lb of torque with a top speed is electronically limited at 202 mph.  Today, Wheelsandmore outdid themselves with their release of the Mercedes SLS AMG “Silver Wing”.

Focusing on the most important piece of the tuning program, the engine upgrade, the tuner is offering remapped electronics and a stainless steel exhaust system with removable valve flaps that is able to increase the output from 571 horsepower to 635 horsepower. The tuner also added an ultralight aluminum full race coilover with adjustable rebound and compression.

As for the exterior, the Wheelsandmore tuner offers matte black with copper colored race stripes, individualized 6Sporz wheel-set with handcrafted 3-piece forged rims sizing 9.5×20 and 11.0×21 inches and super-sticky, ultra high performance 265/30/20 and 295/25/21 Continental Sport Contact tires.

Gooding & Company, known for selling some high end, amazing cars, recently helped sell a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, which is only one of 29 that was built with an aluminum alloy body.

It is  no stretch to say that a standard Mercedes 300SL Gullwing prices will be over a million dollars, however this 1955 matching-numbers Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was expected to sell between $2,500,000 and $3,000,000 because of the rarity of the alloy body. The final bid came in at $4.2 million, and with auction fees, the final selling price of the 300SL Gullwing was a whopping $4.62 million.  A record price for this car.

Information from Gooding & Company on the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is below.

“[The 300 SL Coupe] is the ultimate in an all-around sports car. It combines more desirable features in one streamlined package than we ever imagined or hoped would be possible”
–Road & Track Editors, 1955

If not for US importer Max Hoffman and his passion for a sports coupe based on the highly successful W194 series race cars, the Mercedes-Benz immortal 300 SL line would never have come to production.

The racing success of the factory team was having a positive effect on Mercedes-Benz sales in the US. However, without a car clearly related to the race-winning machines, the marketing advantage of the immensely costly racing effort was limited. Accordingly, Mercedes-Benz management approved the 300 SL project after Mr. Hoffman’s firm made a commitment to purchase 1,000 of the cars for US distribution.

Integral to the marketing plan for the groundbreaking new sports car was the expectation that the cars would be used for competition by private owners in order to bolster sales in the showrooms, and the factory ensured that the 300 SL was accepted by the FIA for international competition.

As a result, the production Gullwing could be ordered with an all-aluminum body. When chosen, many additional competition upgrades followed suit. A competition camshaft was fitted along with stiffer, shorter springs that lowered the car and enhanced peak performance, while racing-specification tires on wider rims promoted better adhesion. Plexiglass windows and vented brake drums were also featured in the package. The cars were nearly 200 pounds lighter than the standard steel-bodied version. In all, just 29 of these aluminum-bodied cars were ordered and built – approximately 2% of the total Gullwing production.

This Car

Derived for sport, this aluminum Gullwing did not see competitive use. Completed on April 20, 1955, 5500208 was appropriately finished in metallic silver gray over a blue leather interior. The 300 SL was also outfitted with Rudge wheels, the NSL motor and Plexiglas windows per aluminum-build specifications.

On May 27, 1955, the Alloy Gullwing was sent to Rotterdam where it was loaded aboard a Holland America Line ship for transport to New York. Upon arrival, the Mercedes-Benz distributor sent 5500208 to the West Coast for ultimate delivery to Veron Holz of Bonita, California. The new aluminum-bodied Gullwing would have been an extravagant machine on the roads of San Diego in the late 1950s.

Although the early history of this Gullwing is not known, there is no apparent race record for 5500208. In March 1980, the 300 SL resurfaced in San Diego and was sold through a motorcar locator to Hans Dieter Blatzheim of Bonn, Germany. The purchase price was an astonishing $57,000 for an unrestored car, which the seller most likely assumed was steel. The invoice for the purchase still exists, indicating the alloy chassis number 198.043.5500208.

In need of some attention, the Alloy Gullwing made its way to the well-known restoration shop Hill & Vaughn in Santa Monica, California. Phil Hill and Ken Vaughn had gained a reputation for their high-quality restorations and were frequent winners at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Disassembly of the car began in April 1980, and the car is accompanied by a significant file of numerous invoices and photographs documenting the work performed by Hill & Vaughn.

The invoices identify the completeness of 5500208, as well as its solid state, which was no doubt a benefit of having spent 25 years in Southern California. Some necessary aluminum work was addressed and the meticulous fitting of the doors, hood and deck lid are thoroughly outlined. Additionally, the engine and gearbox were sent to AMG Motorbau in Germany for rebuilding. Subsequently returned to Hill & Vaughn in early 1982, the project was nearing completion. By mid-year, the car was ready for paint and assembly.

For unknown reasons, Herr Blatzheim requested that 5500208 be packed in a sea container and sent to Germany. The car was loaded and loose parts were thoroughly inventoried before shipment in November 1982.

The completion of the restoration was conducted in Germany, but not before the body was stripped and prepared again for paint. Photos dated October 1983 show the bare aluminum skin in outstanding condition, proving straight and showing good panel fit. Further photo documentation shows the restoration and assembly of the chassis and completion of the car in silver with gray leather.

In May 1984, the 5500208 was sold to Markus Ahr of Germany. During his ownership, work was performed by Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft including a rebuild of the engine. Herr Ahr kept the car well into the 1990s, at which time work was performed by Kienle Automobiltechnik. Photo documentation shows a rebuild of the transmission, rear end, brakes and suspension. Retaining the silver-over-gray finish, detail work was conducted on gauges and other ancillary components and the project was completed in 1998. Not long after, the Alloy Gullwing was sold to Friedhelm Loh, a noted German collector with a passion for significant Mercedes-Benz.

In 2009, Ken McBride of Seattle, Washington, was given the opportunity to buy 5500208. Having had a handful of Gullwings, Mr. McBride appreciated the importance of an Alloy and, for the first time in his many years of collecting, had the chance to own one. Although his collection was significantly diverse, Mr. McBride had always focused on Mercedes-Benz and had acquired a 540 K Special Coupe, a 540 K Cabriolet A and eventually a 380 K Erdmann & Rossi Special Roadster.

After some serious thought, and perhaps a little family persuasion, the Alloy Gullwing was bought for the collection. In the company of a J Duesenberg Murphy Roadster, a Ferrari 410 Superamerica and other significant cars, the 300 SL was more than a notable entry, it was a dream come true for a man who had an Alloy Gullwing high on a short list of cars to own.

In late 2009, Mr. McBride fell ill and the newly acquired Mercedes-Benz took a back seat. At that time, the Gullwing was sent to noted 300 SL restorer Rudi Koniczek at Rudi & Co. for some necessary sorting. Mr. McBride wanted certain aspects of the car corrected, predominantly the shade of silver and the interior. In the months to come, the Alloy Gullwing was stripped to bare metal and repainted in its original silver (DB 180). Necessary body work was conducted and a methodical process was undertaken to ensure proper assembly and fit of the aluminum body. The gray leather interior was removed and the correct blue leather was installed. Some additional mechanical work was conducted, as well as detailing of various components. One deviation from the original was the addition of seat cushions upholstered in plaid, acknowledging the lightweight car’s racing alter ego – they are a marvelous touch.

In mid-2011, Mr. Koniczek had finished the restoration but, sadly, Mr. McBride passed away before he could see the final masterpiece. The result was truly spectacular! Shortly after, Mr. McBride’s wife Patty and the rest of the McBride family chose to show the Alloy Gullwing at the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance where it rightfully won its class.

The finish of the 300 SL is of the highest level and the car retains a very correct appearance. With a livery that is a tasteful yet bold statement, the quality of the work and attention to detail is obvious and further inspection reveals the purity of this Alloy Gullwing. The original engine remains, correctly stamped NSL, and the body number can be found stamped on the left wheel arch in the engine compartment. Additionally, the Gullwing has belly pans, its chrome Rudge wheels are original, the luggage is properly finished in natural pig skin, the Becker radio is correct, the grille has the proper “curved star” – the list goes on.

Furthermore, this Alloy Gullwing is accompanied by a tool kit, a knock-off hammer, a jack, comprehensive documentation, the Mercedes-Benz Certificate, an owner’s manual, an instruction manual, a spare parts catalogue, a service book and Becker radio manuals.

5500208 is a sensation to drive. Its road manners are what one would expect from any beautifully engineered motorcar. The true excitement, however, is when this supercar comes on cam. With abundant power and torque, and precise gearshift, this Gullwing is simply addictive.

In recent years, these ultra-rare, competition- specification cars have come to be recognized by collectors and enthusiasts for what they have always been – truly the best of the best. They are a tiny group of factory-built, lightweight racers, constructed with the express intention of increasing the public visibility of one of the greatest sports cars ever constructed.

Gullwings are routinely acknowledged as favorites in a collection of any size. They are prized for their magnificent engineering and build quality, purity of design and outstanding driving experience. Aluminum-bodied examples – all 29 of which have survived to this day – are very seldom offered for sale.

As one of the most iconic motorcars of all time, it can easily be said that the Alloy Gullwing is the most significant road-going Mercedes-Benz of the post-war era.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3  super sports cars driven by the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon Team and HEICO Motorsport placed 1-2-3 in the Dubai 24-hour race that took place January 12-14, 2012.. The Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team claimed victory with drivers Thomas Jäger (GER), Sean Edwards (ENG), Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED) and Khaled Al Qubaisi (UAE). After setting a new distance record of 628 race laps, final driver Al Qubaisi drove the Gullwing with starting number 3 across the finish line. This first place was also the maiden victory for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in a 24-hour race.

The first of HEICO Motorsport’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3’s came home second, two laps down. Driving duties in the car with starting number 6 were shared by Maximilian Buhk (GER), Christiaan Frankenhout (NED), Max Nilsson (SWE), Andreas Zuber (AUT) and Bernd Schneider (GER). Schneider, the five times’ DTM champion and AMG brand ambassador, drove in both of HEICO Motorsport’s cars as a part of AMG’s Customer Sports driver support programme. In the team’s sister car with starting number 16, he had been entered to partner Kenneth Heyer (GER), Andreas Simonsen (SWE) and Rodolfo Gonzalez (VEN). In a dramatic finish, final driver Simonsen managed to bring a small margin home to round out the clean sweep of the podium by finishing third.

The fourth of the four SLS AMG GT3s that were entered for the race also finished among the front-runners. The Gravity Charouz Racing team with Vincent Radermecker (BEL), Loris de Sordi (BEL), Eric Lux (LUX), Gerard Lopez (ESP) and Tomas Enge (CZE) was classified seventh to complete the good overall performance for the Gullwing cars.

All four Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s put their mark on the Dubai 24-hour race by showing a commanding performance from the very beginning. In the field of the 72 cars, the Gullwings were among the fastest entries right away. Having started from 15th place on the grid, the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 moved up into the lead for the first time after two hours. Consistently fast lap times also allowed the other Gullwings to move up quickly into the ranks of the front-runners as well.

During the night, the teams from the AMG Customer Sports programme continued their largely trouble-free run on the 5.39 km long Grand Prix circuit, maintaining their fast lap times and partly alternating in the lead. After one third of the race, the Gullwing with starting number 3 finally took over the lead and held on to it until it crossed the finish line.

Thomas Jäger: “This is an optimal result for the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team. It shows in an impressive way how performant and reliable the SLS AMG GT3 is. The driver changes went perfectly and, admittedly, we also had the necessary bit of luck: we didn’t get involved in any collisions, which isn’t self-evident with so many cars on such a short track. I want to thank the entire team for a great performance.”

Marc Schramm, managing director Black Falcon: “We came to Dubai to win. That is what we have said prior to the race and we lived up to it thanks to a strong team performance. As usual, the focus of our strategy was on consistency and that worked out in a fantastic way. Of course, I am also happy with having covered a new record distance of 628 laps. Thanks to the entire team and, of course, also to Mercedes-AMG and HWA for the support.”

Bernd Schneider: “During the night, we had a minor problem, that’s why we stood in the pits for a couple of minutes. Had it not been for that, it could even have been slightly better. To be honest, I now feel a little bit knocked out after having raced with both cars, but the success more than makes up for this. After all, finishing second and third at the same time doesn’t happen every day. Congratulations also to the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team for this well-deserved race win.”

Ola Källenius, chairman of the board, Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “This is a great success! Especially considering that the participation in Dubai was only the fifth 24-hour race for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Today’s clean sweep of the top three is a great reward for our efforts. I sincerely want to thank our customer teams, drivers and everyone involved. I am looking for a great 2012 motor racing season!”

Most successful newcomer in the 2011 motor sport season

This year’s Dubai 24-hour race marks the beginning of the second racing season for the SLS AMG GT3. In its debut year of 2011, the Gullwing became probably the most successful newcomer in the 2011 motorsport season: from March 2011 on 40 race cars were delivered to international customer teams that took part in races on four continents and won a total of 25 races. The success story was crowned by the team title of the FIA GT3 European Championship for HEICO Motorsport and its two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – the first title for the Gullwing in its first full racing season.

The race car: performance and safety

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 is the racing version of the SLS AMG for the customer sport. It is designed for sprint and endurance races and is developed and produced by Mercedes-AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. HWA is responsible for the development and deployment of the AMG-Mercedes DTM racing team on behalf of and in constant consultation with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. The near-production SLS AMG GT3 provides not only an athletic performance but an exemplary level of safety that is unmatched by any other current GT3 car.

Drive anywhere in a Mercedes SLS AMG and regardless of the color, you are sure to get noticed. Now, drive that same SLS AMG wrapped in amazingly bright candy fuchsia foil from FibraFoil and you will not only get noticed, you will likely stop traffic and perhaps even cause others severe neck pain as the strain to watch you speed by.

Unfortunately, for those of you hoping to catch a glimpse of the completely indiscreet purple Mercedes SLS AMG in the US, you will be disappointed as this foiled beauty is in Dubai.

In 1955, the Mercedes-Benz built two coupé versions of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racing sports car. They were specifically designed for long-distance races, to provide somewhat more comfortable conditions for the driver than in the open version. Externally, the car looked similar to the 300 SLR, but with purebred Formula 1 technology under the bonnet.

Unfortunately these super cars of their time did not find their way into any customers’ hands, but one fortunate individual was able to enjoy the attributes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR: its designer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. On the cancellation of the sixth Carrera Panamericana race in 1955, in which the coupé was to be used for the first time, and since Daimler-Benz AG withdrew from racing at the end of that season, Uhlenhaut was allowed to drive one when travelling on business – and he made extensive use of this privilege. Accordingly, the car has become known as the “Uhlenhaut Coupé”.

Now, three German friends Armin Ciesielski, Peter Brakel and Walter Willer have decided to recreate one of the greatest car ever scrapped by Mercedes – and they decided to build it out of scrap.

In order to pay their respects to the 300 SLR, the group from Giganten aus Stahl, Giants of Steel, meticulously chose over ten-thousand pieces of metal for the sculpture.

“The Uhlenhaut is a really special Mercedes and we wanted to make a replica.” said Armin

“It took me and my friends seven months of hard work to perfect and we used more than 10,000 pieces of metal.

“The car was a very difficult model to make because of all the intricate details and we made the engine look identical to the original. It weighs nearly 1,000kg.”

It is believed that if either of the models were sold today, they would pull in bids in the tens of millions and easily become the most expensive car in history. As for the scrap metal Mercedes-Benz 300 SL sculpture, Armin is selling it for a mere £60,000.

The Black Falcon was the best of the four Mercedes-AMG customer teams with the near-production SLS AMG GT3 in the 24h race at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. After a full 24 hours, Kenneth Heyer/Thomas Jäger/Stéphane Lémeret finished third, a mere 10 laps behind the winners. After a total race distance of 545 laps and 2,371 miles, this is a gap of only 43 miles. British twins David and Godfrey Jones, both 58 years old, also underlined the excellent performance of the gullwing car, improving by 19 positions against strong competition and coming home seventh together with their “junior” partner Mike Jordan, 53.

After the 24h race over the legendary Nürburgring five weeks ago, this was another highlight of the Mercedes-AMG customer sports program. Seven gullwing cars based on the production Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG which had all been entered by private teams had started the race twice around the clock on Saturday at 4:00 pm. Graff Racing with Phillippe Haezebrouck/Massimo Vignali/Mike Parisy/Gilles Vennelet were the fastest qualifiers with the gullwing car in ninth place.

The podium finish of the Black Falcon car with starting number 35 was also a nice anniversary of the first success of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. 40 years ago, Kenneth’s father Hans surprisingly drove that touring car to a class victory and second place overall in the 24h race at Spa which was the car’s first outing. The Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 was coloured in the same red and had the same starting number.

Thomas Jäger: “We are very happy about our podium finish today after such a demanding race. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is not only one of the most beautiful, but also one of the most challenging circuits in the world. After a few incidents in the beginning, we drove a consistent race. Performance and reliability of the SLS AMG GT3 were the keys to today’s success. This is good also for the other three gullwing cars which saw the flag – they all improved significantly from the respective grid positions.” – In the course of the best possible support of Mercedes-AMG for their customer teams, test driver Thomas Jäger is racing alternately for the teams.

The results of the Mercedes-AMG customer teams in detail:

Black Falcon, start no. 35, Kenneth Heyer/Thomas Jäger/Stéphane Lémeret: 19th on the grid. Despite a few smaller incidents during the opening stages, the car improved continuously with consistent and fast lap times and finished the race on the podium in third position.

Team Preci-Spark, start no. 90, David Jones/Godfrey Jones/Mike Jordan: Grid position 26. The British twins with their partner moved up 19 positions and came home seventh, ending up second in the Pro-Am class. The Jones brothers’ car was the first SLS AMG GT3 which had been delieved to customers in March.

Black Falcon, start no. 38, Andrii Lebed/Bret Curtis/Peter van der Kolk/Jeroen van der Heuve: Grid position 40. The second Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 finished the race in 12th place.

KRK-Racing Team Holland, start no. 16, Raf Vanthoor/Marius Ritkes/Bernhard van Oranje/Dennis Retera: No ranking in qualifying following an accident. After repairing the gullwing car, the Belgian team moved up from the back of the field to 16th at the chequered flag.

Graff Racing, start no. 55, Phillippe Haezebrouck/Massimo Vignali/Mike Parisy/Gilles Vennelet: Ninth on the grid and best gullwing car in qualifying. They retired after 367 laps.

Graff Racing, start no. 54, Olivier Panis/Eric Debard/Grégoire Demoustier/Nicolas Lapierre: 18th in qualifying. The team with former Formula One and McLaren Mercedes test driver Olivier Panis stopped after 364 laps.

KRK-Racing Team Holland, start no. 15, Mike Hezemenas/Anthony Kumpen/Koen Wauters: Position 12 in Qualifying. The faster of the two KRK SLS AMG GT3s retired after 151 laps due to an accident.

On July 30, 2011 the private team Black Falcon will be at the starting line of the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The Mercedes Gullwing with start number 35 has been given the same look as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG that Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz drove when they achieved a class victory and second place at the race overall in 1971. Kenneth Heyer, Hans Heyer’s son, will be among the drivers of the SLS AMG GT3. In total, the Belgian long-distance race will see a total of seven gull-wings competeing.

The 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps is one of the classic events in the international long-distance racing calendar. The race was first held in 1924, and until 1978 the 14.8-kilometre course was used. Since 1979 the race has been held on the shorter, 7.0-kilometre course. This tradition-laden circuit in the Belgian Ardennes is the favourite racetrack of many drivers. 70 cars have been entered in this year’s 24-hour race, which comes under the FIA’s GT3 and GT4 rules. 250 drivers will be competing. The race starts at 4 p.m. on 30 July 2011.

During the 24-hour race this very special gullwing car will be driven by Kenneth Heyer (31, Wegberg), Thomas Jäger (34, Munich) and Stéphane Lémeret (37, Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac, Belgium). Kenneth Heyer has been an active racing driver since 2000, and on this 40th anniversary he is following in the footsteps of his father Hans Heyer, who achieved the sensational 1971 success for AMG with his team colleague Clemens Schickentanz on the same racetrack.

Kenneth Heyer: “It’s a great honour, exactly 40 years after my father’s success, for me to be bringing the Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 to the starting line of the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps. Together with my team colleagues, I will be trying to achieve at least second place. The car will no doubt attract plenty of attention in the line-up with its look reminiscent of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, but naturally the focus will be on a good racing performance. The SLS AMG GT3 has the potential for a place on the winner’s rostrum, but as we all know, a 24-hour race obeys laws of its own.”

Hans Heyer: “40 years after our class victory and second overall place, I think it is a great idea to enter the Spa-Francorchamps race with the SLS AMG GT3 in the same look as “my” 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. Naturally I wish the Black Falcon team and my son Kenneth every success – and will be delighted if he wins at least second place!”

Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “This project of entering an SLS AMG GT3 in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps with the same look as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG of 1971 deserves a round of applause. I wish Kenneth Heyer, his team colleagues and the Black Falcon customer team every success. Naturally we at Mercedes-AMG also have our fingers firmly crossed for the other private teams who are competing in the race with the SLS AMG GT3. The customer sport programme for the gull-wing, which commenced in 2010, has made a good start, and the SLS AMG GT3 has immediately shown itself to be a racing car with great potential. To date we have sold 35 examples to private teams all over the world.”

Hans Werner Aufrecht, founder of AMG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at HWA AG: “For me this project is an outstanding example of how passionate commitment to motorsports can manifest itself. It is also impressive to see how AMG has developed 40 years after our second place in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps in 1971. I have my fingers crossed for Kenneth Heyer, and of course also the other teams who will at the starting line with the SLS AMG GT3.”

In addition to Black Falcon with start number 35, six more SLS AMG GT3s will be competing in Spa-Francorchamps. The teams and drivers are as follows:

• Koen Wauters (B)/Anthony Kumpen (B)/Mike Hezemans (NL), start number 15, KRK Racing Team Holland (Belgium). The driver duo Kumpen/Hezemans won the 24-hour race in 2009.

• Raf Vanthoor (B)/Marius Ritskes (NL)/Bernhard Van Oranje (NL)/Dennis Retra (NL), start number 16, KRK-Racing Team Holland (Belgium)

• Kenneth Heyer (D)/Thomas Jäger (D)/Stéphane Lémeret (B), start number 35, Black Falcon (Germany)

• David Jones (GB)/Godfrey Jones (GB)/Mike Jordan (GB), start number 90, Preci Spark team (Great Britain)

• Andrii Lebed (UA)/Bret Curtis (USA)/Peter van de Kolk (NL)/Jeroen van de Heuvel (NL), start number 46, Black Falcon (Germany)

• Olivier Panis (F)/Nicolas Lapierre (F)/Eric Debard (F)/Grégoire Demoustier (F), start number 54, Graff Racing (France)

• Philippe Haezebrouck (F)/Massimo Vignali (I)/Gilles Vannelet (F)/Mike Parisy (F), start number 55, Graff Racing (France)

Three show cars commemorate the historic 1971 success

AMG will commemorate the 1971 success with three show cars in the driver’s paddock in Spa-Francorchamps: the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, the SLS AMG GT3 and, as an attraction, also the S 63 AMG “Thirty Five”. Right down to details, this high-performance saloon is modelled on the historic racing touring car of 1971, but under the bonnet is the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo with direct petrol injection, spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors, which was introduced in 2010. In standard configuration in the S 63 AMG, this AMG powerpack develops up to 420 kW (571 hp) and is regarded as the most efficient engine in its segment.

Historic second place for AMG in 1971

In 1971 the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps was the first race that AMG, founded in 1967, had ever entered. Alternating behind the wheel of the AMG touring car were the two experienced drivers Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz. AMG was anything but the favourite in this classic Belgian long-distance race: mighty opponents at the time included the Ford Capri RS, BMW 2800 CS, Chevrolet Camaro, Opel Commodore and Alfa Romeo GTA. Nobody expected the large saloon from provincial Affalterbach in Swabia to hold its own against the well-established teams.

Surprising 5th place in the starting lineup for AMG

However, the red four-door saloon already demonstrated its potential in training, when Clemens Schickentanz delivered a surprise with the fifth-fastest training time. Nobody at AMG had expected 5th starting position in a field of 60 cars. 80,000 spectators were intrigued by the fast, red saloon with the long wheelbase – which was incidentally also the only Mercedes in the race. Pole position was occupied by the favourite, the Chevrolet Camaro driven by Ivo Grauls and Peter Hoffmann, followed by the Alpina-BMW 2800 CS of Niki Lauda/Gérard Larousse and next to it the first works Ford Capri with Dieter Glemser and Alex Soler-Roig plus the Schnitzer-BMW 2800 CS driven by Rauno Aaltonen and Helmut Kelleners. A total of 60 racing touring cars raced against the stopwatch on the then still 14.1-kilometre long course in the Ardennes, with illustrious names such as Hans-Joachim-Stuck, Jochen Mass, Toine Hezemans, Willy Kauhsen, Achim Warmbold and Rainer Braun behind the wheel.

On the first lap Hans Heyer, who was first to take the wheel of the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, was able to position himself in third place right behind the Ford Capri (Glemser/Soler-Roig) and the Chevrolet Camaro (Grauls/Hoffmann). After a dramatic race which included a sudden rainstorm at midnight and numerous contestants withdrawing, the “35” crossed the finishing line in second place directly behind the works Capri driven by Glemser/Soler-Roig. In 24 hours the AMG saloon had absolved precisely 308 laps. Technical problems? None whatsoever. An absolute sensation.

Contrasts: 265 km/h and exotic wood trim in the cockpit

Hans Heyer has fond memories of this race: “We knew we could win, but the others didn’t know it yet!” The AMG saloon was unbeatable on the straight, but the braking system substantially adopted from the series production car was slightly underpowered for the weight of the car (1635 kilograms). “But on the old Spa course the brake discs had plenty of time to cool down, and nobody could catch us on the long straights,” the now 68 year-old reminisces. With a top speed of 265 km/h the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG was tailor-made for the fast Belgian circuit. The atmosphere in the interior was luxurious, with standard features such a power steering, air suspension, carpets, door panelling and a dashboard with exotic wood trim. The spectators lining the track loved this large car with its thrilling V8 sound. “The outsider quickly became the absolute darling of the public,” says Hans Heyer.

Luxury: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 as the basis for a racing car

The AMG racing saloon was technically based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. With an output of 184 kW (250 hp) at 4000 rpm and a top speed of 220 km/h, this saloon was Germany’s fastest series-production car in its day. It was not only an increase in the overall displacement from 6330 to 6835 cc that raised the output to 315 kW (428 hp) at 5500 rpm and torque from 500 to 608 newton metres. AMG co-founder Erhard Melcher “tweaked” the eight-cylinder engine using classic methods: Precision-honed camshafts and modified rocker arms, lightweight connecting rods, new Mahle pistons, larger intake valves, modified combustion chambers, polished intake and exhaust ducts, a new intake tract with two throttle flaps and a racing exhaust system ensured an improved gasflow and allowed higher engine speeds. Durability was improved by installing an auxiliary oil cooler and a finely balanced crankshaft.

The wheel arches were flared to make room for the lightweight 10 x 15 and 12 x 15-inch magnesium wheels adopted from a C 111 test car. Aluminium doors helped to reduce weight from the original 1830 to 1635 kilograms. Larger control arms at the front axle, a more robust rear axle with a reinforced differential and smaller air suspension bellows with a harder setup made the saloon fit for the racetrack.

German TV news reports on the sensational achievement

The unexpected class victory and second overall place in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps made AMG, founded in 1967, a household name overnight – and marked the start of an impressive success story. Even the German television news reported on this surprise achievement. “It was certainly a sensation at the time,” AMG founder Hans Werner Aufrecht remembers. The courage shown by Aufrecht and his partner Melcher in entering a modified luxury saloon for this classic 24-hour race paid off in full.

On 11 and 12 September 1971 the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG subsequently competed in the 2×6-hour Paul Ricard race, accompanied by a privately entered 300 SEL 6.3 with an AMG engine. Now repainted in yellow, the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG took part in the pre-trials for the Le Mans 24-hour race in March 1972, but was not at the starting line for the race itself in June. However it competed in the 24-hour race in Nürburgring in June 1972, and in the Nuremberg 200-mile race held at Norisring on 6 August 1972. Here Hans Heyer achieved victory with the four-door saloon – once again painted red – in the “Series and special touring cars above 2000 cc” class.

The 300 SEL 6.8 AMG was not to enjoy any further successes: a change in the race rules by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) put an end to its career, as only cars with an overall displacement of up to five litres were now allowed for the European Touring Car Trophy. AMG sold its racing saloon to the French conglomerate Matra, where it was converted for high-speed tests on aircraft tyres. Its subsequent fate is unknown. In spring 2006 Mercedes-AMG built a replica of the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG based on the original documentation, so that this unique success story would live on.

The Gull Wing Group is celebrating its 50 year milestone and is partnering with Mercedes-Benz USA to recreate one of the group’s most famous photos taken in 1961 at Fort Point Park overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Fort Point was built by U.S. Army Engineers during the peak of the Gold Rush between 1853 and 1861, as a defense system to protect San Francisco against naval attack. The fort stands at the base of the 4,200 foot long Golden Gate Bridge, towering 746 feet high. Though Fort Point never faced battle, the structure signifies close to 150 years of military history and architecture.

In honor of the Gull Wing Group’s milestone, Mercedes-Benz USA is donating 125 scholarships to provide children with the opportunity to participate in the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s unique summer educational programs designed to accentuate personal responsibility and initiative, and encourage children to pursue preservation in the future of America’s national parks.

“The Gull Wing vehicle represents Mercedes-Benz leadership in style, design and performance and this anniversary allows us a moment to celebrate the history of that legacy created over fifty years ago.” said Steve Cannon, Vice President of Marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA. “As we look back, we also have to look to the future and that was our intention with the donation to provide San Francisco kids with the opportunity to attend summer camp through the Recreation and Parks Department program.”

Founded in San Francisco, California on June 16, 1961 The Gull Wing Group, led by Ernie Spitzer, was comprised of eighteen 300 SL Coupe owners. Currently over 600 driving enthusiasts dedicated to sharing their knowledge and enjoyment of the 300 SL belong to the Group. On June 10, 2011 – almost 50 years after an original photo was taken to mark the beginning of the Gull Wing Group’s existence – close to 100 members comprised of 24 Gull Wings and 14 Roadsters, are recreating the image by revisiting the very same spot in Fort Point Park, a National Historic Site run by the U.S. National Park Service.

“Donation such as this one helps San Francisco Recreation and Parks to fulfill its mission of providing enriching recreational activities to all San Franciscans.” said Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s General Manager. “Our scholarships serve more than 2, 000 San Francisco children and families every year.”

With only 1400 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gull Wings” produced from 1954-1957, it is one of the most sought after collectible vehicles around the world. Known for its iconic “Gull Wing” doors and fascinating design, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was technologically years ahead of its time with components such as a direction injection system. In 2011, Mercedes-Benz introduced the SLS AMG, a car inspired by the 1954 300 SL and in the same vein as the orginal, ushered in a new era of supercar leadership.

The history of Mercedes-Benz stretches beyond the Gull Wing Group and this year it is celebrating 125 years of innovation and the anniversary of Carl Benz 1886 patent three-wheel motorwagen with rear-mounted engine, which laid the foundation for motorized transportation that changed the world as we know it today.

FAB Design showed off their version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG last month at the Geneva Motor. At the show, Fab Design had the SLS AMG covered in light-blue, after which the SLS tuner was spotted in a showroom in Dubai.

Today, the distinctly tuned SLS AMG released the official details on the car, dubbing it the SLS AMG Gullstream.

The Swiss tuner from Hunzenschwill installed a body kit that consists of a front bumper with vertically positioned daylight running lights, widened fenders that flow seamlessly into the sides skirts and then back up into the widened quarter panels. The rear bumper now comes with larger vents and has a diffuser that supports lip spoiler made of carbon fiber. Fab Design developed a stainless steel sports exhaust system with an integrated valve control and four classic round pipes, a pair on each side. On the roof there’s a non-functional air scoop.

Power output has also been raised from the SLS AMG’s standard 563 bhp to 607 bhp together with 690 Nm at 4600 rpm. The new SLS AMG Gullstream does a sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 3.6 seconds and manges a topspeed of 202 mph (325 km/h).

The German tuners at Kicherer have been busy as they have today revealed yet another aftermarket program for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, called the 63 Supersport GT. Kicherer’s version of the SLS AMG is powered by the factory engine, that’s been upgraded to about 630 PS (464 kW), 700 Nm torque. The Kicherer Mercedes SLS 63 Supersport GT can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 198.8 mph (320 km/h).

Kicherer’s 63 Supersport GT exterior aerodynamics package for the Mercedes SLS AMG offers a more aggressive look and feel than its prior version. It includes a massive new front grille, carbon fiber front fins and it’s completely covered in matte black foil.

Kicherer’s new Mercedes SLS AMG can be lowered up to 30 mm with the push of a button, this ability is owed to the unique height adjustable suspension kit with lift-up function developed by Stockach. The Kicherer 63 Supersport GT also features stainless steel damper sport exhaust system with dynamic pressure regulation and anew tailpipes.

The Kicherer Mercedes SLS AMG 63 Supersport GT is seated on 20 inch front rims and 21 inch rear light alloy rims.

Kicherer describes the SLS 63 Supersport GT like this: “And as often as we see the SLS on Germany’s streets in the meantime, the super sports car of AMG seems to sell like hot cakes. Exactly for this reason, specialist KICHERER also upgrades and presents a comprehensive finishing programme. “

The SLS AMG GT3 will shortly be embarking on its first racing season, when Saturday, 2 April 2011 sees the start of the new VLN season (Nürburgring Endurance Championships). Six customer teams will be competing on the North Loop with the racing version of the gull-wing model. The SLS AMG GT3 is perfectly prepared for use on the racetrack, as its safety concept transfers the exemplary safety level of Mercedes-Benz on‑road models to the racetrack. Extensive, sophisticated crash tests and trials have confirmed these high standards.

Compliance with the stringent safety standards of Mercedes-Benz was a central consideration for the SLS AMG GT3. The development focus was on the greatest possible protection for the driver in the event of an accident. Accordingly its construction creates outstandingly favourable conditions in this respect – both in terms of the structural safety of the aluminium spaceframe, direct protection of the driver against impact loads and fire protection.

One prominent feature in the interior of the SLS AMG GT3 is the bucket seat, which is positioned within a safety cell of high-strength CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced plastic) as in the DTM cars from Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to its special shape the safety cell, which is bolted to the rollover cage and the aluminium spaceframe, provides considerably higher protection for the driver’s shoulders, hips and legs. It is also compatible with the HANS system (Head and Neck Support). The HANS system helps to prevent serious head, neck and spinal injuries, and is mandatory in many race series. The bucket seat is individually foam-contoured for each driver, features a six-point seat belt with reinforced anchorages and provides occupant protection to the highest level.

Additional protection is ensured by the rollover cage of high-strength steel, which is bolted to the aluminium spaceframe and gives this further rigidity. The 120-litre CFRP safety fuel tank is located directly over the rear axle for optimal crash protection, and features an elastic inner fuel bladder.

Crash verification tests at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center

The exemplary safety standard of the SLS AMG GT3 was verified with the help of numerous crash tests at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center in Sindelfingen – where the passive safety features of all series-production AMG and Mercedes-Benz models are also developed and tested. Such extensive and sophisticated crash tests were previously unprecedented in the GT3 segment.

The safety specialists carried out three crash tests and a static test with the racing version of the gull-wing model: a front, side and rear impact plus a roof deformation test. All the test configurations were specifically chosen to reflect typical racetrack accident situations as closely as possible.

The frontal impact simulated a collision with a wall, such as might occur in the pit lane or – as may typically happen on urban circuits – with the side barrier marking the course. The vehicle impacted the rigid test barrier at an angle of 30 degrees. During this oblique impact only the left side member of the aluminium spaceframe collided, which placed greater stresses on the bodyshell structure. The impact speed was 50 km/h.

In the side impact test the SLS AMG GT3 was rammed by an identical car of the same model at an angle of 90 degrees, and exactly at door height. The impact speed was 50 km/h.

In the rear collision test the gull-wing was likewise struck by a rigid barrier at 50 km/h, with 100% overlap.

The static roof deformation test simulated the loads that may occur during a rollover. In this cased a ram impacted the so-called A-pillar node with a precisely defined force. The rollover cage beneath the roof skin is of high-strength steel, and after the test it practically returned to its original shape.

The results underline the exemplary safety standard of the SLS AMG GT3: during every crash and impact test the driver’s survival space was maintained, which confirms the rigidity of the vehicle structure. Moreover, the measured loads acting on the GT3 driver were all below the biomechanical limits considered to be critical.

Automatic release of the roof hinges

Like every series-production SLS AMG, the GT3 version is equipped with four pyrotechnical elements on the hinges of the gull-wing doors. These allow a rapid exit for the driver, or fast access by emergency personnel, should the vehicle be lying on its roof after an accident. They are activated by the driver, using a switch on the centre console. Should he be incapable of doing this himself, the emergency personnel are able to pull on a ring easily located on the lower edge of the windscreen and marked “Emergency Exit”. The four pyrotechnical elements are then triggered, and release two roof hinges retaining each of the two gull-wing doors. When the interior door catch or external door handle is operated, the driver is able to exit or receive emergency care.

In addition the SLS AMG GT3 has polycarbonate side windows which can be easily removed by the driver or emergency personnel after an accident. The crash-protected location of the battery next to the centre tunnel, as well as the interior and exterior switches cutting off the power circuit, further demonstrate the efforts made for the greatest possible protection of the SLS AMG GT3’s driver.

Fire-extinguishing tests in the engine compartment and interior

The driver of the SLS AMG GT3 is also well protected in the event of a fire, with flame-retardant material and an effective fire extinguisher system preventing or putting out fires in the engine compartment and interior. Using a switch on the centre console and a ring attached to the windscreen, the system can be activated by the driver or by emergency personnel. To ensure the greatest possible effectiveness of the fire extinguisher system, sophisticated and realistic tests were carried out by the research department for fire protection equipment at the Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe.

All the tests conducted by the Mercedes Benz safety specialists are more stringent by far than those prescribed for racing cars by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). As a result, the SLS AMG GT3 achieves an exemplary level of safety that is at present probably unmatched by any other GT3 car.

Eight SLS AMG GT3s competing in the first VLN race on 2 April 2011

The eight SLS AMG GT3s taking part in the first race of the VLN season have been entered exclusively by private teams. At the 58th ADAC Westphalia race on Saturday, 2 April 2011, Black Falcon will take part with three cars while Mamerow Racing, Heico Motorsport, Horn Motorsport, ROWE RACING and Race & Events GmbH will be at the starting line with one gull-wing each. Training begins at 8:30 a.m., and the race starts at 12:00 noon. During the development and test programme the SLS AMG GT3 already demonstrated its potential: with one victory and one third place in the VLN races held in autumn 2010, the Black Falcon and Mamerow Racing teams were immediately able to establish themselves among the top GT3 contenders.

The ten races of the new season will be held exclusively on the North Loop of the Nürburgring and the short link to the Grand Prix circuit. The VLN Nürburgring Endurance Championship has been held since 1977, and is seen as Europe’s most successful broad-based motorsport series. It has created a loyal following for itself with a wide variety of competitors, easily accessible paddocks and low entry prices. The colourful lineup, with different vehicle models ranging from near-series compact cars to recent classics and right up to thoroughbred super-sports cars, guarantees fast-changing and exciting races. Depending on the event, more than 190 racing cars can be at the starting line. The races take between four and six hours.

All the VLN races at a glance:

2 April 2011: 58th ADAC Westphalia race

30 April 2011: 36th DMV 4-hour race

14 May 2011: 42nd Adenauer ADAC Circuit Trophy

28 May 2011: 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R Cup

11 June 2011: 51st ADAC Reinoldus endurance race

30 July 2011: 34th RCM DMV Grenzland race

27 August 2011: ADAC Ruhr Trophy six-hour race

24 September 2011: 43rd ADAC Barbarossa Prize

15 October 2011: 35th DMV 250-mile race

29 October 2011: 36th DMV Münsterland Trophy

10 December 2011: VLN annual prizegiving

Following the successful conclusion of the development and test program, deliveries of the SLS AMG GT3 to customer teams are moving forward as planned. A total of 31 orders have been received for the 2011 racing season, and all the vehicles will be in the hands of the customers by early July. During configuration runs on the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet (France), the teams and racing drivers were able to familiarise themselves with the racing version of the gull-wing model and commence their setup work for the 2011 motor sport season. Bernd Schneider, five-time DTM Champion for Mercedes-Benz, and Thomas Jäger, also a Mercedes-Benz DTM driver from 2000 to 2003, were on hand together with the AMG Customer Sports Team to provide knowledgeable support.

“This year the SLS AMG GT3 will appear in numerous national and international race series. All our AMG personnel are looking forward to this immensely,” says Ola Källenius, General Manager of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “With the SLS AMG GT3, AMG is once again demonstrating its enormous experience from more than 40 years of motorsport, and its great expertise in the development of unique high-performance cars.”

The focus of the configuration runs in Le Castellet was not only on different suspension and aerodynamic setups, as the engineers and technicians also had the opportunity to practice pitstops and tyre-changes by way of intensive preparation for the 2011 motorsport season. And it was not only technical aspects that were important during the two-day event in Le Castellet, as an attractive media and PR package was also presented for the customer teams and drivers. Professional photographers and film teams produced extensive material which will be freely available to the teams during the 2011 season.

Backup by the AMG Customer Sports Team during the season

The AMG Customer Sports Team will also give support to the customer teams on matters of servicing and replacement parts within Europe. This support concept for the 2011 motorsport season envisages comprehensive backup during the ADAC GT Masters, the Nürburgring VLN Endurance Championship, the FIA GT3 European Championship and the 24-hour races at Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). A 24-hour parts service and a technical hotline will be provided for all other racing events and test runs. As the AMG customer sports coordinator, Thomas Jäger will support the teams and provide a central point of contact for all organisational and technical matters.

Expert support from Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger

During the rollout event in Le Castellet organised by Mercedes-AMG, record-holding DTM Champion Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger were on hand to give advice and assistance to the teams. Schneider and Jäger have absolved the entire development and test programme for the SLS AMG GT3, and took part in four races with it in autumn 2010 and January 2011. With one victory and two third places, the racing version of the gull-wing model amply demonstrated its potential.

In 2011 a total of 16 customer teams from 8 nations will be at the starting lines with the SLS AMG GT3:

• Black Falcon (Germany)
• Eurotech Racing (Great Britain)
• G-Private Racing (Germany)
• Graff Racing (France)
• Gravity Charouz Racing (Czech Republic)
• Heico Motorsport (Germany)
• Horn Motorsport (Germany)
• Mamerow Racing (Germany)
• MS RACING (Germany)
• Petronas Syntium Team (Malaysia)
• Preci-Spark (Great Britain)
• Race & Event GmbH (Germany)
• ROWE RACING (Germany)
• Sports & You (Portugal)
• Viage KRK Racing (Belgium)
• Vodka O Racing (Australia)

Well-known drivers in the racing gull-wing will include Kenneth Heyer (Wegberg, 31, Black Falcon), Lance David Arnold (Duisburg, 24, Heico Motorsport), Olivier Panis (France, 44, Graff Racing), Jarek Janis (Czech Republic, 27, Gravity Charouz Racing) and Anthony Kumpen (Belgium, 32, Viage KRK Racing).

In 2011 the SLS AMG GT3 will compete in 14 different race series conducted under FIA GT3 rules in 8 countries, and the race calendar also includes three prestigious 24-hour races.

• ADAC GT Masters (Germany)
• Nürburgring VLN Endurance Championship (Germany)
• Nürburgring 24-hour race (Germany)
• Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race (Belgium)
• Silverstone 24-hour race (Great Britain)
• FIA GT3 European Championship
• GT3 Endurance Series
• British GT Masters (Great Britain)
• Britcar GT Championship (Great Britain)
• FFSA GT Series (France)
• Czech Endurance Championship
• Belcar (Belgium)
• Spanish and Portuguese GT Championship
• Australian GT Championship

The racing version of the SLS AMG is developed and produced by AMG in close collaboration with HWA AG. The HWA team is one of the most successful in international motorsport, as witness 10 driver’s titles in the DTM and ITC, as well as two FIA GT Championship titles. No other brand has won as many DTM races and DTM titles as AMG-Mercedes.

The SLS AMG GT3 is built by HWA AG, while its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine is produced in the AMG custom shop. Both the car and engine are assembled completely by hand.

The Brabus 700 Biturbo, based on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, was officially revealed Tuesday at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

To fit the Mercedes SLS V8 engine, the German tuner’s engineers have created their own twin-turbo system that achieves an output of 700 PS (514 kW / 690 bhp) and 850 Nm (626 lb-ft) of torque. The B63 bi-turbo system features a left-turning charger attached to the left side of the engine, as opposed to the more common right-charging, right-side fitted twin-turbochargers. Improved gas flow and dynamics are the result of this style of fitting.

Brabus created an ultra-light titanium exhaust system in house that features four slanted tailpipes that are 84 mm in diameter. In addition to new tailpipes, Brabus provides an inter-cooling system, performance exhaust manifold, sport air filter system, offers an ECU remap and forged its own fitted pistons that reduce the compression ratio to 9.0:1.

Final performance figures have the tuned SLS hitting 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.2 seconds and offers a respectable top speed of 340 km/h (213 mph).

Brabus adds a wide-body kit (WIDESTAR) that widens the SLS 20 mm at the rear axle and gives a sportier look and feel. A new front spoiler, rear spoiler lip and rear diffuser are added in addition to the blue illuminated gills at the front fender.

To put even more emphasis on the wedge shape of the SLS AMG Gullwing, the Brabus Monoblock F “PLATINUM EDITION” wheels are mounted in 9.5J x 20-inch rims, with 275/30 ZR 20 tires on the front axle, and 11J x 21-inch covered by 295/25 ZR 21 tires on the back. Tires are either Pirelli or Yokohama.

Custom-tailored interiors have been a specialty of Brabus for more than three decades and Brabus livedup to their name on the Mercedes SLS interior. The Brabus upholstery shop crafts individual, exclusive interiors in any desired leather or Alcantara color for the SLS, offering a completely customizable look. There is also a new sport steering wheel, a 400 km/h (250 mph) speedometer, matte or shining carbon-fiber trims as well as matte anodized aluminum pedals and foot rest.

Tuesday marks the start of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and it wouldn’t be right to cover the show without highlighting Swiss Tuner extraordinaire Mansory’s work on the SLS AMG.  While at first glance the styling is more reminiscent of a Ferrari 599 than a Merc, we can assure you that the car in the photos is indeed the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The custom carbon Cormeum Mercedes SLS AMG will be limited to a production of a mere 15 cars, and it will offer drivers 600 HP with a future possibility of 800 HP.

The Mansory Cormeum leaves few reminders of the Mercedes SLS AMG. The sports car manufactured in Affalterbach is only the basis for the latest development of the automobile manufacturer Mansory Design & Holding GmbH situated in Brand near Bayreuth. 660 hp and 90 kg less weight are only two unique selling points of this exceptional automobile which can only be obtained in a limited edition of 15 cars. At first glance, the striking design created by its owner and head designer Kourosh Mansory can easily be discerned. Also the name was picked personally by Kourosh Mansory: An aria was already the source of his inspiration for the refined Bugatti Veyron (Vincerò) and this time this is the aria Vide Cor meum.

In order to meet the increased requirements of the sports car when it comes to light weight and torsional stiffness, Kourosh Mansory’s team optimises almost the entire car body and also exchanges the roof and the wing doors with ultra-light own developments. A Mansory front skirt replaces the serial bumper and due to its well-engineered shape it reduces the uplifting forces at the front axle. Larger air inlets in connection with a new LED light unit provide the two-seater with an even more dynamic face.

Additionally, the new front skirt supplies the enlarged cooler with more fresh air and subsequently propels the air out of the new bonnet. Mansory also replaces the front and rear mudguards with broader newly designed light-weight parts. Therefore, the Cormeum extends by 66 millimetres at the front axle and impressive 84 millimetres at the rear axle. Mansory side skirts make the two-seater look even lower and longer and perfectly enhance the rims. The rear has also been significantly redesigned by the aerodynamic specialists. The apron has been exchanged and a race diffuser renders additional downforce. A rear spoiler with carbon flaps completes the aerodynamic overall package.

The extended wheel houses of the Mansory Cormeum are filled with exclusive forged wheels with central locking. They measure 9×20 inches with 265/30er tyres at the front and 11×21 inches with 295/25er tyres at the rear axle. The tyres are provided by Mansory’s partner Michelin. Due to new springs and dampers, the Cormeum’ s centre of gravity is 20 mm lower than the basic model and therefore additionally emphasises the exclusive rims.

The core part of the engine modification is the adjustment of high-performance compressors. Also a sports air filter and a sports exhaust system made of stainless steel are fitted. These components are adjusted to each other with the help of a new map for engine electronics. With a top performance of 660 hp / 485 kW and a maximum torque of 4,850 r.p.m., the Mansory engine exactly meets the wishes of its ambitious motor sports clientele. Another performance increase up to 800 hp is already tested.

As usual, Mansory turns the interior into a highly functional control centre with unsurpassable quality and innovative design. Only most exquisite materials are used for the interior design and therefore render a high level of comfort. The leather which is processed with masterly skill is very endurable and still extraordinarily soft. The characteristic natural product with its special grain and the masterly perfected decorative stitches render an extravagant impression around the newly designed centre console. Another highlight is the newly developed full size airbag sports steering wheel. The aluminium pedals and the real carbon applications complete the luxurious overall impression of the Cormeum.