Page 15 - IFV Issue 4_ 2024

Estate News

First direct-injection petrol The Mercedes-Benz 300SL the cockpit that is narrow relative to the
engine roadster wings of the car. A distinctive feature
The 3,0-litre straight-six overhead By 1956, sales of the Gullwing coupé of the 300SL is the use of “eyebrows”
camshaft engine was the first had tapered off and Mercedes released above the wheel arches, said to deflect
production engine in the world to the 300SL roadster version in 1957. It rain away from the windscreen.
feature direct petrol injection, nearly featured the same mechanical layout In total, some 1 400 Gullwing coupés
half a century before this practise as the coupé, but the side sections and 1 858 roadsters were built between
became popular in today’s production of the chassis frame were modified 1954 and 1963.
cars. The engine was rated at 179 kW, to accept conventional doors. Most
and canted over to one side to achieve roadsters featured leather interiors Famous owners of the
the famous low SL bonnet line. Also to contrast with the beautiful ivory of car include Sophia
helping achieve that low bonnet line the steering wheel, gear lever knob
was a dry-sump lubrication system. and stainless steel dashboard insert. A Loren, Pablo Picasso,
Depending on the rear axle ratio, hard top option was added soon after Clark Gable, Bernie
the top speed of the SL ranged production began. Ecclestone, Hugh
between 235 and 263 km/h, making it A striking feature of both the coupé
the fastest production car in the world and roadster is the small frontal area Heffner and Paul
in the mid-1950s. achieved by the low bonnet line and Newman.

The Villager • Issue 4 2024 • 13