GT5 Transcripts/Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe '54

At the 1955 New York International Auto Show, Daimler-Benz announced a new type of sports car, more innovative than anything that preceded it. It was called the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The car featured a revolutionary multi-tubular space frame formed by thin steel pipes arranged at a 50-degree angle so the hood could sit as low as possible. The car possessed world-class performance, able to reach a top speed of 161 mph through a 4-speed transmission.
Despite all this technology and performance, one thing stood out above everything else. The doors of the 300 SL opened upwards, like the wings of a bird, because they were hinged to the center of the roof. The car's appearance resembled a flying seagull when viewed from the front with both doors open, so these doors came to be called "gull-wing doors."
The reason for these doors was that the side sills of the car were positioned very high due to the structure of the tubular frame. A conventional door hinged to the body would not properly fit. Although the new door style had an advantage in terms of rigidity, the side windows could not be opened, making ventilation of the cabin a problem. Also, it was also difficult to get in and out of the car, and the steering was made to tilt at the column in order to make ingress and egress somewhat easier.
Powering the vehicle was a 2996 cc SOHC inline-6 that utilized the same mechanical fuel injection system used on the W196 racing car. This was the first time for a production car. Thanks in part to this new technology, the engine produced 212 HP/5,800 rpm. The brakes consisted of drums at all four corners. Although the car was somewhat hefty for its time, weighing in at 1,295 kg, the 300 SL was one of the best performing sports cars in the world, thanks to its awesome powerplant. In fact, the 300 SL had a lucrative sports car racing career winning numerous races all over the world.
There were 1,400 300 SL gull-wing coupes built from 1955 to 1957. From 1957, the production of the coupe stopped, handing the sports car baton to a 300 SL roadster, a more conventional convertible.
==Models==
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe '54 (Premium).jpg|300 SL Coupe
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe Chrome Line.jpg|300 SL Coupe Chrome Line
Category:GT5 Transcripts