I am thrilled to have found this video because I remember riding in it as a kid! My dad, Bill Fleming, was the 2nd owner of this beauty. He bought it from Briggs C. in 1955 and sold it in 1959. I had to laugh when Dennis Nicotra said it wasn't the kind of car you'd take to the grocery store because that's exactly where my mom took it.
Hi Kathryn, Thank you for that comment! This is a great link we would love to hear more about. If possible could you shoot an email to info@historicvehicle.org so we could learn more about your dad’s history with the car?
Fantastic story. Thanks for putting it together, and really, just a huge thanks to Mercedes Benz for being a car company that is still not only very proud of their heritage and their classics, but they actively support them. In late '91 I began working as a tech at a local German independent that specialized in Porsche. The owner drove the '68 W108 (black, red interior, metal sliding roof, 4 on the floor) that his father had purchased from the factory back when you could travel to Germany, tour of the factory, pick up your car and drive it around Europe on vacation, and then they would ship it to you in the US. The car was still in as new, garage kept condition. After borrowing it for a weekend trip with a girlfriend, I had to have one. In Mar '92 I purchased a '66 W111 Coupe, with sunroof and 4 on the floor and the love affair continues to this day. We had a customer with a 300SL Roadster, and I was able to do a pre-show inspection on that car, and then drive it to the show. I have never been so nervous in my life, but my heart was also pounding because I was driving a 300SL with such incredible history and value.
Having worked on a few of these cars as a apprentice/ journeyman, No roll down side window, they were stationary with a small vent wing. When we road tested the car my journeyman and i, it would get a little warm in the car. Thank you for the videos, it is great to see the car in detail, especially the tubular frame and the engine designed in a slant, mechanical fuel injection and overhead camshaft. A folding steering wheel and lots knobs and switches 😊 the undercarriage was completely covered from front to rear, as many modern cars have. At 82 l do remember getting kicked in the butt for doing something wrong, I got even with him by turning his toolbox upside down and I refused to clean his tools. That didn’t get me anywhere either. Sorry for the rant. It was fun.
Awesome car! Fascinating history. I've never seen one in person. I've seen pictures of them, both the "gullwing" coupe and the convertible. But I've never seen one up close and in person. Hopefully that'll happen. :)
Fastest car in the world in 1954 (150 MPH), faster even than any Ferrari. Handling was tricky with that swing axle rear end. Caused severe oversteer if you lifted off the throttle hard whilst cornering at speed. Low pivot swing arm suspension fitted to all subsequent M-Bs largely cured the problem. Big drum brakes that suffered from fade after hard use. Used running gear & many parts from sedan range. Interesting fact: Studebaker dealer in USA wanted a 300SL, but wanted it as a kit so that he could enjoy the experience of building his own car. Unfortunately, he died before starting the build. His family put it away in storage & sold it years later. Lucky buyer assembled the kit & subsequently became the owner of the only totally unused new 300SL with essentially zero miles on the odometer. Found in Classic & Sports Car magazine.
Hand fitted doors! That must be why you can get any part for the 300 except doors. In early 60`s I got a ride in one and it was great. I drove a 190 for around 100 miles. No race car, but great quality and handled very nice.
Did you know that Bosch dug deep in its engineering archives in order to find the perfect fuel injection system for the 300 SL? They did- they essentially minutialized the fuel injection system of another Daimler-Benz engine: the DB 601 aircraft piston engine, famous for powering among other planes, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter of World War 2.
I love the invoice price of $ 7,229 from Hoffman. Of course no one knew then!! A rich mans car even in 1954. My car was parked next to a red '55 Gull Wing at a show a few years ago. I didn't win an award, but the crowd was good---looking at the first place Gull Wing of course.
Funny thing is that Mercedes didn't plan to have these doors on the car.......... It was purely for racing homologation. The car needed 2 doors to open and the space frame didn't allow normal doors since not even the smallest drivers would fit in there. Don't think the early models could where as fast as the mechanical injection ones. These where the hyper cars of it's day with a top speed of 160 mph.
really lucky I owned 2 of. them 1958, 1960..bought them in the early 70s one was 16,000 the other $20 grade the second someone took the body plans off and they were gone.. they were great. they m had pexligas windows..and at about 100 mph the windows were ready to pop out.. I think it was ed juraris who brought in about 1000 cars..
"...parts were made of magnesium....rare material..." Well...no. Magnasium was not a rare material, it was in fact more readily available than aluminum at that time. Just in case you didn't know: Volkswagen made all of their gearbox housings and crankcases for the beetle of magnesium.
@@jpkatz1435 compared with the SLR is a bargain. Alloy 300sl don't get that high one or two might, but they are a bit less. SLR is not even available on private hands.
It doesn't get any better! I would rather have the regular doors though. Climbing in and out of shit gets old quick. Jag Es are also tough to get in and out of. The gull doors have fixed windows with a tiny vent. The regular 300sl roadster is the same car but with regular doors and rolling windows and a rag or removable hard top. Much more practical imo. But they sure are beautiful and very special.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Roc Steady (feat. Flo Milli) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HozPPyqW0dY/mqdefault.jpg)
I am thrilled to have found this video because I remember riding in it as a kid! My dad, Bill Fleming, was the 2nd owner of this beauty. He bought it from Briggs C. in 1955 and sold it in 1959. I had to laugh when Dennis Nicotra said it wasn't the kind of car you'd take to the grocery store because that's exactly where my mom took it.
Your anacdot helps the history of this car come alive! Thankyou
@@jpkatz1435 What the hell is an 'anacdot'. lol
Hi Kathryn, Thank you for that comment! This is a great link we would love to hear more about. If possible could you shoot an email to info@historicvehicle.org so we could learn more about your dad’s history with the car?
Fantastic story. Thanks for putting it together, and really, just a huge thanks to Mercedes Benz for being a car company that is still not only very proud of their heritage and their classics, but they actively support them. In late '91 I began working as a tech at a local German independent that specialized in Porsche. The owner drove the '68 W108 (black, red interior, metal sliding roof, 4 on the floor) that his father had purchased from the factory back when you could travel to Germany, tour of the factory, pick up your car and drive it around Europe on vacation, and then they would ship it to you in the US. The car was still in as new, garage kept condition. After borrowing it for a weekend trip with a girlfriend, I had to have one. In Mar '92 I purchased a '66 W111 Coupe, with sunroof and 4 on the floor and the love affair continues to this day. We had a customer with a 300SL Roadster, and I was able to do a pre-show inspection on that car, and then drive it to the show. I have never been so nervous in my life, but my heart was also pounding because I was driving a 300SL with such incredible history and value.
Dennis. You are a lucky man. Simply a stunning priceless piece of history.
It is sooo good it almost made me cry!
Having worked on a few of these cars as a apprentice/ journeyman, No roll down side window, they were stationary with a small vent wing. When we road tested the car my journeyman and i, it would get a little warm in the car. Thank you for the videos, it is great to see the car in detail, especially the tubular frame and the engine designed in a slant, mechanical fuel injection and overhead camshaft. A folding steering wheel and lots knobs and switches 😊 the undercarriage was completely covered from front to rear, as many modern cars have. At 82 l do remember getting kicked in the butt for doing something wrong, I got even with him by turning his toolbox upside down and I refused to clean his tools. That didn’t get me anywhere either. Sorry for the rant. It was fun.
Awesome car! Fascinating history. I've never seen one in person. I've seen pictures of them, both the "gullwing" coupe and the convertible. But I've never seen one up close and in person. Hopefully that'll happen. :)
the last time i see one here in germany on the street is more than 25. or 30.years ago,a real shame!
One hell of a beautiful car.
И это чудо 1954 года!!!
Произведение искусства!
This is the first car I fell in love with
This is my dream super car!
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Fastest car in the world in 1954 (150 MPH), faster even than any Ferrari. Handling was tricky with that swing axle rear end. Caused severe oversteer if you lifted off the throttle hard whilst cornering at speed. Low pivot swing arm suspension fitted to all subsequent M-Bs largely cured the problem. Big drum brakes that suffered from fade after hard use. Used running gear & many parts from sedan range. Interesting fact: Studebaker dealer in USA wanted a 300SL, but wanted it as a kit so that he could enjoy the experience of building his own car. Unfortunately, he died before starting the build. His family put it away in storage & sold it years later. Lucky buyer assembled the kit & subsequently became the owner of the only totally unused new 300SL with essentially zero miles on the odometer. Found in Classic & Sports Car magazine.
A work of art if I ever win the lottery will be my first purchase
Hand fitted doors! That must be why you can get any part for the 300 except doors.
In early 60`s I got a ride in one and it was great. I drove a 190 for around 100 miles. No race car, but great quality and handled very nice.
Wow more modern than 2020's BMW
Did you know that Bosch dug deep in its engineering archives in order to find the perfect fuel injection system for the 300 SL? They did- they essentially minutialized the fuel injection system of another Daimler-Benz engine: the DB 601 aircraft piston engine, famous for powering among other planes, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter of World War 2.
increible, amo este modelo de auto, el mas bello de todos los tiempos para mi gusto.
I love the invoice price of $ 7,229 from Hoffman. Of course no one knew then!! A rich mans car even in 1954. My car was parked next to a red '55 Gull Wing at a show a few years ago. I didn't win an award, but the crowd was good---looking at the first place Gull Wing of course.
Funny thing is that Mercedes didn't plan to have these doors on the car.......... It was purely for racing homologation. The car needed 2 doors to open and the space frame didn't allow normal doors since not even the smallest drivers would fit in there. Don't think the early models could where as fast as the mechanical injection ones. These where the hyper cars of it's day with a top speed of 160 mph.
This car seems to be the first car that came up with "side impact beams"!!
Beautiful car
Mercedes is the QUEEN of the cars!
Very impressive & interesting
really lucky I owned 2 of. them 1958, 1960..bought them in the early 70s one was 16,000
the other $20 grade the second someone took the body plans off and they were gone..
they were great. they m
had pexligas windows..and at about 100 mph the windows were ready to pop out..
I think it was ed juraris who brought in about 1000 cars..
A perfect automobile from the world no,1 manufacturer Mercedes Benz our beloved mother company
Fun to watch although i'm not into cars!
"...parts were made of magnesium....rare material..." Well...no. Magnasium was not a rare material, it was in fact more readily available than aluminum at that time. Just in case you didn't know: Volkswagen made all of their gearbox housings and crankcases for the beetle of magnesium.
the doors are called in german "flügeltüren" wich means "wingdoors".
En español "alas de gaviota".
Paul Mccartney and Jim Morrison had a band together ?
Great car. Great vid. Thanks.
Very cool. Still the alloy car is the attainable dream 300sl. If not, the SLR still stands as "THE ONE". Followed by the even rarer SLS.
Only attainable with $??,000,000 of disposable funds.
@@jpkatz1435 compared with the SLR is a bargain. Alloy 300sl don't get that high one or two might, but they are a bit less. SLR is not even available on private hands.
Luis D'antin tenía uno en Montevideo Uruguay en los años 80s
このベンツが一番好きだったなぁ
Modern cars are safe and have certain things that old cars don't, but boy are they boring.
Isn't that the truth?
The only car I prefer as a convertible is this.
sorry it was Hoffman not ed!..
I like the roadstar cabrio better. Try to get a ticket in a oarking garage!
6500 USD ! wow
It doesn't get any better!
I would rather have the regular doors though.
Climbing in and out of shit gets old quick. Jag Es are also tough to get in and out of.
The gull doors have fixed windows with a tiny vent.
The regular 300sl roadster is the same car but with regular doors and rolling windows and a rag or removable hard top. Much more practical imo.
But they sure are beautiful and very special.
Main door windows are either locked into the door, or completely removed. "Fixed" implies nonremoveable.
@@jpkatz1435 non removable at speed none the less.
Naturally, Mercedes Benz build this car to sell it and they knew the market was the USA. Many more followed until today.....
There's one in India, belonging to the erstwhile State of Gondal.
Nice video, but ruined by that annoying background music, so when necessary!. Thanks football stainless and best wishes.
$7,227.50..... wow!
Это не автомобиль,это сексуальная ориентация!
Super car
Damm car
Germans are Genius!
Most iconic car ever
I know of a gorgeous project Gullwing... Anyone looking to buy?
Умеют же немцы жить
This was interesting but the MUSIC IS VERY ANNOYING.
Who edited this, a 12 year old?
of course the Germans do not say Gullwing ,..it s the Dreihunderter Fluegeltuerer..in Germany ..oder just Fluegeltuerer...(the wingdoorer )
Let's be heretic: no car really matters.
easy 3 million car now
Кто бы мне случайно ,такой бы подарил!?
Nice cars for poor people.
1 day I will have that baby
Mercedes must of bought far too much of that awful interior material! Sure my mates '88 G wagon has the same, plus the SK trucks.
Just because you can add lift music to your video doesn't mean that you should. Awful and cheap.