This guy knows his cars. Many times the “experts” Jay has on seem to be reciting technical specs, this guy recalls from his heart which is such a pleasure to listen to.
@@qalba3016 he saved his money for a few years, picked up a few extra shifts, and voila! He has assembled one of the coolest, most valuable car collections in the world.
I was in the army stationed in Germany in 56" and 57". I remembered a Gullwing being on display near by. I thought that was the greatest car I had ever seen especially since I was driving a Beetle at that time.
Back then, very few Germans owned a car. Transportation was by bus, train, bicycle or "Schusters Rappen" - Shoemakers horses - walking for most people.
Earlier this year (2021) my Special Lady and I were at an establishment here in SoCal. On the way there we were walking through a residential area and parked in the driveway of one of the houses was a real dirty 90s Mercedes. I said to my SLF that it's sad to see it sitting there. On the way back to our car, the garage door was open and there was a gorgeous 280sl inside. An older gentleman was there and we struck up a conversation on how nice and clean it was (it's his wife's car). At one point he says "Would you like to see my car?" Not knowing what to expect, he opens a door to the other side of the garage and as I step in, I about fell over. Sitting inside is his 300SL Gullwing that he's owned since the 80 and restored himself(that's his "day job"). Looking at that car and being able to touch it is one experience a person will never forget. I did ask how long the list was to go for a ride.... He told me he takes it out for a drive as often as possible but ONLY early in the morning to avoid crazy people.
Your story struck a chord. When I was 19 back in the 70's, a neighbor was a Ford mechanic at the Van Nuys plant. My buddies and I were just car geeks with no money but had a chance to watch him do a little work on the heads of a 300 SLR that he was just turning around (getting rid of the smoke) to sell. Ever since, I have thought 'if I just had a few grand I could have bought that SLR'. It would never have been a 'beater'! (He also had a 65 Stingray roadster he was going to sell to me for $1800, but I couldn't afford the insurance!)
Jay's historic knowledge of the industry makes his discussions so very informative. He Really knows his cars and the passion shows. He's a walking encyclopedia, a real treasure.
What s do special about it, no air conditioning, no Apple car play no air Bags , No seat belt, no orthopedic seats, no sunroof, no rear seat , no rear doors nothing what is this car fun for,??? I bet people are paying above $50K for it now days, Crazy Cheers 🍷
I love how you can visibly see Michael relax as he realizes how careful and respectful Jay is driving this amazing piece of history. Jay is such a class act. I have seen Michael in a few other videos with other youtube channels and he looks nervous from start to finish. I would not want his job, the anxiety must be insane.
To be honest, I am not a fanboy of Mercedes, but the more one learns about their incredible history it's getting very hard not to be! Hats off to the people at Mercedes for all their accolades, and for sending such a great representative like Michael Kunz, most impressive. Loved the end where Jay has to go drive his 300SL...just awesome!
Knowing that Germany lay in ruins* in 1952, it makes me incredibly proud to know that we came up with these marvels of engineering only a few years after the end of World War II.
Made possible by the Marshall Plan. Which was a great effort in faith and re-stabilized the pan atlantic trade, which the USA were interested in of course. Worked out for both sides!
Love Michael's concerned look over at the tach while Jay is pushing it hahahaha pure gold at 32:27 whilst still remaining calm but you can see his inner voice in those eyes at that moment.
Harold Derusha (1909-'85) back in the late 60's took me for a ride in his Gullwing. As a kid, I sat there in awe as that car reached 90 mph in 2nd gear! And he had two more gears! :^) But he slowed down. He just wanted me to remember that moment for the rest of my life!
@@explorenaked I would too, that magnesium body is very fragile and impossible to fix state-side. Anything on the road could damage it, how old are the tyres all that going through his head.
I like how German Michael was very subdued and quiet until the 300 got rolling, then he was all smiles. He's still excited by the car. He got quieter again in traffic, though, and then much happier when they got back to Jay's place.
I suspect it was a relief to get back. If that car got damaged it would be bad. How could you replace the original magnesium body? You can't. Beautiful xar, and extremely cool that they let Jay drive it.
Who but Jay could have an actual Gullwing as "a beater"? I had a moment of 'cognitive dissonance' when the No. 5 hood was opened. The body looks pristine and all the age related patina is under the hood. Hard to imagine the sheer lightness of these cars, not to mention the persistent reliability of Mercedes engineering. Great episode all around!
If you have been old enough to own one they were not reliable, complicated and a lot of maintenence the reason many were parked and suddenly become "barn finds" or "abondend" all because of their terrible reliablity and maintence and finding proper people to work on them..its great to armchair quarter back old cars...meh
The first supercar in history. I know people usually says it is the Miura, but you gotta think about it... This thing was really lightweight, and had 225hp, in the 50's! This is one of my favourite cars ever, a testament in engineering, and automotive art in general.
Good point bud. People get phased by that fact the Miura was the first mid-engined supercar, but NOT the world's first supercar...........that accolade goes to the Benz!
The Miura was the first car that was called supercar during it production, but the word itself didn't exist before the Miura. The Gullwing is surely deserving of being called supercar
Had to watch this one twice. This is the only car with that design, there you go… one! It was the first ever with injection. I read that the people working on it gave it the nickname “Hobel” in German- the “carpenters plane” - amazing to see how the front would even go - as design - today. Thanks Mercedes for flying it from Stuttgart to have Jay drive it, that does not happen often.
Oh my goodness Jay! You have the BEST formula for sharing about vehicles ever! We really, REALLY get a feel and great impression of the car, along with interesting background and experiences. You are just such a blessing to the many motor heads worldwide. The drive, the chatter with your guests really make the day, and sometimes week for us. You and Osborne are very enjoyable as well and the variety of vehicles you choose are so interesting. We are the same age and my bride of 48 years and I laughed when you said the first new car you bought was an 83 diesel 😂 Well, there is an 83, mfd. 10/82 in our driveway in Eastern PA. It passed inspection again a couple weeks ago. Nearly everything still works. The idiot gov't ruined diesel, diluting it 20%,but it still runs ok, just 7-8 less MPG. Anyway, you are so appreciated and thank you for what you do! Blessings for a great holiday!
@@qalba3016 Hard work he said he never cashed his checks from the tonight show. Go Checkout his interviews with Adam Corolla and Joe Rogan, classics.....
Lamborghini Miura is widely regarded as the first super car. Definitely the first car to be referred to as a super car in words. There are plenty of reliable sources to that, if you go by production years there are many cars before the Mercedes that can claim that title.
Especially for its time. Imagine driving around in a 300 SL in 1952. It must have looked like a spaceship to most people. Nearly every other car on the road at that time was a big, heavy, boxy looking heap... and then along comes this low, sleek, powerful Mercedes with gullwing doors. Way, way ahead of its time.
Terry, I think your emphasis in in the wrong area....and no car is "priceless". Take a look here on RUclips for the video of a couple out for a night on the town...in a Bugatti Royale.
..... Lol well i agree .... I would love to see what he pays for insurance to drive all the stuff he does ... And he drives dangerous stuff like big 4x4s sometimes
On a family trip to downtown San Francisco in the late 50s we pulled into a filling station and noticed a 300 SL at the pumps. After a bit the attendant leaned over and looked under the car. The Mercedes was taking so much fuel the attendant suspected a leak in the tank!
No power assist on the brakes but I'm sure they had either two or three leading shoes, which self energize the brakes. I had a '63 Alfa Sprint that had three leading shoe aluminum drum brakes, it stopped quite well going forward but needed a heavier pressure when slowing in reverse. It was my first car, I bought it in 1967. Those straight cut gears in the transmission have a distinctive whine!
That "D" that doubles as a trunk latch is a brilliant detail. Loved the video, the guy from Mercedes is a real expert and his enthusiasm for the cars clearly shows.
The Mercedes Benz Classic Center is located 5 minutes from my house in Lake Forest, by Irvine. They have so many unbelievable cars in their restoration showroom. That SL is just magic! Like a spaceship for the time, yet it still drives great, "long legs" as Jay said.
Even in your career with automobiles, driving, not just that model, but THAT CAR, has to be a highlight. Starting my day with grins. Thanks for sharing this one.
I always found the history of the three different Mercedes 300 SL (Super Light) coupes to be very confusing, so for the benefit of anyone who's curious, here's the short version: 1) 1952 300 SL W194 - engineers began with a regular 300 W186 sedan, super modified into a series of Le Mans style racecars; 2) 1954 300 SL W198 - begins with a W194 as a prototype, developed into a production sports car; 3) 1955 300 SL-R W196 S, begins with W196 single seat F1 racecar, given closed wheel streamlined body for long straights at Monza, headlights and 2nd seat added for endurance racing, finally given a roof and modified for street use as Uhlenhaut's personal roadcar.
interesting so, the first supercar and first ever hypercar both started as a dowdy old Merc Adenauer, LOL 😄 300 (w186) sedan ➡ 300SL (w194) le mans racer ➡300SL (w198) supercar ➡ 300SL-R (w196s) ➡ the legendary uhlenhaut hypercar
Wow to think they had that technology when I was born. The #11 is incredibly beautiful, the slope of the hood.... words fail me, awe inspiring. Thanks to Mercedes and you Jay for showing us these I appreciate it.
Back in the 50s when I was a tadpole my much older cousin took me for a ride in his Gullwing. Ventilation wasn't too good, but who cared! Wonderful machine! He traded it for his first 356; thought he was upgrading!
Crazy my step father was Italian full blooded and was a great Mercedes Benz mechanic one of the best.. Built many cars thru out his life 600 and SL along with many others. He built lots of rebuilt engines for Noels and as he would say transmissonys..Richard Alferi was my Dad...RIP pops
Geez - how did I miss this episode???? How many videos has Jay made???? Great encyclopedic archive of automotive history - Jay Leno's Garage is the best
Jay is a freak in the best possible way. A knowledgeable car guy with resources and a platform to share with the rest of us. Jay, you’re the best. OMG those straight cut gears!!!
Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of the automobile (at large) is just astonishing by evey metric. His mental flexing is not to show off or to try to impune "how smart" he is. He's just an enthusiast who gets as excited as a kid when he's around the great cars of the world and he just can't help himself in talking about his knowledge of most any said car that he's showing us. Live long and continue to prosper Jay!
Fascinating. Only in recent years have I seen a gullwing in person. Very impressive machine. Bold, purposeful design that conveys precision and quality.
I have watched many of your videos and one thing I will say is not only do you have a fantastic collection of cars and bikes ....but you have a genuine passion for them far to often collectors get cars and bikes and leave them in the shed collecting dust you sir ride and drive them and from one collector and rider to another I tip my hat to you sir ...keep doing what your doing please because we need more people like you to keep these great machines on the road your my friend are one in a million and I watch all of your videos and will continue to do for a long time to come Cheers and merry Xmas Gary .
The era of race cars designed by humans with slide rulers and heart body and soul was the best . What can you say about original gull wings that hasn’t been said . Simply put it is probably the most influential iconic race car of them all , so many variants and so many incarnations. Awesome episode with amazingly stunningly gorgeous race cars
The designer of the 300SL was Friedrich Geiger. He also designed the 500/540K Special Roadster. By the way, SL stands for Sport Leicht meaning Sport Light albeit the production version did gain some weight. The 300SLwas not the first production car with fuel injection. In 1951 the Gutbrot Superior 600 and the Goliath GP 700 both were offered with Bosch fuel injection.
Exactly ! Also the use of the sedan "technology" was just another way of saying,to keep costs down,they used what they were already using in their 300 Sedans .
@@pashakdescilly7517 Yes, it is very similar to the diesel injection system but the Bosch gasoline fuel injection was first developed for the Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter plane which had a fuel-injected Daimler Benz 12 cylinder engine. The 300SL fuel injection is derived from the WWII fighter plane engine.
My earliest car memory (aside from a dream at age 3......) is late 1954, early 1955. A silver MB gullwing was parked on Sunset Cliffs and Voltaire, across from the new Jack in the Box (the 2nd one built, the first was on EL Cajon blvd). We lived on Muir, 150 feet away. In 1978-80 I worked at Terry Rhodes Restoration, he had 3 SL's to restore, one was aluminum. And 3 MB 540K's. and many other cool cars
Dans les années 70 j'ai eu l'occasion de m'assoire dans une 300 SL qui était en expo au garage Asapar de Levallois-Perret, je crois me souvenir qu'elle était de mon année de naissance 1954. Un souvenir inoubliable ! Maintenant j'ai une Panhard 24 bt de 1965 et je savoure chaque balade que je fais dedans. Deux 300 SL dans ton garage dont une de course, Jay tu vas me faire pleurer d'envie.
Such heritage from those two cars. It’s just amazing. I have a well-detailed Mercedes 300 model. That’s as close as I’ll ever get. Thanks for the video, Jay.
Love it Jay. Must be hard to find that unique thrill with so much access and your own collection. I got the sense you knew how lucky you were to be behind the wheel here. Thanks for taking us with you.
I love your cars and the fact that you keep them in running condition instead of making them museum type pieces. Thank you for taking the time to showcase your collection here for those of us who may never see one on the road.
But the Gutbrod had a two-stroke engine. From this point of view one could also say that diesel engines have fuel injection even earlier (1936 Mercedes 260 D).
Beautiful Mercedes Style Interesting stories Surprised by the magnesium body and Studebaker/Mercedes Distributor stories had never heard them before Great show Jay Hope you all have a great Christmas
The W194 / 11 is superb. When you open the trunk (boot in UK) you see what look like two Dunlop SP Road tyres at 23:56. A few seconds later at 24:03 they have changed to a pair of Dunlop Racing tyres :-)
Good eye. The first set have a considerable amount of wheel weights and the rims look well used. The second set are prettier. My guess is the first set is the road racer with the blue on the fenders. The nicer set you can clearly see the road racer sitting to the right.
Jay’s comment about the era when builders went their own ways were spot on. Be it cars, guns, airplanes, etc. there was a creative age when a hundred different guys were trying a hundred different approaches. The. The technology sort of settled down to become “this is the way we do it.” These MB 300 gull wing cars are wonderful!
I would say that it is the right size especially for a european car...it just looks tiny because american cars have always been significantly wider and longer , also modern cars have turned into large and hideous SUV..
I thought he would drive the other one with the blue accents on the hood. I wouldn't be surprised if the the prototype he drove, was the more expensive one. This is one of the better episodes. Jay or the Mercedes rep forgot to mention that the 300 SL roadsters had a completely different chassis and fuel filler placement. Very cool. Thank you.
Jay has a knack of driving home facts that really make you appreciate how far car technologies advanced from the 1900's to 1950's. Racing and speed propelled car design, mechanics, engines, suspensions. I am glad that Jay got the car bug so early and is a true historian of car lore. I wonder what kind of provisions he has in his will for his garage and collection to live on after he passes.
There are some cars that evoke an emotional response. You just feel something deep in your soul. The '63 Split Window, Series 1 E-Type and this beauty to name a few.
@ADP--Too bad they learned so much from the Chrysler Beancounters in the early 2000s. Now, they're Garbage. 2002 V-12: 'I got a great idea. Let's put the oil cooler in the middle of engine, so a junky gasket cracks from the heat. That way, it costs $8000 to change the gasket. While were at it, instead of lengthening the car 10cm(so the oil cooler is in front of the radiator like everyone else), we can require the Entire removal of the front of the car to change the alternator!" 2003, let's put TWO turbos on it, without beefing-up the new transmission because that would cost extra money, and have it blow-up before 100K miles. $75,000, Awesome! Let's combine the Radiator & Transmission cooler together, so when it fails, we can tell our customers to Pound Sand! But, but "Engineered to move [your WALLET]"
@@ronmcmartin4513 Placing the transmission cooler inside the radiator has been standard in most cars, it's more efficient. Transmission overhaul is needed if water from the radiator (from corrosion) gets mixed with transmission fluid. Very expensive, happened to me once. Lesson: change out old radiator at first sign of corrosion. Great video by Jay on these cars.
@@bernieschiff5919--"standard" doesn't make it better. Radiators are now made of plastic, and get brittle. I have a 1963 Austin Healey, with NO radiator replacement. You seem to be a conscientious about your car(but it happened to you. Why aren't you using OAT coolant?). Nissan covered the flaw; Mercedes said Eff You. "Ve are German. It must be Your fault!"
What a great pair of cars, the 300 SL is the top of my dream car list, I was lucky enough to get a short ride in a race car at Donington a few years back and it was a great experience.
Thanks Jay, always impressed that you get to drive these cars. You get a real appreciation of what they are like and the build quality as opposed to reading the specs. Merry Christmas
Growing up in Buffalo suburbs, our neighbor had one. Having it serviced was a road trip to Toronto to get the fuel injection worked on. I remember his wife hated it because of the wide threshold over the tube frame. She said a woman in a skirt or dress could not get in or out without putting on quite a show! The car was really cool and quite an attraction.
As beautiful as the front end of a 300SL is, I think that crease running along the nose contours on #11 is even better. And I'm still shocked that you weren't shaking like a leaf while driving a delicate magnesium bodied classic on the street among the texting drivers. Normally don't like the factory wonks ruining your excellent videos, but this one is something I'll watch over and over.
About 2017 i was driving in Carson City Nevada on Carson City Boulevard and saw a beautifully restored white one being driven down the boulevard. I took notice. I knew it was a very rare car i might never see again. I have a 1984 BMW 633 CSI so i appreciate this sort of car.
Хобби
This guy knows his cars. Many times the “experts” Jay has on seem to be reciting technical specs, this guy recalls from his heart which is such a pleasure to listen to.
He loves the history which comes from his passion.
yes
What an idol
Mike is the long time head of MB Classic Center in the US. He’s definitely a expert.
@@qalba3016 he saved his money for a few years, picked up a few extra shifts, and voila! He has assembled one of the coolest, most valuable car collections in the world.
I was in the army stationed in Germany in 56" and 57". I remembered a Gullwing being on display near by. I thought that was the greatest car I had ever seen especially since I was driving a Beetle at that time.
Was a lot
More than what u could afford???
@@gigi9467 The VW was $1,000 dollars at that time new. The Gullwing must have been nearly $10,000 at that time.
Back then, very few Germans owned a car. Transportation was by bus, train, bicycle or "Schusters Rappen" - Shoemakers horses - walking for most people.
@@stanislavczebinski994 Many taxis and many of them were made by Mercedes Benz.
@@lukespack ???
Earlier this year (2021) my Special Lady and I were at an establishment here in SoCal.
On the way there we were walking through a residential area and parked in the driveway of one of the houses was a real dirty 90s Mercedes.
I said to my SLF that it's sad to see it sitting there.
On the way back to our car, the garage door was open and there was a gorgeous 280sl inside.
An older gentleman was there and we struck up a conversation on how nice and clean it was (it's his wife's car).
At one point he says "Would you like to see my car?"
Not knowing what to expect, he opens a door to the other side of the garage and as I step in, I about fell over.
Sitting inside is his 300SL Gullwing that he's owned since the 80 and restored himself(that's his "day job").
Looking at that car and being able to touch it is one experience a person will never forget.
I did ask how long the list was to go for a ride....
He told me he takes it out for a drive as often as possible but ONLY early in the morning to avoid crazy people.
Great story! I felt it. Thank You.
NOTHING quite like meeting them "In the flesh!"
That what Jay does with his F1 , said he drives it early on Sunday mornings when no one is out on the roads
Your story struck a chord. When I was 19 back in the 70's, a neighbor was a Ford mechanic at the Van Nuys plant. My buddies and I were just car geeks with no money but had a chance to watch him do a little work on the heads of a 300 SLR that he was just turning around (getting rid of the smoke) to sell. Ever since, I have thought 'if I just had a few grand I could have bought that SLR'. It would never have been a 'beater'! (He also had a 65 Stingray roadster he was going to sell to me for $1800, but I couldn't afford the insurance!)
You: "See you tomorrow morning!" 🙂
20:45 Jay is an engineer at heart. I can tell when he says "You know, I like limited resources, because it makes people think."
Jay's historic knowledge of the industry makes his discussions so very informative. He Really knows his cars and the passion shows. He's a walking encyclopedia, a real treasure.
What s do special about it, no air conditioning, no Apple car play no air Bags , No seat belt, no orthopedic seats, no sunroof, no rear seat , no rear doors nothing what is this car fun for,??? I bet people are paying above $50K for it now days, Crazy
Cheers 🍷
@@qalba3016 LOL!
@@qalba3016
50k!?🤣 For one in this condition, add a nought and multiply by 4 then you'd be in the ballpark.
He is an absolute treasure
I love how you can visibly see Michael relax as he realizes how careful and respectful Jay is driving this amazing piece of history. Jay is such a class act. I have seen Michael in a few other videos with other youtube channels and he looks nervous from start to finish. I would not want his job, the anxiety must be insane.
Theres something about the noise of a straight 6 engine with straight cut gears that gets me excited. So pure.
The German guy lit up when the 300 got rolling too.
100%
I'll bet that you would be sick of it after a week of driving.
Jay is a legend and will be remembered as such. Him as well as his very generous wife.
Both great human beings.
I'm as old as Jay, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing has always been in my top 10 favorite automobiles.....
100%
Ok, the D-latch and dual spares put this over the top. Even Jay was impressed. What an incredible automobile.
To be honest, I am not a fanboy of Mercedes, but the more one learns about their incredible history it's getting very hard not to be!
Hats off to the people at Mercedes for all their accolades, and for sending such a great representative like Michael Kunz, most impressive.
Loved the end where Jay has to go drive his 300SL...just awesome!
Knowing that Germany lay in ruins* in 1952, it makes me incredibly proud to know that we came up with these marvels of engineering only a few years after the end of World War II.
You should be proud, it’s the beauty of rebuilding and reimagining what’s possible.
It helped that the same people that made tanks and warplanes also made these cars, you learn a thing or two from war machines.
The experience was known as the "Wirtschaftswunder", translates as "Economic Miracle". Truly amazing.
Made possible by the Marshall Plan. Which was a great effort in faith and re-stabilized the pan atlantic trade, which the USA were interested in of course. Worked out for both sides!
@@ghoulbuster1 Like fuel injection.
It is amazing to have three versions of the car under display. The slight differences between each one becomes evident. What a treat this video is.
Agreed!
Love Michael's concerned look over at the tach while Jay is pushing it hahahaha pure gold at 32:27 whilst still remaining calm but you can see his inner voice in those eyes at that moment.
Nice man. He loved Jay's double clutch😁
Harold Derusha (1909-'85) back in the late 60's took me for a ride in his Gullwing. As a kid, I sat there in awe as that car reached 90 mph in 2nd gear! And he had two more gears! :^) But he slowed down. He just wanted me to remember that moment for the rest of my life!
The singing of the drive train!!!!! as they shifted threw the gears!!!! as several others mentioned, made my DAY!!
A true company rep he bloody loves the cars in his care. The joy on their faces talking about these cars.
But he seemed very nervous when Jay was tooling around Burbank. 😱
@@explorenaked I noticed that too!
@@explorenaked I would have been too!
@@explorenaked I would too, that magnesium body is very fragile and impossible to fix state-side. Anything on the road could damage it, how old are the tyres all that going through his head.
I like how German Michael was very subdued and quiet until the 300 got rolling, then he was all smiles. He's still excited by the car. He got quieter again in traffic, though, and then much happier when they got back to Jay's place.
I suspect it was a relief to get back. If that car got damaged it would be bad. How could you replace the original magnesium body? You can't. Beautiful xar, and extremely cool that they let Jay drive it.
You know it's German and serious business when you need a special tool to open the hood :)). Superb!
And Jay probably had one sitting around his garage.
@@ah244895 ...and if not, one of Jay's shop guys made one on the 3-D printer! ;^)
lol
Love that guy riding with Jay, straight German engineer, no emotions, just watching Guages lmao :D
Who but Jay could have an actual Gullwing as "a beater"? I had a moment of 'cognitive dissonance' when the No. 5 hood was opened. The body looks pristine and all the age related patina is under the hood. Hard to imagine the sheer lightness of these cars, not to mention the persistent reliability of Mercedes engineering. Great episode all around!
I too was smiling when he mentioned his "beater"😁
Lol I know man, I had a nice chuckle over that remark.
If you have been old enough to own one they were not reliable, complicated and a lot of maintenence the reason many were parked and suddenly become "barn finds" or "abondend" all because of their terrible reliablity and maintence and finding proper people to work on them..its great to armchair quarter back old cars...meh
@@lutomson3496 I guess you're old enough to own one since you know all about them. Post a vid of yours
@@lutomson3496 Exactly what is complicated about a Gullwing mate, please explain.
The first supercar in history. I know people usually says it is the Miura, but you gotta think about it... This thing was really lightweight, and had 225hp, in the 50's!
This is one of my favourite cars ever, a testament in engineering, and automotive art in general.
Good point bud. People get phased by that fact the Miura was the first mid-engined supercar, but NOT the world's first supercar...........that accolade goes to the Benz!
The Miura was the first car that was called supercar during it production, but the word itself didn't exist before the Miura. The Gullwing is surely deserving of being called supercar
Had to watch this one twice. This is the only car with that design, there you go… one! It was the first ever with injection. I read that the people working on it gave it the nickname “Hobel” in German- the “carpenters plane” - amazing to see how the front would even go - as design - today. Thanks Mercedes for flying it from Stuttgart to have Jay drive it, that does not happen often.
Oh my goodness Jay! You have the BEST formula for sharing about vehicles ever! We really, REALLY get a feel and great impression of the car, along with interesting background and experiences. You are just such a blessing to the many motor heads worldwide. The drive, the chatter with your guests really make the day, and sometimes week for us. You and Osborne are very enjoyable as well and the variety of vehicles you choose are so interesting. We are the same age and my bride of 48 years and I laughed when you said the first new car you bought was an 83 diesel 😂 Well, there is an 83, mfd. 10/82 in our driveway in Eastern PA. It passed inspection again a couple weeks ago. Nearly everything still works. The idiot gov't ruined diesel, diluting it 20%,but it still runs ok, just 7-8 less MPG. Anyway, you are so appreciated and thank you for what you do! Blessings for a great holiday!
How can he afford all these cars,??
@@qalba3016 Hard work he said he never cashed his checks from the tonight show. Go Checkout his interviews with Adam Corolla and Joe Rogan, classics.....
One of the most beautiful cars of all time. Arguably the first supercar.
Delightfully Analog
It was the first supercar. It had more than twice as much hp as its competition at the time..
Lamborghini Miura is widely regarded as the first super car. Definitely the first car to be referred to as a super car in words. There are plenty of reliable sources to that, if you go by production years there are many cars before the Mercedes that can claim that title.
@@peterbockholm3176 it's definitely the Mercedes I mean just cos it was the first mid engine car it doesn't mean it was the first supercar
Especially for its time. Imagine driving around in a 300 SL in 1952. It must have looked like a spaceship to most people. Nearly every other car on the road at that time was a big, heavy, boxy looking heap... and then along comes this low, sleek, powerful Mercedes with gullwing doors. Way, way ahead of its time.
Dear lord, I can't imagine what the insurance bill was just to take this priceless 300SL for a short spin.
If you can afford that car, I don't think it would be a big deal paying the insurance note.
Terry, I think your emphasis in in the wrong area....and no car is "priceless". Take a look here on RUclips for the video of a couple out for a night on the town...in a Bugatti Royale.
@@caribman10 give Terry a break he was going for the most boring youtube comment ever and may have succeeded!
..... Lol well i agree .... I would love to see what he pays for insurance to drive all the stuff he does ... And he drives dangerous stuff like big 4x4s sometimes
hahahah
On a family trip to downtown San Francisco in the late 50s we pulled into a filling station and noticed a 300 SL at the pumps. After a bit the attendant leaned over and looked under the car. The Mercedes was taking so much fuel the attendant suspected a leak in the tank!
It must have looked like a space ship...amazing what we remember,but how could you forget!
Thank you Mercedes-Benz for sharing this through Jay Leno's show.
I just looove how Jay sports his beautiful citroën collection in the back. :-)
No power assist on the brakes but I'm sure they had either two or three leading shoes, which self energize the brakes. I had a '63 Alfa Sprint that had three leading shoe aluminum drum brakes, it stopped quite well going forward but needed a heavier pressure when slowing in reverse. It was my first car, I bought it in 1967.
Those straight cut gears in the transmission have a distinctive whine!
That "D" that doubles as a trunk latch is a brilliant detail. Loved the video, the guy from Mercedes is a real expert and his enthusiasm for the cars clearly shows.
The Mercedes Benz Classic Center is located 5 minutes from my house in Lake Forest, by Irvine. They have so many unbelievable cars in their restoration showroom. That SL is just magic! Like a spaceship for the time, yet it still drives great, "long legs" as Jay said.
Even in your career with automobiles, driving, not just that model, but THAT CAR, has to be a highlight. Starting my day with grins. Thanks for sharing this one.
I always found the history of the three different Mercedes 300 SL (Super Light) coupes to be very confusing, so for the benefit of anyone who's curious, here's the short version: 1) 1952 300 SL W194 - engineers began with a regular 300 W186 sedan, super modified into a series of Le Mans style racecars; 2) 1954 300 SL W198 - begins with a W194 as a prototype, developed into a production sports car; 3) 1955 300 SL-R W196 S, begins with W196 single seat F1 racecar, given closed wheel streamlined body for long straights at Monza, headlights and 2nd seat added for endurance racing, finally given a roof and modified for street use as Uhlenhaut's personal roadcar.
interesting so, the first supercar and first ever hypercar both started as a dowdy old Merc Adenauer, LOL 😄
300 (w186) sedan ➡ 300SL (w194) le mans racer ➡300SL (w198) supercar ➡ 300SL-R (w196s) ➡ the legendary uhlenhaut hypercar
These cars are rare and seldom seen. Most people know nothing about them. Very fascinating history. Thanks Jay.👍😎👍🤑👍
What I love is they actually drive the cars. Jay drives his, Mercedes drives their classics. It's wonderful.
Holy Cow ! they let you drive the mag. car in traffic ! ....those guys are just awesome for doing that
Wow to think they had that technology when I was born. The #11 is incredibly beautiful, the slope of the hood.... words fail me, awe inspiring. Thanks to Mercedes and you Jay for showing us these I appreciate it.
Don't forget, the Bf-109 aircraft in WWII was fuel injected. It used direct injection in the late 1930s.
Since I was a kid, one of my favorite classic cars ever. Car royalty tier undoubtedly.
Danke schön Jay!
I now have a new appreciation of Mercedes Benz history. Thank you Jay!
You can tell Jay is really enjoying getting to drive something so special.
Michael he's a type of genius Jay will love to talk to everyday. I love it wen they share a history of SL together Well "RESPECT"
Back in the 50s when I was a tadpole my much older cousin took me for a ride in his Gullwing. Ventilation wasn't too good, but who cared! Wonderful machine! He traded it for his first 356; thought he was upgrading!
Crazy my step father was Italian full blooded and was a great Mercedes Benz mechanic one of the best.. Built many cars thru out his life 600 and SL along with many others. He built lots of rebuilt engines for Noels and as he would say transmissonys..Richard Alferi was my Dad...RIP pops
Geez - how did I miss this episode???? How many videos has Jay made???? Great encyclopedic archive of automotive history - Jay Leno's Garage is the best
Incredible. Love seeing how serious the second Mike is about his place.
Same!
Jay is a freak in the best possible way. A knowledgeable car guy with resources and a platform to share with the rest of us. Jay, you’re the best.
OMG those straight cut gears!!!
Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of the automobile (at large) is just astonishing by evey metric.
His mental flexing is not to show off or to try to impune "how smart" he is.
He's just an enthusiast who gets as excited as a kid when he's around the great cars of the world and he just can't help himself in talking about his knowledge of most any said car that he's showing us.
Live long and continue to prosper Jay!
Fascinating. Only in recent years have I seen a gullwing in person. Very impressive machine. Bold, purposeful design that conveys precision and quality.
Jay Leno is great... I don't think I've ever seen him without something nice to say about a car...
sounds like all straight cut gears...that wonderful 50's howl of the gears as you drive down the road...I miss that
always love Jay when he talking about Mercedes. I know that company holds a special place in his heart, and it shows everytime.
Just before this, I watched a "pandemic edition" episode, and enjoyed it as much. All you need is a car and Jay talking about it...that says a lot!
Yes!
Whole world: 300sl is a pretty rare car
Jay Leno: Welcome everyone we have 3 300sl in my garage today.
Oh my God. I am stunned. What can be more beautiful and more amazing than these cars. Jay, thank you.
That is my favorite car. It is a piece of art and history. Absolutely gorgeous thank you Jay thank you Mercedes.
I have watched many of your videos and one thing I will say is not only do you have a fantastic collection of cars and bikes ....but you have a genuine passion for them far to often collectors get cars and bikes and leave them in the shed collecting dust you sir ride and drive them and from one collector and rider to another I tip my hat to you sir ...keep doing what your doing please because we need more people like you to keep these great machines on the road your my friend are one in a million and I watch all of your videos and will continue to do for a long time to come
Cheers and merry Xmas
Gary .
I was certain you'd be, if at all, allowed to drive the older aluminum SL, but never ever the brittle magnesium bodied one. I was stunned.
lol I bet Jay was surprised too
The era of race cars designed by humans with slide rulers and heart body and soul was the best . What can you say about original gull wings that hasn’t been said . Simply put it is probably the most influential iconic race car of them all , so many variants and so many incarnations.
Awesome episode with amazingly stunningly gorgeous race cars
Jay Leno lives the dream. Just to have the opportunity to drive that Gullwing SL, that would be heaven on earth.
It's no 1978 Ford Pinto Station Wagon.... But I suppose it wouldn't suck to drive an immaculate 1 of 11 priceless Gull-Wing.
What an awesome car. The sound when he starts it was Wunderbar! And that tall 2nd gear,OMG!
The designer of the 300SL was Friedrich Geiger. He also designed the 500/540K Special Roadster. By the way, SL stands for Sport Leicht meaning Sport Light albeit the production version did gain some weight. The 300SLwas not the first production car with fuel injection. In 1951 the Gutbrot Superior 600 and the Goliath GP 700 both were offered with Bosch fuel injection.
Exactly ! Also the use of the sedan "technology" was just another way of saying,to keep costs down,they used what they were already using in their 300 Sedans .
I remember hearing that the fuel injection was the same as used on diesel cars
@@pashakdescilly7517 Yes, it is very similar to the diesel injection system but the Bosch gasoline fuel injection was first developed for the Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter plane which had a fuel-injected Daimler Benz 12 cylinder engine. The 300SL fuel injection is derived from the WWII fighter plane engine.
SL stands for Super Leicht (Super Light), check wikipedia and other sources.
@@deltamedia7566 And the 109's engine was inverted.
Jay’s red 300SL is what dreams are made of. The man is a true American hero. Long live Leno.
Isn't he a native american
What a beautiful automobile. Looks like a pure joy to drive.
I am addicted to that whine the 300SLs make. Maybe one day I will be able to hear it for myself in person
My earliest car memory (aside from a dream at age 3......) is late 1954, early 1955. A silver MB gullwing was parked on Sunset Cliffs and Voltaire, across from the new Jack in the Box (the 2nd one built, the first was on EL Cajon blvd). We lived on Muir, 150 feet away. In 1978-80 I worked at Terry Rhodes Restoration, he had 3 SL's to restore, one was aluminum. And 3 MB 540K's. and many other cool cars
Driving a priceless, mag bodied car in LA traffic. I was clenching just watching it!
P.s. Michael in the passenger seat was so patient!
Dans les années 70 j'ai eu l'occasion de m'assoire dans une 300 SL qui était en expo au garage Asapar de Levallois-Perret, je crois me souvenir qu'elle était de mon année de naissance 1954. Un souvenir inoubliable ! Maintenant j'ai une Panhard 24 bt de 1965 et je savoure chaque balade que je fais dedans. Deux 300 SL dans ton garage dont une de course, Jay tu vas me faire pleurer d'envie.
It isn't often that Jay's excitement is as readily felt by those of us watching...
Imagine seeing these cars and Porsche 356s on the race tracks of the time. Truly beautiful cars.
What a site
Such heritage from those two cars. It’s just amazing. I have a well-detailed Mercedes 300 model. That’s as close as I’ll ever get. Thanks for the video, Jay.
When Jay passes away it will be a tremendous loss for all of us that truly love old cars and their history.
Whoever booked this guy for the show deserves a big raise. Great episode!
Jay's sweet touch with those straight-cut gears drew an appreciative look from the car's minder.
Love it Jay. Must be hard to find that unique thrill with so much access and your own collection. I got the sense you knew how lucky you were to be behind the wheel here. Thanks for taking us with you.
I love your cars and the fact that you keep them in running condition instead of making them museum type pieces. Thank you for taking the time to showcase your collection here for those of us who may never see one on the road.
Almost 70yrs and still elegant
Wonderfull episode Jay. I'll bet very few people in the world get to drive this car.
What a treat. Cheers 🇨🇦
Not the first production car with fuel injection, that was the Gutbrod Superior 700 in 1952.
But the Gutbrod had a two-stroke engine. From this point of view one could also say that diesel engines have fuel injection even earlier (1936 Mercedes 260 D).
Beautiful Mercedes Style
Interesting stories
Surprised by the magnesium body and Studebaker/Mercedes
Distributor stories had never heard them before
Great show Jay
Hope you all have a great Christmas
Amazing to have such ideas about aerodynamics way back then.
Jay is definitely the Ultimate Car Guy. If he doesn't know it I don't think anybody does.
The W194 / 11 is superb. When you open the trunk (boot in UK) you see what look like two Dunlop SP Road tyres at 23:56. A few seconds later at 24:03 they have changed to a pair of Dunlop Racing tyres :-)
Wow. Good eyes. How did that happen?
Poor editing. One trunk had different spares in it.
Is this your hobby looking at editing in that cold, grey lonely island of yours.
@@TS-mk7cu I bet that guy has an eagle eye for anything automotive.
Good eye. The first set have a considerable amount of wheel weights and the rims look well used. The second set are prettier. My guess is the first set is the road racer with the blue on the fenders. The nicer set you can clearly see the road racer sitting to the right.
Jay’s comment about the era when builders went their own ways were spot on. Be it cars, guns, airplanes, etc. there was a creative age when a hundred different guys were trying a hundred different approaches. The. The technology sort of settled down to become “this is the way we do it.” These MB 300 gull wing cars are wonderful!
...It's A Pleasure to Watch JAY Know about His Classic Cars..Especially the Mercedes Gullwing....
Seeing this car amongst modern traffic really accentuates how tiny it is.
I would say that it is the right size especially for a european car...it just looks tiny because american cars have always been significantly wider and longer , also modern cars have turned into large and hideous SUV..
Agreed
I thought he would drive the other one with the blue accents on the hood. I wouldn't be surprised if the the prototype he drove, was the more expensive one. This is one of the better episodes. Jay or the Mercedes rep forgot to mention that the 300 SL roadsters had a completely different chassis and fuel filler placement. Very cool. Thank you.
Jay has a knack of driving home facts that really make you appreciate how far car technologies advanced from the 1900's to 1950's. Racing and speed propelled car design, mechanics, engines, suspensions. I am glad that Jay got the car bug so early and is a true historian of car lore. I wonder what kind of provisions he has in his will for his garage and collection to live on after he passes.
There are some cars that evoke an emotional response. You just feel something deep in your soul. The '63 Split Window, Series 1 E-Type and this beauty to name a few.
I love the sound of the gear whine! It just sounds like a solid car.
Rob creel: sounds like a divco milk truck
@@michaeldeignan7922 Ditto.... Can you imagine driving something that sounds like that ? I doubt Rob would "love" the sound after a week of driving.
@@douglasr.c.5622 tis' a 50's era race car ,for comfort,and quiet I ride my 72 eldo.
@@michaeldeignan7922 Great !!! 😃
Nothing like German engineering. The best machines ever. Great video Jay, fantastic. Thank you.
@ADP--Too bad they learned so much from the Chrysler Beancounters in the early 2000s. Now, they're Garbage.
2002 V-12: 'I got a great idea. Let's put the oil cooler in the middle of engine, so a junky gasket cracks from the heat. That way, it costs $8000 to change the gasket. While were at it, instead of lengthening the car 10cm(so the oil cooler is in front of the radiator like everyone else), we can require the Entire removal of the front of the car to change the alternator!"
2003, let's put TWO turbos on it, without beefing-up the new transmission because that would cost extra money, and have it blow-up before 100K miles. $75,000, Awesome!
Let's combine the Radiator & Transmission cooler together, so when it fails, we can tell our customers to Pound Sand! But, but "Engineered to move [your WALLET]"
@@ronmcmartin4513 Placing the transmission cooler inside the radiator has been standard in most cars, it's more efficient. Transmission overhaul is needed if water from the radiator (from corrosion) gets mixed with transmission fluid. Very expensive, happened to me once. Lesson: change out old radiator at first sign of corrosion. Great video by Jay on these cars.
@@bernieschiff5919--"standard" doesn't make it better. Radiators are now made of plastic, and get brittle. I have a 1963 Austin Healey, with NO radiator replacement.
You seem to be a conscientious about your car(but it happened to you. Why aren't you using OAT coolant?). Nissan covered the flaw; Mercedes said Eff You. "Ve are German. It must be Your fault!"
I've seen No. 5 in person once or twice at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Like finally meeting your childhood hero, and it did not disappoint.
Those were my "dream cars"! Still are!
What a great pair of cars, the 300 SL is the top of my dream car list, I was lucky enough to get a short ride in a race car at Donington a few years back and it was a great experience.
Thanks Jay, always impressed that you get to drive these cars. You get a real appreciation of what they are like and the build quality as opposed to reading the specs.
Merry Christmas
Growing up in Buffalo suburbs, our neighbor had one. Having it serviced was a road trip to Toronto to get the fuel injection worked on. I remember his wife hated it because of the wide threshold over the tube frame. She said a woman in a skirt or dress could not get in or out without putting on quite a show! The car was really cool and quite an attraction.
Jay, thank you for being an American institution who unites us with your kindness and humor
Jay drives like he's looking through the bottom of bifocals. What a great life!
As beautiful as the front end of a 300SL is, I think that crease running along the nose contours on #11 is even better. And I'm still shocked that you weren't shaking like a leaf while driving a delicate magnesium bodied classic on the street among the texting drivers. Normally don't like the factory wonks ruining your excellent videos, but this one is something I'll watch over and over.
About 2017 i was driving in Carson City Nevada on Carson City Boulevard and saw a beautifully restored white one being driven down the boulevard. I took notice. I knew it was a very rare car i might never see again. I have a 1984 BMW 633 CSI so i appreciate this sort of car.
Two beauties. The front on the Silver one is amazing. Thanks Jay. 😎👍🇨🇦