Vintage Super Car

[jordan]

I got a ride in this last week.  It is a 1954 Mercedes Benz SL300 Gullwing.  My bud who I do car stuff with all the time works for a Mercedes Benz restoration shop in a little town south of Madison, Wi.  They have been working on this on for a bit, and the boss told my friend to drive it for the week to work the bugs out of it before they deliver it back to the owner.  So, I got a ride on some beautiful curvy back roads near here.  I have always dreamed of getting to see one of these, and never expected to ride in one ever.  It has an estimated price a $600K!!!!  Perfect restored examples can reach the $1million mark.  Crazy rich guy car.  It rode real nice, had lots of mechanical noise from the trans, but was seamlessly smooth with power.  It did have lots of oversteer though.  Seats were comfy and had lots of arm room since the doors are super curved, leaving lots of arm and shoulder room.  Head room was a little tight.  It is an automotive experience I will never forget.   

[67vertman]

Sweet, i too have allways wanted to ride in one.

[drewcrane]

Sweet, i too have allways wanted to ride in one.

Hell I would like to just SEE one :cooldancing:nice post one of my all time fav cars

[RzeroB]

Nice. What's with the steering wheel in the side shot with the doors opend up? Folds up to facilitate getting in and out or something?

[ChallengerHK]

When I was service manager at a Honda dealer in the mid-80s there was a classic car dealer in town that didn't have a need for a full-time safety inspector, so they'd call us whenever they needed an inspection. I'd go down and pick up cars and shuttle them back and forth over several hours. I got to drive some great cars, and some of them I couldn't resist taking out for a "test drive." One of the latter was a 300 Gullwing. Lots of fun.

[Super Blue 72]

That is one sweet Mercedes! 

I wonder how many of those were made? 

[jordan]

Rzero, You are right!  The steering wheel folds down from the top to facilitate getting in and out.  It is a bit of a procedure to get in and out.  Im sure it cant be easy for big guys.  First a leg into the foot well, then sit on the door sill and slide your butt into the seat using a hand as support.  Lastly, coax you remaining leg in with a little tug and shut the door.  Getting out you have to sit on the door sill, then flip one leg out, stand up and pull out the remaining leg.  Im sure with practice it isnt so hard, and darn well worth it!