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Photo of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Gullwing doors by necessity; up to 260 km/h by choosing the right rear axle.1

Researched October 30, 2026 from 40 sources

Also called

  • GullwingNorth American fans named the coupe at its 1954 New York debut, inspired by its roof-hinged doors.23
  • PapillonFrench for butterfly; fans named the coupe for its upward-swinging doors.2
  • FlügeltürerThe coupe's roof-hinged doors also earned it this German name.4
  • Living room on wheelsA teasing label from coupe fans for the Roadster's softer character.2

At a glance

0150300
212–250 hpPower
0510
7.7–9.3 s0–60 mph
0150300
235–260 km/hTop speed
0200400
275–309 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,295–1,390 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1810111214

Engine
2,996 cc M198 straight-six; direct injection, dry sump, tilted 50 degrees1213
Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive12
Gearbox
4-speed synchronized manual; Roadster uses helical gears1012
Built at
Sindelfingen factory, West Germany1012
Units built
3,258: 1,400 coupes (1954–1957), 1,858 Roadsters (1957–1963)12

The story

Max Hoffman pushed for a road-going W194 to sell in America. The 300 SL paired Rudolf Uhlenhaut's engineering with Friedrich Geiger's styling and Hans Scherenberg's direct-injection research.56

1953: Hoffman wins board approval19531954: New York debut, then Sindelfingen19541955: 29 alloy-bodied Gullwings · Fifth overall at the Mille Miglia19551957: Roadster replaces the Gullwing19571958: Hardtop joins the Roadster options19581961: Four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes19611962: Roadster gains an aluminum block19621963: Production ends after 3,258 cars1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W194): 1952Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Hobel' (W194/11): 1953Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe 'Gullwing' (W198 I): August 1954–May 1957Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (W198 II): May 1957–February 1963Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda' (W113): 1963–1971W113 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones135101219
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1952Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W194)
1953Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Hobel' (W194/11)
August 1954–May 1957Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe 'Gullwing' (W198 I)
May 1957–February 1963Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (W198 II)
1963–1971Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda' (W113)
1953Hoffman wins board approval
1954New York debut, then Sindelfingen
195529 alloy-bodied Gullwings
1955Fifth overall at the Mille Miglia
1957Roadster replaces the Gullwing
1958Hardtop joins the Roadster options
1961Four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes
1962Roadster gains an aluminum block
1963Production ends after 3,258 cars
  1. 1953

    Hoffman wins board approval

    Hoffman's pitch to open the US market won over the board; development of the production sports cars began in September.1

  2. 1954

    New York debut, then Sindelfingen

    The coupe debuted on February 6; production followed in August. Its four-stroke direct-injection engine was a production-car first.17

  3. 1955

    29 alloy-bodied Gullwings

    The aluminum-body option arrived in February. Equipment included an NSL engine, sports suspension, Rudge wheels and Plexiglas windows.89

  4. 1955

    Fifth overall at the Mille Miglia

    John Fitch and Kurt Gessl led a 300 SL GT-class sweep and finished fifth overall; outright honors went to the separate 300 SLR.48

  5. 1957

    Roadster replaces the Gullwing

    Shown at Geneva in March and built from May, the Roadster gained lower sills, conventional doors and a low-pivot rear axle with a compensating spring.110

  6. 1958

    Hardtop joins the Roadster options

    An optional removable hardtop arrived, and buyers could order the Roadster without its folding soft top.21011

  7. 1961

    Four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes

    Dunlop discs replaced the Roadster's drum brakes at all four wheels in March.1011

  8. 1962

    Roadster gains an aluminum block

    In March, the Roadster switched from a cast-iron engine block to aluminum alloy, starting with chassis 3049.10

  9. 1963

    Production ends after 3,258 cars

    Production at Sindelfingen ended in February, closing a run of 1,400 coupes and 1,858 Roadsters.212

Every generation

  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car
    W1941952
  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Hobel'
    W194/111953
  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe 'Gullwing'
    W198 IAugust 1954–May 1957
  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
    W198 IIMay 1957–February 1963
  • Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda'
    W1131963–1971

Power over the years

From 212 hp to 240 hp in 1 year.

0100200300 195419561958 hp 1954 · 212 hp · Gullwing standard, 215 PS DIN1954 · 220 hp · Gullwing standard, period bhp1955 · 240 hp · Alloy Gullwing, Sonderteile option1957 · 240 hp · Roadster Sonderteile, period bhp 240 hp Alloy Gullwing, Sonderteile option 212 hp Gullwing standard, 215 PS DIN
81012
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1954212Gullwing standard, 215 PS DIN
1954220Gullwing standard, period bhp
1955240Alloy Gullwing, Sonderteile option
1957240Roadster Sonderteile, period bhp

Versions

8 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    300 SL Coupe

    1954–1957

    220 hp

    1,400 built

  • Standard

    300 SL Roadster

    1957–1963

    240 hp

    1,858 built

  • 300 SL Roadster with removable hardtop

    Standard

    300 SL Roadster with removable hardtop

    1958–1963

  • Standard

    300 SL Roadster, iron block and disc brakes

    1961–1962

  • Performance

    300 SL Gullwing with Sonderteile engine

    240 hp

  • Standard

    300 SL Roadster with alloy engine block

    1962–1963

    210 built

  • Limited

    300 SL Alloy Gullwing

    1955–1956

    29 built

  • Special

    300 SL Coupe with fiberglass test body

    1 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • The Coupe's doors lift from the roof, above unusually tall, wide sills.1216
  • A broad, chrome-framed grille carries a large central star with whiskers extending sideways.8
  • Eyebrow-shaped splash guards sit above all four wheelarches.8
  • Front-fender cooling vents carry two aluminum trim strips.8
  • The Coupe has round headlights; the Roadster groups its lights vertically.2

Year by year

  1. Early Gullwings

    First cars had a long gear lever that prevented radio fitment; a shorter lever farther back on the tunnel soon replaced it.8

  2. 1955

    Wheelarch-eyebrow piping disappeared, while a flat, two-piece grille star replaced the earlier concave emblem.8

  3. 1957

    The Roadster arrives with front-hinged doors and vertical light clusters in place of the Coupe's round headlamps.2

  4. 1958

    Roadster armrests change from opening, two-piece assemblies to single-piece units.10

  5. 1958 onward

    An optional steel hardtop creates a coupe-like roofline; buyers can also omit the folding soft top.21011

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
    300 SL
    Photo of a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
    Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

    Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

    Roof-hinged doors identify the 300 SL Coupe; if the hood is open, a 190 SL has a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine.816

  • Photo of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
    300 SL
    Photo of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
    Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

    Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

    With the hood open, look for the 300 SLR's Grand Prix-derived 8-cylinder engine; the 300 SL uses a straight-six.1218

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $1.1M–$1.8M16282930

Price when newAuction saleValue todayPrices on a log scale
$1K$10K$100K$1M$10M 1960197019801990200020102020 Value today: $1,100,000–$1,800,000 1955 · $7,463 · US base, Gullwing1955 · $8,897 · US as tested, Gullwing1956 · $7,463 · US base, Gullwing 1976 · $30,000 · 1956 Alloy Gullwing, bought by Rudi Klein, Luigi Chinetti Motors2022 · $6,825,000 · 1955 Alloy Gullwing, RM Sotheby's2023 · $1,572,500 · 1956 Gullwing, RM Sotheby's2024 · $2,012,500 · 1957 Roadster, factory Rudge wheels, Amelia Island2025 · $1,345,000 · 1954 Gullwing, replacement NSL, 65k km shown, BaT Auctions2025 · $2,150,000 · 1963 Roadster, final-week production, Pebble Beach2025 · $1,501,000 · 1955 Gullwing, restored, Amelia Island2025 · $1,259,000 · 1958 Roadster, matching numbers, Arizona2025 · $854,750 · 1958 Roadster, replacement engine, Cliveden House2026 · $1,550,000 · 1956 Gullwing, 85k miles shown, BaT Auctions2026 · $1,511,000 · 1962 Roadster, repl. alloy engine, 55k mi shown, BaT Auctions2026 · $1,160,000 · 1963 Roadster, replacement alloy engine, Monterey2026 · $1,525,906 · 1954 Gullwing, Paris2026 · $1,494,425 · 1955 Gullwing, Paris $6.8M RM Sotheby's, 2022
91516172029303334353637383940
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1955Price when new$7,463US base, Gullwing
1955Price when new$8,897US as tested, Gullwing
1956Price when new$7,463US base, Gullwing
1976Auction sale$30,0001956 Alloy Gullwing, bought by Rudi Klein, Luigi Chinetti Motors
2022Auction sale$6,825,0001955 Alloy Gullwing, RM Sotheby's
2023Auction sale$1,572,5001956 Gullwing, RM Sotheby's
2024Auction sale$2,012,5001957 Roadster, factory Rudge wheels, Amelia Island
2025Auction sale$1,345,0001954 Gullwing, replacement NSL, 65k km shown, BaT Auctions
2025Auction sale$2,150,0001963 Roadster, final-week production, Pebble Beach
2025Auction sale$1,501,0001955 Gullwing, restored, Amelia Island
2025Auction sale$1,259,0001958 Roadster, matching numbers, Arizona
2025Auction sale$854,7501958 Roadster, replacement engine, Cliveden House
2026Auction sale$1,550,0001956 Gullwing, 85k miles shown, BaT Auctions
2026Auction sale$1,511,0001962 Roadster, repl. alloy engine, 55k mi shown, BaT Auctions
2026Auction sale$1,160,0001963 Roadster, replacement alloy engine, Monterey
2026Auction sale$1,525,9061954 Gullwing, Paris
2026Auction sale$1,494,4251955 Gullwing, Paris
2026Value today$1,100,000–$1,800,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 8 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 13 stories from its legend
    • “The Mille Miglia record belongs to the 300 SLR”
    • “Le Mans to Mexico in one winning season”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 40 sources
  1. Mercedes-Benz Classic Parts Search partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com
  2. March 1957: The SL Legacy Begins - MercedesHeritage mercedesheritage.com
  3. Mercedes-Benz USA Media Newsroom media.mbusa.com
  4. 1000 Miglia 2024: Mercedes-Classic Werksteam startet mit acht 300 SL Coupés und einem Sechszylinder-Kompressor „Super-Sport“ | Mercedes-Benz Media media.mercedes-benz.com
  5. Mercedes-Benz W194 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  6. LEGEND hk-engineering.com
  7. « Super-Wings » : la Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé media.mercedes-benz.fr
  8. Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Gullwing Guide — Supercar Nostalgia supercarnostalgia.com
  9. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Alloy' Gullwing | The Junkyard: The Rudi Klein Collection | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  10. Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Roadster Guide — Supercar Nostalgia supercarnostalgia.com
  11. Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and Roadster: Buying guide and review (1954-1963) | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  12. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  13. Road car buying guide: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL June 2020 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  14. 1000 Miles in a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster autoweek.com
  15. Tested: 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Is Automotive Brilliance caranddriver.com
  16. Everything You Need to Know about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | Automobiles | RM Sotheby's | Sotheby’s sothebys.com
  17. 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy-Block Roadster for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $1,511,000 on July 21, 2026 (Lot #252,728) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  18. Classis test: Mercerdes 300SL November 1988 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  19. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL/53 - The First "Uhlenhaut Coupe" automedia.revsinstitute.org
  20. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing vs. 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S caranddriver.com
  21. Mercedes-Benz Classic Motorsport Newsletter 2/2026 | Mercedes-Benz Media media.mercedes-benz.com
  22. 60 years ago: Paul O'Shea becomes US sports car champion - MercedesHeritage mercedesheritage.com
  23. Gable's Gullwing: Driving the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Owned By an Icon motortrend.com
  24. Der 300 SL als Filmstar mb300sl.de
  25. IGCD.net - Internet Game Cars Database igcd.net
  26. Celebrating 120 Years of Rudolf Uhlenhaut: Engineer, Visionary, Gentleman - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team mercedesamgf1.com
  27. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (1954 - 1957) review – the Porsche 911 Turbo of the 1950s | evo evo.co.uk
  28. Buying a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in Australia | Torr Automotive torrautomotive.com.au
  29. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $1,345,000 on August 12, 2025 (Lot #204,034) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $1,550,000 on May 8, 2026 (Lot #241,376) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. Mercedes 300 SL Sales & Market Analysis - collectorscarworld collectorscarworld.com
  32. Buyer Information for 300Sl Gullwings and Roadsters silverstarclassics.com
  33. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | Cliveden House 2025 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  34. 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | Gooding Christie’s goodingco.com
  35. 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | The Monterey Auction 2026 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  36. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | Paris 2026 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  37. Bonhams Cars : 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' Coupé Chassis no. 198.040.5500614 Engine no. 198.980.5500650 carsd.bonhams.com
  38. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | Gooding Christie’s goodingco.com
  39. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | Arizona 2025 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  40. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | Gooding Christie’s goodingco.com
  • partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com
  • mercedesheritage.com
  • media.mbusa.com
  • media.mercedes-benz.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • hk-engineering.com
  • media.mercedes-benz.fr
  • supercarnostalgia.com
  • rmsothebys.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • motorsportmagazine.com
  • autoweek.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • sothebys.com

Photo credits

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