Car restoration corner: The early history of the Mercedes Gullwing

Image source: express.co.uk


According to car restorer and automobile enthusiast Eugene Bernshtam, in 1956, Mercedes-Benz found itself with a very interesting dilemma; it wanted to introduce a new model that would revolutionize the industry, but it also needed that car to be a smashing success for its name and good reputation to continue. The last thing anyone at Mercedes wanted was for its new line of cars – this one being an awesomely designed, powerfully engineered, and technologically advanced car – to be viewed as a failure.

That year, Mercedes-Benz experimented with new ideas on the racetrack; it developed a high-performance version of its 300 SL that featured an innovative gullwing door design that opened vertically upwards.

Image source: express.co.uk


The public was enthralled with this new idea, as it helped to show how Mercedes-Benz was a daring and innovative company that never settled for average. The company wanted its cars to be unique and spectacular in all areas. This design decision worked out well for the carmaker on the race track as well, as that year saw Juan Manuel Fangio's 300 SLR racer win both the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Mercedes-Benz.

As planning and design for the new line of cars in 1956 arrived, top company officials decided that they wanted this new car to be unique in every way possible; nothing less than spectacular would suffice. Engineers got together and determined that they would create a new, high horsepower V8 engine and use it in a state-of-the-art chassis with a body made entirely of aluminum.

The finished product was the Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé. This car was never intended to be available on the open market; only six were ever made. The Gullwing was based on this, Eugene Bernshtam adds.

Eugene Bernshtam is a real estate developer who is a huge car enthusiast. For related posts, click this link.

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