Legends: Mercedes Benz Gullwing 300SL

Conceived as a purpose-built race car more than 55 years ago, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL achieved an impressive level of success on the track and won many major races in Europe. It triumphed over the more powerful Ferraris, largely due to its rugged engineering. One of the most revered classic cars in history, the 300 SL production car owes its existence in part to an avid admirer named Max Hoffman (above). An Influential American importer of European cars, Hoffman was smitten with the 300 SL and urged the Stuttgart, Germany-based manufacturer to build a production road car. In a show of good faith, Hoffman pre-ordered 1,000 cars, which was enough to convince Mercedes to build the Gullwing for the street and perhaps regain some of the glory it enjoyed before the Second World War. Using the same chassis developed for the race car as well as a 240-horsepower 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, the Gullwing was so named for its soaring flip-up doors that saved weight and aided structural rigidity. Decades ahead of its time in terms of style and technology, the Gullwing was one of the first production cars, if not the first, to offer fuel injection. The Gullwing was a sensation when it debuted at the New York Auto Show in 1954 and quickly became the ultimate automotive status symbol. More than five decades later, this legendary sports car is considered one of the greatest vehicles ever made.