The vehicles shown on this website are no longer available for purchase. The illustrations and instructions are intended for informational purposes only. Mercedes-Benz SLR Coupé, SLR 722 Edition, SLR Roadster, SLR Roadster 722 S, SLR Stirling Moss – Fuel consumption (urban/ extra-urban/ combined): 20,9 l/ 10,8l/ 14,5 l/100 km, CO2 emissions (combined): 459-295 g/km.
300 SL Coupé
Unveiled in 1954 at the Motor Show in New York and developed for series production from the successful 1952 racing car, the 300 SL Coupé (W 198) was not just a dream for automobile fans at its launch; it was also voted "Car of the Century" by motorsport journalists. With only 1400 units produced, the 215 hp "Gullwing" was the first standard-production car to be powered by a petrol-injected four-stroke engine.
With its characteristic doors, it remains to this day one of the most coveted and expensive vintage sports cars. A key role in the success of the 300 SL was played by Mercedes-Benz's US general importer Max Hoffman, who did his utmost to back the decision to build the 300 SL, presenting the vehicle to a select clientele in his exclusive showrooms in New York and Los Angeles.
W 196 R
On the vehicle's very first outing in Reims in 1954, Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling brought home a double victory for Mercedes-Benz. The engineers around Professor Fritz Nallinger had developed an all-new 2.5-litre eight-cylinder in-line engine with desmodromic positive valve timing.
Carrying works number W 196 R, the car was built in different versions: some of the "new Silver Arrows" featured a futuristic-looking streamlined body, while others sported free-standing wheels. Star driver Fangio drove the W 196 to the Formula 1 World Championship in 1954 and 1955.
Juan Manuel Fangio
There can be few racing drivers to have remained as loyal to their brand as Juan Manuel Fangio. Even away from the race track, he swore by the cars with the star. Or in his own words: "Safety is everything." The Argentinian was enticed away from Maserati by racing manager Neubauer for the 1954 racing season. Fangio having suffered a breakdown in his private Alfa Romeo on the Nürburgring in 1953, the shrewd Neubauer promptly made sure that the man from Buenos Aires was supplied with the necessary spare parts – from Mercedes, of course. Fangio was won over.
He went on to become World Champion in 1954 and 1955 in a Mercedes-Benz W 196 R. The commitment with which he got his Silver Arrows across the finishing line, even in the most adverse circumstances, was legendary. The racing icon was also to remain loyal to the brand in his later years: as president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina with his own Mercedes-Benz dealership.
