We recently had a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG "Gullwing" in the office and I was given the enviable task of driving it for the photo shoot. We did most of the shoot in the middle of nowhere near Palmdale, but I had an idea for something special.
I knew the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, California, was the owner of a perfect 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL -- also known as the original Gullwing. This is one of the most iconic cars every made. I rang up Marconi and set up a date between the SLS and its grandfather.
This video shows me driving the SLS AMG into the museum.
About the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
This car belongs to the first year of civilian production and is one of only 1,400 ever built. Marconi says its worth $500,000, but that's a pretty conservative estimate given this particular car's perfection. The interior is navy blue with tartan seats (you know how much I love those) and specially made luggage that fits behind the front seats (the trunk is filled with tire).
A quick, reasonably accurate overview of the 300SL
When the ladies at Marconi asked if I'd like to sit in the SL, they quickly provided me with my new answer to the question: "What's the most expensive car you've been in?" Getting over the sizeable door sill is tricky, and I found it easier to sit on it then swing myself into place. As the below video shows, knowing that the steering wheel collapses helps things considerably.
Photographer Kurt Niebuhr knew about this little trick, but the ladies at Marconi did not. When seeing the wheel collapsed downward, the expression on their faces was priceless.
Once inside, the 300SL is actually surprisingly spacious. It's better than the first- and second-generation Miata, actually. I suppose Germans were still pretty tall 55 years ago.
Here is a quick spec difference between the 300SL and the SLS AMG. Note the weight difference.
Photo by James Riswick, and thus crappier than Niebuhr's top photo
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the Edmunds Test Drive of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
About the Marconi Automotive Museum
The Marconi is a non-profit museum and event venue with an estimated $30-million car collection. It was opened in 1994 by the museum's namesake, Dick Marconi. Unlike most museums, this one is open to visits by appointment only, but the lay-out of the museum allows you to get a lot closer to the vehicles than a lot of museums (though you have to bring a new Gullwing if you want to sit in the old Gullwing).
A majority of the collection is Italian, including a coupe of Sultan of Brunei specials. But they've also got a small muscle car collection, myriad race cars, an Aston Martin DB7 Zagato, a BMW M1, a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, a Diamonds Are Forever Mustang, and one of only five 1996 Jaguar XJ220 STWR's, which has a twin-turbo 680-hp V6 and hits 60 faster than the SLS -- 3.3 seconds. It also costs about $400,000.
Should you be on vacation in the Orange County area, have some time to kill, or are planning a Bar Mitzvah, you've got to check out Marconi.
By blueguydotcom
on April 8, 2010
08:07 AM
Clear reminder of how bland the current design language is at Mercedes.
By firstwagon
on April 8, 2010
08:56 AM
Interesting. My first thought was how dated it made the original look.
By blueguydotcom
on April 8, 2010
11:07 AM
first,
Weird. I see that new SLS and can't help but wonder why it's so awful looking. Like the SLR it just seems like a major styling gaffe.
By mlh
on April 8, 2010
12:17 PM
Awesome.