Notifications
Clear all
Forum 24
6
Posts
6
Users
34
Reactions
218
Views
Topic starter
16/12/2025 2:41 pm
1952 saw the birth of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing. The new lightweight, aerodynamic design, model W194, with its tubular frame had a smooth low front profile had its potent 3.0 liter 6 canted 50° to port. The gull wing doors came about due to the high sills covering the frame required using access that included the roof. Its debut included a win at Le Mans and, in this model, the 3rd Mexican Panamericana endurance race. The car won that Mexican race handily despite a catastrophic collision with a vulture that went through the windscreen knocking out navigator Hans Klenk. A lengthy pit stop was required to replace the windscreen and screw in safety bars across it to prevent a recurrence.
Despite the delay, Karl Kling managed an average speed of 102 mph for the win, with a second 300SL placing second.
The model is an early release by CMC in their now defunct 1/24 models. A much upgraded model of the same car was released a decade later in 1/18 scale. This model comes with a facsimile of the celebration coin presented to the factory team by the West German government.
16/12/2025 5:39 pm
another one that took me a while to acquire. Details are highlighted so well in your pics Rich. Heard reports of the odd seagull, pigeon, going through a windscreen. A vulture would be a great story to tell!
16/12/2025 7:42 pm
What's old is new again with that grill.
16/12/2025 7:55 pm
Great story, model and pics Rich. Thank you.💯👍
16/12/2025 8:33 pm
Nice to see this early 1/24 scale version. This was a unique design that got quick success. I have 1/43 resin versions by Provence Moulage plus several Diecast versions but not this. It would be a great addition. Nice post Rich.
16/12/2025 9:46 pm
1952 saw the birth of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing. The new lightweight, aerodynamic design, model W194, with its tubular frame had a smooth low front profile had its potent 3.0 liter 6 canted 50° to port. The gull wing doors came about due to the high sills covering the frame required using access that included the roof. Its debut included a win at Le Mans and, in this model, the 3rd Mexican Panamericana endurance race. The car won that Mexican race handily despite a catastrophic collision with a vulture that went through the windscreen knocking out navigator Hans Klenk. A lengthy pit stop was required to replace the windscreen and screw in safety bars across it to prevent a recurrence.
Despite the delay, Karl Kling managed an average speed of 102 mph for the win, with a second 300SL placing second.
The model is an early release by CMC in their now defunct 1/24 models. A much upgraded model of the same car was released a decade later in 1/18 scale. This model comes with a facsimile of the celebration coin presented to the factory team by the West German government.
Rich,
In the mid '70s there was a fabulous MBZ show in Fashion Island located in Newport Beach, CA. Yep, mucho $$$$ in the area. One of the displays was a 300 SL sans body. It was the most beautiful assembly of tubing, suspension and motor that I had ever seen. I wish I still had all the pics. Steve