There is actually no shortage of books about the legendary 300 SL from Mercedes-Benz. The 300 SL was probably Germany's most important sports car of the post-war period. It set standards with its gullwing doors, even if it was not the first gullwing door car. And with its mechanical fuel injection, it was technologically innovative, even though others before it had already distributed the fuel in the engine in a similar way.
The Gullwing was followed by the Roadster, which was no less popular and just as beautiful. There were also racing successes that laid the foundations for the car's fame. And to this day, the 300 SL is one of the most sought-after collector's cars, as evidenced by the seven-figure prices that have been quoted for years, even though the 300 SL is now more common at many a classic car rally than a VW Beetle.
It is therefore understandable that writers and historians are constantly devoting books to this legendary sports car. It is all the more interesting to see how they go about it.
From the beginning to the end
The book by Hans Kleissl (founder of HK Engineering) and Harry Niemann (former head of the Daimler-Benz historical archive, author of several non-fiction books) is subtitled "The car of the century". The two gentlemen are therefore interested in documenting the role of the 300 SL in the 20th century. Accordingly, they introduce the book with a brief outline of the situation at Mercedes-Benz after the war. And then they get straight to the point with the history of the W194 racing car, the racing forerunner of the road-going 300 SL with the internal designation W198.
The descriptions by Kling co-driver Klenk of the 1952 Carrera Panamericana are also interesting, as is the never-used prototype W194/11, known internally as "the slicer".
And then the most important people in the development of the 300 SL are introduced - Rudolf Uhlenhaut (developer), Hans Scherenberg (engineer) and Friedrich Geiger (stylist).
It was not at all planned that the gullwing would ever appear on normal roads. Mercedes actually wanted to withdraw the sports car in 1952, after all the important races had been won. The decisive factor was the importer in the USA, Maximilian E. Hofmann, who wanted a sports car from Mercedes. And this wish was granted with the W198, the gullwing with fuel injection.
Over 110 pages are devoted to the development of the Gullwing, its marketing and, above all, some special examples. Because the road-going SL was also used in racing, and successfully at that.
Perhaps the funniest use, however, was as a "draft horse" in a bicycle speed record - José Meiffret achieved 204.778 km on two wheels and a huge sprocket between the wheels behind Adolf Zimbers' 300 SL, which had been carefully modified for the record attempt.
Development of the roadster had already begun before the first Gullwing was delivered, i.e. before October 1954, and a prototype had already been built in 1955. This logically introduces the next part of the book, which is dedicated to the open-top 300 SL, interspersed with other stories about the Gullwing. Again and again, prominent owners take center stage.
Famous owners
In general, the Kneissl/Riemann book is also a bit of a social mirror, because anyone who was anyone (and had the necessary small change) owned a 300 SL. There is talk of Pablo Picasso, Paul O Shea (and his SL+S), Eugen Böhringer, Horst Buchholz, Rudi Caracciola, Sophia Loren, Herbert von Karajan, Paul Hubschmid, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tony Curtis, Anita Ekberg, Toni Sailer, Steve McQueen and Kurt Jürgens, to mention just a few of the celebrities depicted.
Many of them opted for the open-top 300 SL, which was also available with a hardtop. However, the open-top car naturally provided a better view, which was not insignificant for people looking for headlights.
Restorations
The fact that Kneissl in particular keeps pointing out restoration objects is obvious in view of his work (HK Engeering is one of the best-known SL restorers), but also exciting. You can imagine how much rebuilding was necessary in many of the cases, as hardly any part of the tubular frame was still usable.
Attractive picture material
298 black and white and 111 color pictures were printed in the book. The historical black and white photos are particularly impressive and make this book a must-buy. Many of the pictures have never been seen before and show the 300 SL in racing scenes, on the boulevard but also in everyday situations.
The work is supplemented by technical data on all models built and a list of the modifications to which the production vehicles were subjected between 1954 and 1963. There is also a list of the paintwork and upholstery, although perhaps more pictures would have been desirable here. Excerpts from the sales literature are also printed.
The color statistics are interesting: silver metallic was the most popular color, followed by fire engine red, white and graphite gray. I wonder how many of the bright red 158 Gullwing models delivered still wear this color today? Incidentally, white overtook white-grey or silver for the Roadster.
No HK advertising brochure
Anyone who fears that the book has become an HK advertising brochure because of author Hans Kneissl can rest assured. Of course, the restoration experience and the long involvement with the subject of the 300 SL are evident in the work, but that is a good thing.
Nevertheless, the target reader is not clearly identifiable. The book is neither a restoration bible (although the many historical pictures can certainly provide valuable services for a new build), nor a technical book; engine analyses or chassis discussions are too brief for that. At the same time, however, it is much more than a coffee table book, because the texts really belong and are well worth reading.
EUR 99.00 is no small price to pay, even if a W198 costs ten thousand times as much today. Anyone who has such a vehicle in their garage will not hesitate to buy the book by Kneissl/Niemann, and anyone who does not yet have a book about the W198 will find a good introduction here that offers more than just a car book.
Bibliographical information
- Title: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL - The car of the century
- Authors: Hans Kleissl / Harry Niemann
- Language: German
- Publisher: Motorbuch Verlag
- Edition: 1st edition July 2017
- Format: Hardcover, with binding, 245 x 305 mm
- Scope: 368 pages, 298 black and white and 111 color illustrations
- ISBN: 978-3-613-03960-5
- Price: 99.00 €
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, at Motorbuch Verlag or at the relevant bookstores
