From the gearshift of the 300 SL
04/18/2021
You always think you know cars and suddenly you find details that seem unfamiliar. For example, I was surprised by the curved gearshift on a 300 SL I found in a barn. At first I thought it was a conversion, but then research confirmed its originality.
It was only shortly after the start of production, namely from the 51st 300 SL produced, that the long, curved gearshift, which led directly into the gearbox, was replaced by the shorter, familiar one with a shift linkage in the center console. The direct route into the gearbox came from the 300 SLR racing car and this version is therefore even rarer than the eternal Mercedes flagship already is.
The W198 was already sold in Europe in 1954 and it was not until March 1955 that the first vehicles were sold in the USA. A total of 1400 Gullwing models were built, of which around 1100 went to America. The Roadster was added later with 1858 units.
