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Based on the initial Mercedes- Development and engineering
Benz 300SL racing cars of 1952 of the roadgoing 300SL fills
that utterly dominated European many excellent and authoritative
sports-car competition, including volumes, requiring no repetition
1-2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, here; suffice it to say the 300SL’s
plus another 1-2 victory in Mexico’s features, engineering, and immense
deadly Carrera Panamericana, performance remain advanced
the roadgoing 300SL “Gullwing” and relevant, even by today’s jaded
of 1954-57 was never meant standards. Featuring an ultra-
to be. That is, until famed New lightweight spaceframe chassis, the
York automobile importer Max 300SL’s highlights seem modern
Hoffman successfully lobbied the even today, including direct fuel
Daimler-Benz board of directors injection, a 3.0-liter SOHC inline
to authorize limited production. 6-cylinder power plant, dry-
Introduced at the February 1954 sump engine lubrication, fully
New York International Motor independent suspension and of
Sports Show alongside the touring- course upward-opening “Gullwing”
oriented 190SL, the glamorous doors. Most of these brilliant and
300SL was mostly hand-built and potent performers carry fascinating
immediately recognized as an provenance and this stellar example
object of automotive desire for the from 1955 is certainly no exception.
world’s business, entertainment One of 855 produced during
and social luminaries. Today, the 1955, it was originally finished in
unforgettable 300SL ranks among Strawberry Red and trimmed in
the most collectible and valuable of optional beige leather upholstery.
all postwar sports cars. Most intriguing, it was delivered
new to the Ministry of Police in
Havana, Cuba on June 16, 1955.
- - - Pre-revolutionary Cuba, was a
DRIVEN AT THE 1957 CUBAN GRAND PRIX favored destination for wealthy
tourists and expatriates. During
WITH MERCEDES-BENZ SPONSORSHIP BY the 1950s, Argentine racing
NOTED CUBAN RACING DRIVER SANTIAGO driver and future automobile
"CHAGUITO" GONZALES FOR THE CUBAN manufacturer Alejandro de Tomaso
MINISTRY OF POLICE, THIS 300SL WON THE enthusiastically convinced his
OVER 2-LITER SPORTS CLASS - A STERLING friend, Cuban president Fulgencio
PERFORMANCE FOR THE HOMETOWN Battista, to support a new Grand
Prix race in the Cuban capital
DRIVER AND TEAM. of Havana. Advertised with
- - - great fanfare and fueled by a
generous purse, the first Cuban
Grand Prix was held in February
1957, attracting the world’s top
manufacturers and all-star drivers,
including Carroll Shelby, who
finished second overall in a Ferrari
410 Sport to reigning Grand Prix
World Champion Juan-Manuel
Fangio in a Maserati 300S. Driven
at the 1957 Cuban Grand Prix
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