Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Coupé W 196 S - 1955

A Formula 1 racing car for the road - that's what the Mercedes Benz 300 SLR coupé is. Based on the Formula 1 single seater with a 2,5 l engine, a total of ten of these 300 SLR sports cars were built in 1955, the biggest difference as against the Formula 1 racing car being - apart from the two seater body- a 3 l straight eight engine with direct fuel injection. The light alloy engine produced 300 hp - enough to win a sensational victory in the first race, the 1955 Mille Miglia, and enough to win the Sports Car World Championship in 1955.

The test Department fitted two 300 SLR with a coupé body, the lines of which were strongly modelled on the production gull wing door 300 SL sports car. With a big exhaust muffler on the car's right flank, the head of Mercedes test Department, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, drove well over 10.000 test kilometers on public roads before the car joined the Mercedes Benz Museum.

Technical data: Engine number of cylinders 8, displacement 2.982 cc, output 300 hp at 7.500 rpm .

Weight 990 kg , Top speed approx. 280 kph.

Wallpapers of Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Coupé 1955