Mercedes Benz 300 Sl Rennsportwagen

The 300 SL (W 194) is the first racing car with which Mercedes-Benz renewed its participation in international automobile racing in the postwar period. Top-ranking positions and triumphs, such as at the legendary twenty-four-hour endurance race in Le Mans or the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, are not a long time in the coming and as early as 1952 secure a place for the Stuttgart-based make in the worldwide motor sports scene. The racing car achieved particular fame for its unusual gull-winged doors, which turn the production sports car 300 SL, introduced in 1954 and directly derived from the W 194, into one of the lasting icons in automobile history. The book provides exhaustive and authentic documentation of the technical development of the W 194 based on extensive research in the archives of Mercedes-Benz Classic: all of the races as well as the biography of each individual vehicle are presented with the aid of in part unpublished images and illustrations. Its high-quality design as well as its exquisite features make the book a true collector's item. (German edition ISBN 978-3-7757-4002-9)

From the very first 300 SL to its 2011 successors, this iconic sports car shows how engineering can claim the status of fine art. Who better to document this parade of automotive milestones than René Staud? After all, his atmospheric images enrapture the hearts and imaginations of car connoisseurs everywhere. Building on the success of his Mercedes-Benz SL calendars, this title is a love song to an exceptional car--long the favorite of celebrities such as Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Alfred Hitchcock. Each carefully staged photograph showcases the sculpted curves and precise details--all while capturing the thrills of this ultimate ride. A photographic homage to the "sports car of the century" spanning 60 years of model history, from the 1952 300 SL racers to the latest-generation SL. SELLING POINTS: *An essential reference and inspiration for all lovers of this automotive heart-stopper *A motoring legend comes to life ILLUSTRATIONS: Photographs throughout

When Mercedes-Benz created its 300SL in 1952, the famed German automaker so outpaced its competition from Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar that its design and engineering standards became the hallmark by which sports cars the world over would be judged for more than a decade. Trace this fantastic car's development from the first racers of 1952, through the production Gullwing coupe of 1954, the roadster, the 300SLR, and the W196 racers. Rare Daimler-Benz archival photos detail the models from prototype, to production, to racetrack. Sftbd., 10 x 10, 160 pgs., 50 b&w and 150 color ill.

A limited edition of 1500 copies. This book chronicles the development and racing career of a car regarded as the ultimate example of the purebred sports car of the 20th century and the epitome of functional beauty and extraordinary performance: the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Taking second place at its 1952 Mille Miglia debut, it went on to win every one of its races that season. Dramatic photos, vivid descriptions, and dramatic recollections from the drivers ensures this book will be a joy to read and enjoy for years to come.

In 1954, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was unveiled at the International Motor Sports Show in New York -- the start of an unparalleled success story. Victories in the 24-hour race at Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana made it world-famous. It also possessed groundbreaking technology, including the first series-production fuel-injected engine. Its elegant shape and futuristic gullwing doors made it a coveted prize, symbolizing exclusivity and freedom. This volume has everything that is important about the legendary sports car: wonderfully aesthetic automotive photography by René Staud and archive pictures rich in patina, snapshots of racing successes and famous owners, and interesting facts from the model's history to the colors of the paintwork.

A photographic homage to one of the finest cars ever build, now in a small format edition.