Mercedes Benz 300sl

A lavishly illustrated tribute to one of the most beloved European cars of all time. For nearly seventy years, no car has moved the lovers of classic cars more than the 300 SL. A legend since its launch in 1954 as a gullwing coupe, the 300 SL has been seen as the very model of what a sports car can be, its style and beauty perfectly matched to its power and handling. This beautifully illustrated tribute volume brings together Hans Kleissl, one of the world's leading experts on the 300 SL, and former Daimler historian and Mercedes-Benz archive manager Harry Niemann. The resulting book captures the magic and mystique of the car through history, photographs, insights into its technological breakthroughs, and firsthand accounts of its storied run. There's no better gift for the passionate fan of the 300 SL.

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

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 1952 Mercedes-Benz astonished the racing world with the successes it achieved with its 300SL, exploiting an advanced space-type frame and aerodynamic body with gullwing doors. Already the subject of a Ludvigsen Library Series book, the racing 300SL inspired the creation of a production version, which first took flight in 1954. The 300SL stunned critics and experts alike with its fabulous performance-more than 150 miles per hour-exotic looks and superb build quality. Not just a pretty face, the 300SL was also extremely successful in competition on both sides of the Atlantic. The original coupe was followed by a roadster version in 1957; in all, 3,258 were made. Drawing on his unmatched archive of Mercedes-Benz photos, including coverage by Rudy Mailander and Edward Eves of the 300SL production line, Karl Ludvigsen presents the 300SL in all its glory. He also draws on his own experience as an owner of one of these great cars.

This archival volume with a large-scale photoprint documents the evolution of one of the most exceptional cars ever. In René Staud's unique photographs, every carefully-engineered curve and detailed component can be seen in stunning and accurate representation. Both tribute and testimony, this book conveys the outstanding contributions this automotive legend has made from the fifties all the way to the present day. Text in English, German, French, Chinese, and Russian clamshell box, portfolio with one signed and numbered photoprint SELLING POINTS: *Containing one of René Staud's most distinctive photographs as a signed and numbered print *A refined and finely crafted box will preserve this edition in mint condition 175 color and b/w photographs

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.

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