Some cars, whether elegantly refined or radically innovative, have left an indelible mark. The Mercedes 300 SL is one of them. Derived from the 1952 Le Mans-winning 300 SL race car, the road version unveiled in 1954 retained its ultra-light tubular chassis, iconic gullwing doors, and independent suspension on all four wheels. It also introduced direct fuel injection, desmodromic valve timing, and dry sump lubrication—an impressive package of cutting-edge technology. With 215 horsepower and a top speed of 260 km/h in its long-axle version, it was the fastest production car of its time. In just three years, 1,400 units were sold—six times Ferrari’s sales over the same period.