Introduced in 1954, the idea behind this watered-down W194 Grand Prix car can be attributed to New York Mercedes distributor Max Hoffman, Daimler-Benz's official importer in the United States. He believed that such a car would appeal to affluent American high-performance devotees. Subsequently the new 300 SL was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show rather than the Geneva or Frankfurt motor shows where Mercedes would traditionally launch their new models. With a top speed of 135 miles per hour and 0-60mph in about 8.8 seconds, the 300 SL was the fastest production car of its time. It was also the first mass-production model to use fuel injection, which doubled the power output from 115 to 212 brake horsepower. The 300 SL was immediately successful and became known for its distinctive ‘gull wing’ doors. Around three quarters of the units made by the German great were sold into the US market, confirming the brilliance of Max Hoffman’s initial idea.

This fine 1:8 scale model of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the co-operation and assistance of Mercedes regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings. The use of supremely accurate digital scanning of the original car has allowed us to perfectly recreate every detail at scale. Furthermore, it has undergone detailed scrutiny by both engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.