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, symbolising 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 colours of the paintwork. AUTHOR: Jürgen Lewandowski works around the globe as an author and correspondent for various publications. For decades, he has passionately covered automotive history and documented the contemporary automotive scene. With his academic studies in German and English and his experience as an editor of automotive magazines, Jürgen Lewandowski has promoted, written, and edited some 100 books on the history of the automobile and the development of new model series over the past 30 years. Today he lives and works in Munich. SELLING POINTS: . Hard facts, soft skills: technical data, casually recounted anecdotes, and plenty of interesting lifestyle information . On track and on the screen: the successes of the 300 SL in racing and its many appearances in the movies and on television . A must-have for all gullwing fans 120 colour illustrations