Gullwing-America/Mercedes 300 SL Panamerica
Just stop for a moment and take it in. Classic, flowing lines, accompanied by a much more modern wheel and brake package. A nice blend of old and new, no? The best part, youll be able to buy it. The details are after the jump.
Gullwing-America, the makee of the vehicle you see above, is not a company that Im particularly familiar with. Apparently, they produced a retro-futuristic Bentley concept some time back, but no one has heard from them since. Until now. Now the company has released a set of images of another retro-futuristic design concept - this time its the Mercedes iconic 300SL that is receiving the update. Maintained is the classic bodywork and the dash, gone is just about everything else.
Under the hood is a 370 hp 5.5L Mercedes V8 (M-133-55 engine) mated to a 6-speed auto or manual. The suspension is fully independent. Clearly, the improvements over the widow-maker original are significant.
Im a huge fan of classic car design, but owning a relic from another era would be a whole other can of worms. Constant maintenance, frequent breakdowns, minimal safety, no thanks.
This kind of car, though, is right up my alley. You get the best of everything. Would I take one over the new SLS AMG Gullwing? In a retro-futuristic heartbeat.
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“Constant maintenance, frequent breakdowns, minimal safety, no thanks.” Is this something you’ve convinced yourself so you don’t feel bad about not owning an original?
Vintage 300SL’s are some of the most reliable & maintenance free vintage cars out there. Go talk to the guys who race them still. Minimal safety? I’ll give you that. (Although I’d almost rather be in one of these in a crash than some of the modern cars out there… even if the repair bill would kill me later.)
Sorry to come on a bit harsh, but “constant maintenance” and “frequent breakdowns” are the self-soothing battle cries of bitter would-be collectors everywhere.