Mercedes-Benz 300Sl Gullwings and Roadsters 1954-1964 & Sport-Light Coupe Complete Story 2 Book Set

“Every Coupé from Mercedes-Benz has always embodied elegance on four wheels, whether today, 40 years ago or a century ago; our coupés are legends of each and every era in which they were built.” - Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic

In the very beginning, the automotive industry was dominated by open-top vehicles whose body shapes were very much based on the horse-drawn carriage, there were open and closed carriages and then there was the Coupé. Mercedes-Benz is and has always been a trendsetter, not only in terms of technology, but also in design but what must never be underestimated was the idea of moving away from the ‘classic Coupé saloon style body but also what had become their corporate identity, the Mercedes-Benz, radiator grill.

With over 300 photographs and illustrations, this first volume of the Mercedes-Benz Coupe includes an overview of the early days of 'Sports-Car' design  and the influences of aerodynamics on design evolution. The book discusses the early protagonists at Daimler-Benz  and how they influenced design of the Coupe shape. It shows how the Racing Coupe influenced what became the production Sport Coupe, and covers the experimental and one-off prototypes and the continuation of the Super Sport Light concept through the 'S-Class' range.

 

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.