Mercedes "Gullwing"

[devifemme]

http://ultradevi.tumblr.com/post/135368376832/mercedes-benz-300-sl-coup%C3%A9-1954Read more... )

Comments

[ggary]

Ooooooooh, that car! I've read that they could be difficult at high speeds, plus there were difficulties with the fuel pump, but that is all a bit nit-picky. You wouldn't buy a car like that because you wanted something that didn't require a lot of care. Fantastic.

[devifemme]

Yep, "difficult at high speeds" -- shortly after the car was introduced in 1955, an example of the racing version was in a horrific accident at a track in France; several dozen spectators were killed. Mercedes ceased its participation in car racing for the next several decades as a result.

[ggary]

Oh Goddess, of course it was THAT crash. I've seen the footage of that catastrophe, and it's horrifying.