To dismiss the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing as a show pony and the Roadster as an extravagant boulevardier, as some might be tempted to do, is too simplistic. But it can’t be denied that the cars were aimed primarily at wealthy Americans who wanted to splurge $6820 on a ‘foreign automobile’ with which to impress their friends at snooty golf clubs. Hell, the Gullwing wasn’t even launched in Germany. It was unveiled in February 1954 at the New York auto show.
That made sense
