The Mercedes 300 SL was the fastest car of its time. Thanks to its ingenious design and gull-wing doors, it is considered to be the first “supercar” in the world. It was a motoring legend from day one: with its eye-catching design and spectacular doors, but also thanks to several technical innovations and an extraordinary engine, it stood out from the crowd.

According to Mercedes, 1,400 examples were built. Each one cost an incredible 29,000 Deutsche Marks (roughly 172,958 allowing for inflation at the end of 2024). In 1954, this sum was enough to buy a rather fancy yacht.

The speed of the 300 SL was unprecedented, much higher than that of any other road car: 240 km/h, when most of its contemporaries only reached half that figure. But for such a price, the lucky owners weren’t just buying performance, because it was the design that made the 300 SL a masterpiece. The car was perfect from every angle, crowned by its unique blend of exclusivity and functionality, of which the extraordinary gull-wing doors were the most unusual element. With this design, the 300 SL became the world’s first mass-produced sports car, even before the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and others.

Extra large size in 1:8 scale
It’s 58cm long when fully assembled
Silver colour with red interior
Model weight: 7.3 kg
Dimensions: 58 cm length x 213 cm width x 16 cm height
Number of parts: 602 parts, including 113 metal pieces
The gull-wing doors, bonnet and boot open to reveal a realistic interior rich in detail
The headlights can be switched on via a control on the dashboard
The brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed
The steering works, the front wheels steer in line with the movement of the steering wheel
The engine is the same as the one in the original car
The full kit comes with everything needed to complete and assemble the model
Ideal for experienced model builders looking for a good build