MOD Mercedes-Benz 300 SL FOR CAR MECHANIC SIMULATOR 2018

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

The history of the creation of this car was more an accident than a pattern ...

September 1944. After two weeks of aerial bombardment by the Allies, the large Mercedes-Benz concern was brought to its knees. The main workshop in Stuttgart was destroyed by 70%, the engine and body workshop in Sindelfingen - 85%, the truck workshop in Gaggenau was completely destroyed. Former Benz & Cie factory. Mannheim was the most fortunate, with only 20% destruction, and the Berlin-Marienfelde diesel engine plant, acquired in 1902, was completely razed to the ground. According to estimates of destruction in January 1945, the board of directors determined that "Daimler-Benz physically no longer exists."

Europe lay in ruins, factories were taken out to the USSR, the decline in production was monstrous. The post-war restoration of destroyed factories took time, so automobile production was only started in June 1946.

For the development of new cars there was no technical base or funds, so Mercedes began the path of recuperation with the help of the old model of the economy class W136 - "170V".

Although the design was developed back in the mid-1930s, it was better than what BMW produced in the form of scooters on three wheels. A small car with an engine of only 38 horsepower was the beginning of a new history of the brand.

In 1951, Daimler-Benz decided to take part in racing again and build a sports car for this purpose, the development of which was carried out under the leadership of Rudolf Nallinger. As a result, the W194 was born.

Aerodynamic body with laconic shapes. However, despite its sporty appearance, a solid and conservative Mercedes-Benz 300 series (W186) served as an aggregate donor for the W194.

Having nothing to do with the concept of sports, the car embodied the European ideas of solidity, comfort and reliability of the early 50s. From him, the W194 borrowed the engine, suspension, transmission, braking system, and gearbox. The 300's inline-six 3.0-liter engine produced 175 hp. thanks to three carburetors, an additional camshaft and a redesigned intake manifold.

The 300SL W194 is based on a complex space frame made of many welded tubes. To this lightweight (the frame itself weighed only about 80 kg, and the curb weight of the car as a result amounted to 1060 kg) and a rigid structure were attached body panels made of aluminum, which were given the most streamlined shape with the help of a wind tunnel.

However, due to the spatial frame and high thresholds (to preserve the rigidity of the body), the car could not be equipped with conventional swing doors and it acquired vertical doors of the "gull wing" type, which was not prohibited by the racing regulations.

The engine also had to be placed at an angle of 45 degrees so that the silhouette of the car did not disturb and the aerodynamics did not deteriorate, and the gearbox was located in the tunnel and had a direct articulated drive.

In 1952, the fresh W194 made its debut in various races and won various races: Mille Miglia - second place, at the 24-hour race at Le Mans - two first places, four first places at the Nurburgring race. Also the crew of Karl Kling / Hans Klenck in 300SL won the multi-day rally "Carrera Panamericana".

These victories, especially the open road races at high speed, were somewhat unexpected, since the W194 was significantly weaker in engine power than the competitors' cars. The victories were due to the low weight and advanced aerodynamics of the body.

Against the background of the successful 1952 season, it was strange that the Mercedes-Benz management abandoned the W194 ring program, in 1953 all the forces of the racing department were thrown into creating a new car for F1 (from which the W196 turned out, but this is a completely different story). and the rather sensational 300SL W194 was sent to rest.

At this point in time, the W194 is considered one of the most important Mercedes-Benz vehicles since World War II. It is currently unknown how many of the original 10 manufactured W194s remain, of which only one never raced, chassis # 00002, which served as a part and training vehicle. It has been completely rebuilt by the Mercedes-Benz team and, although not listed for sale, received several bids in 2012 for $ 15,000,000.

It is worth noting here that the creation and production of the civilian version of the 300SL W194 was not even discussed in the Mercedes-Benz leadership. And this would not have happened if not for the perseverance of the businessman and importer of Mercedes in the United States, Maximillian Hoffman.

He then thought that the Americans, whose market for foreign cars was scarce, and the country did not suffer after the war and there were many wealthy clients (the same actors), would not mind a sports coupe from Mercedes-Benz, especially with an excellent racing pedigree. In 1953, Hoffman suggested that Mercedes-Benz management think about the serial production of the 300 SL and said that he could sell at least a thousand sports cars.