The original 300SL Gullwing was launched at the New York International Auto Show in February 1954.

It was a sleek and stunning car that was crammed with the latest mechanical and technological advancements, ensuring the Gullwing was an almost instant Hall of Fame car.

It was the world’s first direct fuel-injection production car, giving it 215bhp over the 175bhp carburetted variations.

The ‘SL’ stood for "Sport Leicht" (Sport Light) as the car's body was primarily made from aluminium, and its spaceframe construction kept its weight down to just 1,295kg.

The ‘Gullwing’ moniker is fairly self-explanatory however the gullwing doors weren’t just for show, they were a practical solution.

The 300SL featured a tubular spaceframe chassis, which provided exceptional strength and lightness, but with high sides that made traditional doors impossible to fit.

The upward-opening gullwing design was created to allow easy entry and exit, and they happen to look impossibly cool in the process.

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