The Last Gullwing Ever Made! 1957 Mercedes 300SL | Jay Leno’s Garage
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- "The Holy Grail of classic cars!" Jay Leno takes a deep dive into the very last 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing ever built-a car with impeccable provenance, iconic design, and a history that spans decades.
Joined by Matt Malamut of RM Sotheby’s, Jay explores what makes this legendary fuel-injected, race-inspired machine one of the most desirable collector cars in the world. This isn’t just another Gullwing-it’s the final one to roll off the production line.
⭐ Restored but road-ready
⭐ Original factory color: DB 534 Fire Engine Red
⭐ Pebble Beach award-winner & auctioned for charity
This is a once-in-a-lifetime piece of automotive history, and Jay Leno gets behind the wheel! Don't miss this exclusive look at one of the most valuable Mercedes ever!
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A new video every Monday! Visit Jay Leno's Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more.
#JayLenosGarage #Mercedes300SL #Gullwing #ClassicCars #MercedesBenz #CarHistory #Supercar #VintageCars #PebbleBeach #FuelInjection
Imagine having one of the coolest car collections ever assembled, and people still bring you the best cars in the world to fuss over and then go for a test drive. What a dream life Mr. Leno, cheers
Fair comment, but it’s not just Jay’s collection, it’s his enormous knowledge of cars and actually most vehicles with an engine. Lots of Hollywood stars have more expensive car collections, but they know zip about auto history.
he worked and earned every bit of it qualifies as the American dream !
This one is being advertised for sale. It's a promotion.
No need for "one of the." Hands down the coolest.
Still not as lucky as May, Hammond and Clarkson.
Those guys have the best luck ever.
An incredible car-we’re proud to have represented it on the show, Jay.
It ultimately sold for $2,400,000 USD at the amfAR x RM Sotheby’s auction during the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
I bid $1.00drew😂
Looks like Jay was on the $, your dood was a tad high (with his estimate too).
Only 2,4 million? I do not understand that, I thought I had missed a 0.
@@robertrotterdam9 prices have softened look at the latest auction results Mecum Barret etc
Leno was right
Speaking as a car modeler who is currently building a 1/24 scale model of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing I very much appreciate Jay's videos as he also shows smaller details which you will never find in the kit's instructions. Keep up the great work, Sir!
Also building the Tamiya kit? It's a fantastic build
@@robt6425 Yes, it's a great kit which is absolutely worth its price! BTW it can even be improved to make a perfect model as one can see here: th-cam.com/video/vFPOJY6gBrI/w-d-xo.html
I own that kit too. Still don't feel I'm competent to finish it without mess- up glossy finish
I built mine as a barn find with Rudge wheels.
@JuanAdam12 that's Plan C. Plan B - use 2 kits in case I will do mistake to the 1st one. I want this one to be showroom. I love weathering though,. But not on this
Mr. Leno is a bit of an exception to expensive car collectors. He actually knows details about the cars.
So many people bring their expensive cars on the show and just say "I don't know" when asked about the car. Mr. Leno often knows more than the owners.
Did you see the one where Tim Allen brought his Ford RS200 rally car and didn't know anything about it? He also came across as a bit of a jerk.
@@Bucketroo Tim Allen was literally a chronic drug addict who nearly didn't make it.
He sometimes forgets most of us weren't lying and stealing for the next fix. Weed and beer on weekends was enjoyable enough.
He's lacking humility especially regarding his background.
But hopefully he's getting better.
He's definitely still working on it.
But he's not very knowledgeable about cars and most things technical.
He's had TV shows acting like he's an expert as the character he portrays.
He's been playing that narcissistic 'overcompensating macho garage guy' character in different shows for almost 35 years now.
Unlike Jay Leno who actually is curious to learn and thus knows a lot, Tim Allen is the kinda guy who pretends to know everything instead of being interested in learning from someone else.
Insecurity issues.
Probably why he's had addiction problems. Self indulgent ego feels deserving of pretending to be an alpha male when he's actually just a below average comedian who does conservative schtick because there's very little competition for conservative 'humor'.
@@Bucketrooyeah seen that, but at least he was honest and not trying to bluff his way
One of the most beautiful cars ever made. When I first saw one in the mid 70s, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Looking at the one in this video, I still can't stop gawking at it.
At a tiny car show in Fargo, ND, in the early 80s, I got to sit in one. I remember the steering wheel flipping down. There was not many people around, and the guy could tell that I was a real enthusiast so he invited me to get in. I expect if there was a crowd he couldn't have, because he would have 50 people wanting to jump in.
The iconic Mercedes. 😎
Lucky you,
In 1976, I viewed a red Gullwing in the showroom of an exotic car store in Monterrey, Ca. A beautiful car with the plaid interior. The price then was just $25,000! A great investment for those who are patient.
That $25,000 with a market average 10.9% return compounded over the last 49 years would have been nearly $4,000,000. On the surface it would be a great "investment car" if you were Nostrodomus and could predict where the market would be long-term and could find an appropriately priced example.
People that buy cars as "investments" are the complete antithesis of everything Jay stands for, and are a cancer on the automotive world.
@@samsonite360 As a long-term investor in the S&P 500 Index, I agree with your financial analysis. My point is that I hate to sell my favorite cars, and, if I had the space, I would love to keep my favorite cars forever. The bonus comes when you have to sell them at some point in the distant future when you might be greatly rewarded for your efforts at preservation.
It wasn't all that many years before 1976 that a well used (i.e. pretty worn) 300SL gullwing could be had for around $2,000. I paid $600 for a decent running/looking metallic silver 1956 190SL roadster with both soft and hard tops in the late 1960's. A flawless very low mileage white 1963 300SL roadster was offered on consignment in the late 1960's at Aristocrat Motors on Baltimore Avenue in Kansas City for $7,500.
My dad traded a 1911 EMF even-over for his Gullwing back around 1965 or 1966.
Beautiful car!
Even a non car person knows these are Special. As always Jay's knowledge is equal to the task.
Love segments like this.
The 300SL… my all-time favourite classic👍
300SL Gear Whine:
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, including the 1957 model, did indeed have semi-straight-cut gears in its transmission, which can produce a distinctive whine or buzzing sound that some enthusiasts find appealing.
This type of gear cutting, also known as "close ratio" or "straight-cut" gears, was commonly used in performance cars of the era, as it allowed for quicker and more precise shifts compared to traditional helical gears.
However, it's worth noting that not all 300SL Gullwing models had the exact same transmission specifications, and the Roadster version of the 300SL used a different type of gearbox with all-synchromesh gears, which produced a quieter and smoother operation.
Overall, the semi-straight-cut gears in the 300SL Gullwing's transmission are just one of the many distinctive features that make this car a beloved classic among automotive enthusiasts.
i am always in speculation of the iteration of 'sports' within Mercedes design prior to the 2000s. I almost never sense the idea of 'sport'. Power, control, speed, sure... but sport is not always inclusive with these terms. Where I've seen 'sport' is the W124 AMG wagon, with it's low suspension. It looks sporty. Even the 500E doesn't look very sporty. They were producing the first C class with bench seats in the early 90's, while Mercedes was in direct sales competition with the popular-because-it's-sporty e30 and e36. The straight cut gears was one of the first things that said to me "jeez, this is sporty". The low seat and frame construction. The passengers being close to eachother. The inspiration from the Corvette in the front end.. so this is absolutely an iteration of Mercedes sports. The SL is perhaps closer to a miata than a grand touring car. It is a sports car. And despite the constant mention of handling and ride quality, this is a clearer designation towards sports during this time than what was normal and would be normal for Mercedes for decades to come. Mercedes came out with the R129 and it was more of a grand touring car than a sports car, especially in comparison to this.
What a stupid car
Close ratio is nothing to do with the gear cog style
So I see they're removed my comment with said car about how unappealing it is. I.e.dUmB. Way to promote free speech....
Mercedes' sport heritage is much older, they really started making sport models in the mid 1920s, during Ferdinand Porsche's tenure as technical director.
This dude gives off sleazy salesman vibes... "ya look good sitting in this Jay..."
Came here to the same thing🤮
Salesmen are salesmen
and commenting about a Maserati 3500 "driving like a truck". Really ridiculous, I wonder what he has driven in his lfe before having to care about this Gullwing...
To which Jay did NOT respond!
That piece triggered me lol. I was like bro stahp.
The color combo is perfect. Beautiful car!
Often overlooked, Triumph's TR3 had front disc brakes as standard equipment, beginning in September '56. Thanks for sharing this video. Amazing MB, of course.
Depending on whether you classify the Jaguar C-type as "production", it had discs. Citroen claims the same for the DS in 1955.
Beauty. Perfect machine, even today.
In my head, I'm Jay Leno, and I'm thinking, STOP the sales pitch, Im hosting, not bidding! 😂
I think he wants him to buy it. I’d buy it if I were him.
Jay was as usual courteous. Jay knew the restoration shade of 'red' went too orange to look like the original color. Nice restoration. It's too bad the color was slightly off.
Perhaps it's not an easy shade of red to replicate.
@@Greg-io1ip It may be "slightly off", but it is, without a doubt, a most beautiful shade of red/orange, and it looks absolutely fantastic on this classic car, imo. Pedants and perfectionists can pass on this one.
@@johna1160 then why is the dude that brought the car so pedantic
This is the original color. Fire engine red. @@Greg-io1ip
I've owned Mercedes-Benz cars for over 50 years. But this one truly makes me catch my breath. Off the scale. I'd pay money just to be in the same room with it.
I can here pebbles singing while watching this! 57 a very fine year! This is one of the most beautiful cars featured on this show! Take my breath away💃 Beauty and the beastie! Rocky& Bullwinkle & Fran
Possibly the best sports car ever made. I've probably seen a hundred shows and read a thousand articles and books about this car, and I enjoy every one of them. Truly a superlative automobile. Thanks for bringing it to the Garage, Matt, and once again, a big thanks to Jay and the crew! ✌🏻❤️🙂🇨🇦
My good fortune to sit in a 300SL Gullwing about 25 years ago Once in a lifetime experience.
Once, before I started inspecting some Chevy 12 bolts being offered for sale at a car storage/parts warehouse, I was asked "hey, want to see Eisenhower's Limo?". I said ....yeah I do...and i was escorted to the third floor of this rambling storage facility, and under a plastic sheet, was...Eisenhower's Limo. In the trunk was a bound book with data. I sat in the back. It was crazy.
Early 80s for me. A guy in Fargo, ND, let me sit in his.
I was lucky enough to come across a 300 Gullwing rally in southern Utah a few years ago and rolled with them until they got to their hotel outside of Zion national park. One fellas driving a convertible and I kind of went through some of the bigger sweeping turns as we got there, at let’s just say speed… It was so cool to see them out on the road and the owners using them instead of just locking them away.
I had the privilege of observing a gorgeous gull wing Mercedes briskly zip by at around 100 mph during the Carrera Panamericana. It was black with red interior and the owner was a very kind and friendly man from Bulgaria. I was busy competing with my own car most of the time so I was very happy to get to see and hear it in action.
As a person of German descent, this car makes me very proud. And that is RED, no mistake. Just an amazing piece of real engineering, nothing like it on the road at the time. As Jay said, like a spaceship.
thats a really nice comment Bob ,born and raised in The Netherlands most working class all drove Mercedes as they were built to last ,our families last model before we emigrated to Australia was a black with red interior 1967 230S ,WUNDERBAR
Ever heard of the 1957 Jag XKSS? That was faster, had a proper rear suspension and disc brakes my friend!
@@marcusbrutus1999 remind me my friend how many were built?
@@marcusbrutus1999 Not a production car , 1400 to 16 isn't a comparision
As a person from planet earth it makes me proud of being a human being from this planet
I’ve owned several classic cars in my lifetime, but the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing is by far, the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen.
That’s my opinion, but I think a lot of people would agree. I can’t even imagine driving something like this in the 1950’s
Jay Leno The walking Automotive Encyclopedia!
@@samuelbarboza9792 u get it 🎯🍻💪🏽
I was a parts guy at an Orange County dalership from 73 to 80. We had a customer that was the president of the Gull Wing club. He had a red Gull Wing and his wife had a silver roadster. He would turn in these huge parts orders with most of it needing to come from Germany (C-3, C-18) most were screws and clips and other attaching hardware....he and his wife were very talented engineers and she was offered a job from Ford to work on developing alternative fuel engines that paid more than both were making at the time. They moved to Detroit and Lynn made no longer available parts for these cars in his basement until he retired....great piece of history
The people who make their own nuts, bolts and other fasteners are the best. World needs more gifted machinists for the car enthusiasts
This dude is doing the hard sell on Jay.
Good luck to him: Jay came from nothing and made himself, this guy was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, Jay isn't going to be sold by this guy.
Not a hard sell that car is beautiful.
Not on Jay. On you and me 😂
Give him a break. Jay makes guests nervous.
I think it was very clear Jay already had his and was not interested in buying this one. It is a VERY nice car.
and Jay lets the not so subtle sale pitches role off... but a matching set would be cool!
I love the gear whine for some reason!
SS...............with you Bro !!!!
Same here. Sounds a little like an old Auto Union GP race car blower. Very mechanical.
Jay looks like he had a lot of fun on this one. Love this channel, thank you!
The way Jay just completely shitted on his watch so non chalantly 😂
Honestly props to him for having a vintage sub.
Amazing. What a treat to see.
Stunning work of art...
I’ve loved the 300SL since I saw my first one in Road & Track magazine. I was about 12 years old. In 1960 my twin brother got to drive a 300SL Roadster. Our friend’s mother owned it. She had almost purchased a Gullwing, but found it very difficult to get in & out of with those wide sills and the gullwing doors.
How did my brother Dan like the Roadster? Meh. He said the quality was terrific, but it was kind of ponderous around town. Off the line, no match for our best buddy’s 270 hp 1960 Corvette, but the Merc seemed to feel faster the faster you drove it. Dan said the Mercedes was just hitting its stride at 130 mph. We used to take our dad’s Chrysler out on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and peg the speedometer for miles. We clocked the Chrysler at 125 against the mile markers. He took the 300SL out on the same route and it probably would have run 140 mph but traffic didn’t allow it.
That’s when we came to the conclusion that driving that fast, even on the turnpike was gonna get us killed. Speed limit was 65 mph back then and we were passing cars like they were standing still while we were going 65mph. If a driver being overtaken misjudged our closing speed bad things were going to happen.
I don’t know how we survived those early years. 🤔
What a wonderful machine
Him telling Jay “Give me a call as well” had me dying omg 😭😭😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’ve always loved this car
Awesome x 1000000
Well done!
Thank you for sharing.
Just a tremendous automobile .. Thank you for showing and demonstrating this amazing classic ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can never call any modern cars Beautiful. This car among many from back in the day is simply beautiful
terrywbreedlove
is there anything 2025 you like, Music, Kendrick vs Adelle ?
@ there are many cars I like. But they aren’t beautiful like this car. Modern music sucks it isn’t real. It is all out of a can. There are no Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin. Or Nirvana or name a dozen others. Who actually wrote the lyrics and music. With one giant exception Billie Eilish and her brother. We just watched Beyoncé Country Western album win album of the year. Like WTF
Got my vote for the top 5 most beautiful cars of all time!
Yes. 1. 300SL. 2. 250GTO. 3. Testarossa. 4. E-type. 5. 1963 Corvette
Dang over a decade and i never missed an episode, almost forgot today. Whew.
@@adamfrbs9259 that's gonna cost you five lug nuts next time🧐
What an awesome example, with heretige.
When I was a kid from around age 8 to 15 my dad had a red 1955 300 SL Gullwing with a red leather interior. I was quite happy that Jay pointed out the passenger horn button which as a kid was a very cool thing! For part of the time he owned the car dad was part owner of a racetrack (Pacific Raceways) and I remember riding around the track with him. Later on he'd pick me up after football practice or a game in it which was always a hit with the cheerleaders. The problem was back in the day the street tires you could buy simply weren't up to the car which made it a handful on the street. Dad finally settled on Michelin tires which were about as good as you could get but even so he was little afraid of it getting out of hand in the rainy Seattle weather. One other memory was back when I was 14 or so dad "let" me change the spark plugs which involved getting under the car which was a lot easier for me than it was for him, lol. Dad sold the car (for a crazy low price compared to today) not too long after I turned 15 so I never got to drive it sadly but I do have a lot of good memories and the hardbound factory Mercedes service manual to remember the car by.
Man that’s art on wheels.
Jay, I was very fortunate to have been in one of the actual GullWings, that had been on the Track. My neighbor Mr. Peter Mueller was in cahoots with American Servive Center (I cannot member if he was an Owner or not) in Arlington, VA. We lived in Vienna, VA., so when we would go swimming at their house we would walk by the car, like it was nothing but the family wagon, it would kill me now to think I use to be so oblivious. I was like 6-10 years old. It was the late 60's & early 70's at that time. The last time I saw the car was 1978, when I was 16 and driving a 69 Mach I and just that summer watching my all time favorite movie (S&theB). I might be off a very slight bit on dates. I always wondered what happened to that car and I look when I see one come up and check the History. I rode in that car 2-3 times. To this day I still feel it was the, loudest vehicle I have ever heard. We could hear him coming for miles. He drove it very little, (Police would always pull him over) the way I drive my C8, about 300-400-miles a year (I think he drove it less). It was louder then any 440 Mopar with Cherry Bombs. I have grown and cherish all my Cars and nobody is walking by them. Drives my Wife crazy. Thinking about that Silver GullWing, I believe it had Dark Dark Blue Leather Interior, I feel like it had more Gauges than the one in this video. But heck I was really young, but still in love with cars. If memory serves, he bought his Wife a beautiful 69-71 2dr coupe/sedan Convertible (not an SL) more like our 280SE, but 2dr white maybe pearl white, it was beautiful, looking back, to big for my taste. THANK YOU for the nostalgia. Love Your Show. Alan on Dallas
I had a chance to ride in my dad's Gullwing around a track back then and it is a memory I will never forget!
I want one of those cars so so badly ever since the first day I saw one they are just beautiful vehicles
Just a beautiful car..
Straight cut gears 🤙🏽
Knowing Jay's luck he'll find another one in some garage lol. Would be interesting to take in how many valuable cars were lost in the LA fires. The number may be shocking.
Not just the first fuel injected car but Direct-Fuel Injection!
I'm always surprised that one feature nobody ever mentions is the engine has a desmodromic valve train. That is such an incredibly rare and unusual way of operating the valves and it never gets talked about.
The 300 SL's direct fuel injection system was designed by Bosch; it was directly inspired by the fuel injection system used by the DB 601 aircraft engine.
@@1991pony desmodromic valves and mechanical direct fuel injection are the only things drivers mention all the time.
@@kristoffermangila 1893, Bosch, 601, later copied after a direct fuel injection Diesel design. 1893: August 10, Diesel injects fuel .
@@lucasrem I didn't hear Jay say anything about it.
It's the last one factory assembled, but may not the very LAST one assembled, though it could be. Back in the '70's or '80's (long ago) a brand new, never been driven Gullwing was for sale in Hemmings. The reason it had never been driven is it was still in the factory crates. The crates were in a California warehouse and were being sold by the estate of a former Studebaker designer. He had convinced the factory to ship an unassembled Gullwing to him in the States. I wonder every now and then who bought the crates and if it was ever assembled. Thanks for jogging my memory, Jay! 👏👏👏
I love that you have been talking watches. I love cars ,motorcycles and watches. Keep up the great work.
This is the only Mercedes car I've ever liked its so different and unique
I love Jay's Garage and have been watching for years I would like to tell Jay that every time he drives these cars no matter what car it is he doesn't seem to stay away from crossing the center line and usually edges out and hits the outside edges of the road too. That's OK though because I am jealous and wish it was me driving these cars. I was a professional driver when i was 18, 19 years old and I'm the same age as Jay so if he needs somebody to drive I would like to volunteer. You keep on trucking Jay, I still love the program.
👋 JAY AND MATT 🤗 THANKS FOR SHARING THIS GULL WING ,IN MY FAVORITE ❤️ COLORS IN AND OUT 😉🤩🤩🤩
My brother had one of these 30 years ago. What a cool car.
yes they're stunning cars - I hope he didn't take it to the smash up derby! lol ;)
@ oh hell no! lol. He sold it for a small fortune but kicks himself for what it’s worth now.
For those wondering, Jay was right - the car hammered at $2.4m
That’s an awesome car love it❤
Best Mercedes ever built
I agree.
My favorite car ever, at last!
Oh, Jay has done a segment on his own. Search here for "1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe - Ultimate Edition - Jay Leno's Garage"
Thanks! Just saw it, great episode!@@bbb462cid
I was awarded a Citizen watch for my driving record at work last year I think it’s cool Leno is now doing a little watch segment in his videos now.
What a timeless beauty! I do like the watch sidebar in the new episodes. Thank you!
Just beautiful.
3:02 I live in Poznań and I had no idea that Mercedes displayed a 300SL here in 1957. It sounds almost unbelievable that such a car could be publically presented back then in an eastern bloc country. Mercedes always had a strong presence in Poland, so no doubt they would show their cars at Poland's largest trade fair... but a 300SL in 1957 Poland sounds quite crazy. I actually tried to find photos from that specific trade fair in 1957 not that long ago, but I was looking for photos of Wartburg 311 cabriolets, not something as exotic as a Mercedes 300SL... By the way Poznań fairgrounds still exist and still hold important events, including various car shows and central Europe's Comic Con equivalent. Interestingly the oldest halls still in use actually date to the 1950s (some are also technically pre-ww2 but had to be rebuilt)
it’s still a stunning looking car all these years later. 😍
As a kid, I had a scale model of this amazing car (Bburago 1 : 18), and I was very proud of it. Exactly this red color😎 ❤👌🏻
I have it in silver by bburago!
Back in the 80's I worked for a car dealership, wax on, wax off. The owner had two of these, both in great condition. Often, I would eat my lunch in them. With the doors open (where Jay was sitting), it creates a great shelf to put all your food, and drinks on. The seats are extremely comfortable also. The owner would see me in these and only smiled and waved. Little did I know what I was in. Thank God I never made a mess.
I love that you seem to intigrate watches into this now.
Fits perfectly!
Never try to outguess Jay. LOL!
I bet Jay has a stunning watch collection as well. Would be good to see it
Great idea - He has great taste tempered with practicality......so he probably has an amazing collection
Rosberg drove one in a Mille and complained about the heat. He’s won Grand Prixs in the desert in a full racing suit. The gullwings are neat but I prefer the convertible
Jay has so much fun, and so much knowledge - great life for a great car guy
The new wristwatch highlights are an interesting addition in the last few episodes.
Jay, the gear whine gives away it's 68 years on the planet! Even though it has a synchronized tranny there has to some straight cut gears in the drive train to produce that old car sound! Great car and video!
One of my favorite classics. I really like the interior, the engine sounds like music. The transmission is loud, lol. I would love to have one of those in silver.
Iconic very rare car. It is so unique and there was nothing that low and smooth driving in 57. Still modern enough to take on the highway and not have any driving issues.
Uma obra de arte da engenharia mecânica e do design. Obrigado por esse documentário maravilhoso.
🫶🏼🤗🫂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Beautiful gullwing Merc Jay, you’re living the dream, drive everything !!
Thanks Jay!
Jay, I've owned & driven Mercedes-Benzes for 27 years so I'm fully familiar with the marque & I agree with you that the 300SL Gullwing is the first supercar.
I love there was a watch moment in the video. Really appreciate it. It would be interesting having this next to your own older gullwing
Just fantastic. very special car.
Having owned a GW and a RO and serviced them for years I have a few comments:
The sounds you hear at beginning of the vid are the actual noises the car makes. There is no noise insulation. You are sitting next to the driveline. You feet are inches away from the rear of the engine. If the transmission cover was removed while sitting in the seat you could put your hands on the bell housing, the transmission, the driveshaft (about 15" long) and if the rear floor was removed you could touch the battery behind the passenger seat, the rear shocks, and the dif. The talk about fuel injection. This was FI direct into the combustion chamber. The injectors pop off at about 800 psi. Injectors are in the block. Plugs are in the head. The injection pump uses a barometer to measure fuel delivery and a sheep skin diaphragm that uses vacuum as well for fuel delivery. If the sheep skin ever gets a hole in it the FI pump rack goes to full rich and the only way to drive the car is near red line to use all the fuel being dumped into the engine. The engine is bullet proof. 180 cubic inches producing up to 250 HP, yet you can cruise in it to the grocery store or rip across the autobahn at 150 mph. The engine has 2 oil pumps, a supply pump and a scavenger pump. The transmission has it own internal oil pump that fully pressure feeds the main shaft bearings, which are needled bearings and require ATF for lubricant. The door windows are either in or out. There are vent windows to help with ventilation. Anyone remember vent windows? The car is very very noisy to ride in. For long drives I would wear hearing protectors. The car is a rolling green house at temps about 65F ambient. Anything above that, combined with heat from the engine and you are sweating. At about 3000 rpm the engine comes on the cam and things really begin to happen. Driving a 300SL is a magical experience. You own a GW because it is art but you won't drive it very often. You own a 300SL Roadster so you can drive it as much as you want with the top down. I probably put 45,000 miles on mine.
Absolutely amazing and beautiful car and world class craftsmanship
Breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could afford it. Keep up your great show Jay.
Late 90's I was a young guy at vocational school (car body mechanic) here in Finland. I had the privilige to work on a raw 300 roadster body that was being restored partly in our school. It was just a body, but gorgeous and I respected it a lot.
I'll always be grateful to Jay for sharing these cars with us. Especially cars like this where most of us would be sued into poverty for breathing within 100 yards of it.
You could easily make the argument this is the best car ever made. I like the Jaguars and Ferraris many models are beautiful but this car still looks modern and I think in its simplicity of design it beats them all.
It would look good in your collection, Jay!!!
I could tell he was thinking about it
Back in 1978 I had a chance to buy one of these for under 10,000 dollars . It smoked some and the interior was pretty roached out. I thought the guy was nuts asking so much. As an eighteen year old that amount of money was more than I would earn in a year. I have always regretted not finding some way of getting the money to buy that car.
What a machine :o
Great watch Mr Leno...
That was a not so subtle flex by Jay. Loved it!
I moved one for a casino owner in Alberta here once about 10 years ago...I had no idea what I was moving....on a flat deck tow truck. True story.
I jumped on chat gpt at the end of this video, and I found out this car sold for $2.4M😮 Jay crushed it on that guess😂
Loved this car since I was a little kid (circa 1975). Looking back I had good taste.
I had a 1962 190SL, traded it in for GTO. The local dealer, Greenwich Motors had a salesman who owned a 300SL Gullwing, I still remember it today.
Went for $ 2.4 M, Mr. Leno was damn close with his guess!
From Jay Leno, I wouldn’t call it a guess. On a side, I must admit that I expected it to go for more, but I am biased as this is my all time favorite car.
I'm glad they're talking about watches. I hope Jay does more of that.
Dad was a member of the local gull wing club in the 60's. We always had at least one in the garage growing up as a kid. Going for a ride was always a thrill.
I am pretty sure the fog lamps are not M-B--they look old alright but came from somewhere like JC Whitney or maybe MG Mitten. It was something done long ago back when it was no sin to add them, and they're still there because of the holes drilled in the bumper. I'm not complaining, its just an observation. I am only a few weeks younger than Jay.