Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (1955) fixed-head coupé - technical specifications of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

(1955 model)

Brief specs of 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

2-door 2-seater fixed-head coupé, petrol (gasoline) 6-cylinder 12-valve straight (inline) engine, SOHC (single overhead camshaft), 2996 cm³ / 182.8 cu in / 182.8 cu in, 160.3 kW / 215.0 hp / 215.0 hp @ 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm, 275.0 N·m / 202.8 lb·ft / 202.8 lb·ft @ 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm, manual 4-speed transmission, rear wheel drive, 217 km/h / 135 mph / 135 mph top speed

Marque (make)	Mercedes-Benz	Issued from	1955
Model	300 SL Gullwing	Issued until
Serie	300	Number made	1371
Model family	W 198 I	Body construction
Model code	198.040	Body designation
Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz	Country	DE

Marque (make)

Mercedes-Benz

Issued from

1955

Model

300 SL Gullwing

Issued until

Serie

300

Number made

1371

Model family

W 198 I

Body construction

Model code

198.040

Body designation

Manufacturer

Mercedes-Benz

Country

Base platform		Number of doors	2
Bodywork type	fixed-head coupé	Number of seats	2
Bodywork designer		Cargo capacity (volume)
Passenger space (volume)	4290 l / 151.50 cu ft / 151.50 cu ft	Max. cargo capacity (volume)

Base platform

Number of doors

Bodywork type

fixed-head coupé

Number of seats

Bodywork designer

Cargo capacity (volume)

Passenger space (volume)

4290 l / 151.50 cu ft / 151.50 cu ft

Max. cargo capacity (volume)

Length	4520 mm / 178.0 in / 178.0 in	Total (curb) weight	1293 kg / 2851 lb / 2851 lb
Width	1778 mm / 70.0 in / 70.0 in	Dry weight
Height	1302 mm / 51.3 in / 51.3 in	Load capacity
Wheelbase	2400 mm / 94.5 in / 94.5 in	Gross (max.) weight
Track front	1384 mm / 54.5 in / 54.5 in	Towing weight
Track rear	1435 mm / 56.5 in / 56.5 in	Weight distribution (front)
Ground clearance	127 mm / 5.0 in / 5.0 in	Fuel capacity	100 l / 22.0 UK gal / 26.4 US gal
Length/wheelbase ratio	1.88

Length

4520 mm / 178.0 in / 178.0 in

Total (curb) weight

1293 kg / 2851 lb / 2851 lb

Width

1778 mm / 70.0 in / 70.0 in

Dry weight

Height

1302 mm / 51.3 in / 51.3 in

Load capacity

Wheelbase

2400 mm / 94.5 in / 94.5 in

Gross (max.) weight

Track front

1384 mm / 54.5 in / 54.5 in

Towing weight

Track rear

1435 mm / 56.5 in / 56.5 in

Weight distribution (front)

Ground clearance

127 mm / 5.0 in / 5.0 in

Fuel capacity

100 l / 22.0 UK gal / 26.4 US gal

Length/wheelbase ratio

1.88

Drag coefficient (Cd, Cx, Cw)	0.38	Frontal area (A)	1.97 m² / 21.2 sq ft / 21.2 sq ft (est.)
Aerodynamic coefficient (Cd×A)	0.75 m² / 8.0 sq ft / 8.0 sq ft (est.)	Aerodynamic resistance (Aero horse power) at 100 km/h (62 mph)	18.6 kW / 24.9 hp / 24.9 hp (est.)

Drag coefficient (Cd, Cx, Cw)

0.38

Frontal area (A)

1.97 m² / 21.2 sq ft / 21.2 sq ft (est.)

Aerodynamic coefficient (Cd×A)

0.75 m² / 8.0 sq ft / 8.0 sq ft (est.)

Aerodynamic resistance (Aero horse power) at 100 km/h (62 mph)

18.6 kW / 24.9 hp / 24.9 hp (est.)

Engine Code	M 198 I / 198.980	Total number of cylinders	6
Engine Type	straight (inline) (Inline, 6 cylinder)	Total number of valves	12
Engine Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz	Valves per cylinder	2
Engine construction		Bore	85.0 mm / 3.35 in / 3.35 in
Fuel	petrol (gasoline)	Stroke	88.0 mm / 3.46 in / 3.46 in
Fuel details		Bore/Stroke ratio	0.97
Fuel supply	Bo mechanical direct fuel inj.	Engine displacement	2996 cm³ / 182.8 cu in / 182.8 cu in
Engine Main bearings	7	Unitary capacity	499.33 cm³/cylinder / 30.471 cu in/cylinder / 30.471 cu in/cylinder
Cam Design	SOHC (single overhead camshaft)	Compression ratio	8.6 : 1
Sump	dry	Max. output power	160.3 kW / 215.0 hp / 215.0 hp at 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm
Aspiration	natural	Max. torque	275.0 N·m / 202.8 lb·ft / 202.8 lb·ft at 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm
Compressor type	N/A	Maximum rpm
Intercooler	no	Max. net output (power at the wheels)	60.3 kW / 80.9 hp / 80.9 hp (est.)
Coolant	water	Specific output	53.5 kW/l / 1.176 bhp/cu in / 1.176 bhp/cu in
Catalytic converter	no	Specific torque	91.8 N·m/l / 0.80 lb·ft/cu in / 0.80 lb·ft/cu in

Engine Code

M 198 I / 198.980

Total number of cylinders

Engine Type

straight (inline) (Inline, 6 cylinder)

Total number of valves

Engine Manufacturer

Mercedes-Benz

Valves per cylinder

Engine construction

Bore

85.0 mm / 3.35 in / 3.35 in

Fuel

petrol (gasoline)

Stroke

88.0 mm / 3.46 in / 3.46 in

Fuel details

Bore/Stroke ratio

0.97

Fuel supply

Bo mechanical direct fuel inj.

Engine displacement

2996 cm³ / 182.8 cu in / 182.8 cu in

Engine Main bearings

Unitary capacity

499.33 cm³/cylinder / 30.471 cu in/cylinder / 30.471 cu in/cylinder

Cam Design

SOHC (single overhead camshaft)

Compression ratio

8.6 : 1

Sump

dry

Max. output power

160.3 kW / 215.0 hp / 215.0 hp at 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm / 5800 rpm

Aspiration

natural

Max. torque

275.0 N·m / 202.8 lb·ft / 202.8 lb·ft at 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm / 4600 rpm

Compressor type

N/A

Maximum rpm

Intercooler

Max. net output (power at the wheels)

60.3 kW / 80.9 hp / 80.9 hp (est.)

Coolant

water

Specific output

53.5 kW/l / 1.176 bhp/cu in / 1.176 bhp/cu in

Catalytic converter

Specific torque

91.8 N·m/l / 0.80 lb·ft/cu in / 0.80 lb·ft/cu in

Transmission type	manual	Number of gears	4
Wheel drive	rear wheel drive	Top gear (drive) ratio	1
		Final gear (drive) ratio	3.64

Transmission type

manual

Number of gears

Wheel drive

rear wheel drive

Top gear (drive) ratio

Final gear (drive) ratio

3.64

Acceleration 0-50 mph (80 km/h)		Top (maximal) speed	217 km/h / 135 mph / 135 mph
Acceleration 0-60 mph (97 km/h)	8.80 s / 8.80 s / 8.80 s	Power-to-weight ratio	166.3 kW/ton / 126.0 bhp/ton / 126.0 bhp/ton
Acceleration 0-100 km/h		Fuel consumption, City (urban)
Acceleration 0-100 mph (160 km/h)		Fuel consumption, Road (extra-urban)
Acceleration 80-120 km/h (50-70 mph) in top		Fuel consumption, Mixed (combined)
Standing ¼mile time		Fuel consumption, Euro
Standing kilometer time		CO₂ emissions
		Range

Acceleration 0-50 mph (80 km/h)

Top (maximal) speed

217 km/h / 135 mph / 135 mph

Acceleration 0-60 mph (97 km/h)

8.80 s / 8.80 s / 8.80 s

Power-to-weight ratio

166.3 kW/ton / 126.0 bhp/ton / 126.0 bhp/ton

Acceleration 0-100 km/h

Fuel consumption, City (urban)

Acceleration 0-100 mph (160 km/h)

Fuel consumption, Road (extra-urban)

Acceleration 80-120 km/h (50-70 mph) in top

Fuel consumption, Mixed (combined)

Standing ¼mile time

Fuel consumption, Euro

Standing kilometer time

CO₂ emissions

Range

Engine location	front	Engine alignment	longitudinal
Steering	recirculating ball	Steering details
Turns lock-to-lock	3	Turning circle
Suspension front	Independent, Coil springs	Suspension rear	Independent, Coil springs
Wheels front	5K x 15	Wheels rear	5K x 15
Tyres front	6.50-15 super sport	Tyres rear	6.50-15 super sport
Brakes front	2LS	Brakes rear	LT
Brake diameter front	260 mm / 10.2 in / 10.2 in	Brake diameter rear	260 mm / 10.2 in / 10.2 in
Brakes details	ALHS, ABS (anti-lock braking system)	Braked area

Engine location

front

Engine alignment

longitudinal

Steering

recirculating ball

Steering details

Turns lock-to-lock

Turning circle

Suspension front

Independent, Coil springs

Suspension rear

Independent, Coil springs

Wheels front

5K x 15

Wheels rear

5K x 15

Tyres front

6.50-15 super sport

Tyres rear

6.50-15 super sport

Brakes front

2LS

Brakes rear

Brake diameter front

260 mm / 10.2 in / 10.2 in

Brake diameter rear

260 mm / 10.2 in / 10.2 in

Brakes details

ALHS, ABS (anti-lock braking system)

Braked area

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