The original 300SL model W194 - on which the 300SL Gull Wing was loosely based - got overall top positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in Berne-Bremgarten in 1952.

The 300SL Gull Wing was produced from 1954. As the first car to directly inject fuel in the cylinders it managed to reach a top speed of 260 km/h (161 mph) depending on gear ratio and drag. As such it was the fastest production car of its day.

Most of these cars - nearly 80% of the 1400 units produced - were sold in the US. The popularity of this car was such that it became the first Mercedes-Benz which was sold in mass numbers outside the German geographical market.

Its peak output was 158 kW… which brings us to the new SLS AMG Gull Wing with its 420 kW peak output and 650 Nm of torque.

Here are some specifications of the AMG Gull Wing:

• It has an aluminium spaceframe body (incidentally the original 300SL Gull Wing Mercedes Benz could also be ordered with an all-aluminium outer body at high cost, but with a resulting weight saving of 176 lb);
• It sports an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine;
• A seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration;
• Sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones;
• Front/rear weight distribution of 47/53 percent, with a low centre of gravity;
• Claimed acceleration is from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 317 km/h (199mph)

Did AMG get it right with the 300SL Gull Wing Mercedes Benz transformed into the SLS AMG Gull Wing? You be the judge!