This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2019) |
TheMercedes-Benz W194(also called300 SL) is anendurance racerproduced byMercedes-Benzfor the 1952Sportscarracing season, its first after World War II.
 | |
| Category | Endurance racing |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Mercedes-Benz |
| Designer(s) | Rudolf Uhlenhaut |
| Technical specifications | |
| Engine | 3.0 LM194I6 |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants | Daimler Benz AG |
| Notable drivers |  Hans KlenkKarl KlingHermann LangRudolf Caracciola John Fitch |
Powered by the 3.0 litreSOHCstraight-6M194 engine,it ran off an impressive string of victories that included24 Hours of Le Mans,Bern-Bremgarten,theEifelrennenatNürburgring,and Mexico'sCarrera Panamericana.[1]
Only ten W194s were made.[2]This led to the iconicMercedes 300 SL W198 Gullwingroad car in 1954.[2]The W194 was succeeded by theMercedes-Benz 300 SLRin 1955.
Design
editThe racing W194 300 SL was built around a mere 140-150 pound welded SAE 4130 steel tubespaceframechassis to offset the relatively underpoweredM194 engine.[2]Designed by Daimler-Benz's chief developing engineer,Rudolf Uhlenhaut,the metal skeleton saved weight while still providing a high level of strength. Since it enveloped the passenger compartment traditional doors were impossible, giving birth to the model's distinctive gull-wing arrangement.
Like the production300 SL"Gullwing" it birthed, the W194 used a variant of theoverhead camstraight 6M186 engineintroduced with the flagship four-door300(W186 "Adenauer" ) luxury tourer in 1951. ItsM194 enginereceived the high-output triple two-barrelSolexcarburetor setup from the exclusive300 S(W188) coupe/cabriolet. Designed with an innovative diagonal aluminium head (that allowed for larger intake and exhaust valves) and canted at a fifty-degree angle[2]to the left to fit under the W194's much lower hoodline, it produced 175 hp (130 kW) in racing trim, considerably up from the 300's 150 hp (112 kW). Maximum torque was 207 N⋅m (153 lb⋅ft).[2]Top speed was approximately 160 mph (257 km/h).[3]Afuel-injectedversion of the M194, theM198,was developed two years later for the introduction of the production 300SL in 1954.
Aerodynamicsplayed an important role in the 2497 pound[2]car's speed. Unlike many cars of the 1950s, steering was relatively precise and the four-wheel independent suspension allowed for a reasonably comfortable ride and markedly better overall handling. However, the rearswing axle,jointed only at thedifferential,not at the wheels themselves, could be treacherous at high speeds or on imperfect roads due to extreme changes incamber.The enormous fuel tank capacity also caused a considerable difference in handling depending on the quantity of fuel on board.
Racing history
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In 1952, the W194[1]scored overall wins at the24 Hours of Le Mans,inBern-Bremgarten,in the sportscar race of theEifelrennenat theNürburgring,and in Mexico'sCarrera Panamericana.It also managed second and fourth places at its first outing, theMille Migliain 1952 and won theRally Stella Alpinain 1955 in its last edition.[4]
These successes, especially those on the high speed open road races, were rather surprising as theM194 enginewas fitted only with carburetors (triple 2-barrel Solex), producing 175 hp (130 kW), which was not only less than the competing cars byFerrariandJaguar,but also less than the fuel-injected 300 SL road car developed from it and introduced two years later 1954. Low weight and low aerodynamic drag made the W194 fast enough to be competitive in endurance races.
Production 300 SL
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Daimler-Benz's official importer in the US, New York Mercedes distributorMax Hoffman,suggested to company management in Stuttgart that a street version of the W194 would be a commercial success, especially in America. The result was an icon, the 1954Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing(W198).
More than 80% of the vehicle's total production of approximately 1400 units were sold in the US, making the Gullwing the first Mercedes-Benz widely successful outside its home market and thoroughly validating Hoffman's prediction. The 300 SL is credited with changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid but staid luxury automobiles to one capable of rendering high-performance sports cars.
The W194 today
editThe W194 is regarded by some as the most important post-World War II Mercedes-Benz made.[2]It is unknown how many of the original ten W194s manufactured remain. Only one never raced, Chassis #00002, which served as a parts and training car. It has been fully restored by a Mercedes-Benz team and though not for sale received multiple offers of US$15 million in 2012.[2]
See also
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References
editNotes
edit- ^abThe 1952 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Racing Sport CoupeArchived20 February 2017 at theWayback Machine,emercedesbenz
- ^abcdefghJonny Lieberman (9 January 2013)."Uberbird: The Most Important Postwar Benz of Them All".Motor Trend.ISSN0027-2094.Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2013.
- ^Murphy, Daryl E. (1993).Carrera Panamericana: History of the Mexican Road Race, 1950-54.p. 50.ISBN9780595483242.
- ^"Albo d'oro Stella Alpina".scuderiatrentinastorica.it.Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2014.
Bibliography
edit- Ackerson, Robert (2013).Return to Glory!: The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Racing Car.Dorchester, Dorset, UK: Veloce Publishing.ISBN9781845846176.
- Engelen, Günter (2015).Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Racing Car.Milestones of Motor Sports, Vol. 2. Ostfildern, Germany: Hatje Cantz.ISBN9783775740036.(in English)
- Ludvigsen, Karl(2002).Mercedes-Benz 300SL: Racing Cars 1952-1953.Ludvigsen Library Series. Hudson, WI, USA: Iconografix.ISBN1583880674.