IF You Could...Would You Buy A Convincing 300SL Gullwing Replica?

[aigel]

Zero chance. I am also not a fan of the beck and such. If you want modern, just buy a modern car. Plenty of good looking ones.

A super 7 kit car would probably be what I'd do to scratch that itch.

[varmint]

beautiful car. but i cannot get into the mindset where you can afford 350k for a replica but not 1.5 mil for a real one. who is that demographic?

maybe if i wanted a car to just beat the **** out of and horrify people.

[gwl123]

I have a dream and would love to know the process of creating the moulds and then applying the panels (alum. or fiberglass) to a chasis. Are there any legal issues if this came to be a business? I know there are existing replicas but don't know the legalities.

[Por_sha911]

Looks like a very well done fake but not in my price range. Now if I can 'Jay Leno money'..? I still have some reservations.
To me, a replica is only considered if I wanted one to complete a collection and the real deal is not available or, if it was going to be just a fun car to drive around. 350K is too much for a knock around car to take to the supermarket or local car shows and park next to Mustangs. For that much, I'd rather have a really nice "Porsh". Also, auto trans is a deal breaker!

[zakthor]

Oh man, 350?

Long time ago a really cool smart guy I knew had a real one - but it was decades before I knew him. Kept it on blocks and never drove it. Story is that one day in the mid 70s his son 'got into his scotch' and took it out for a drive, ended up offroad and into some trees... Met some people who were around back then who remembered seeing it getting towed and how drunk the son was in the tow truck passenger seat.

Surprising to me because I grew up with the gullwing being an absolute icon, but figured at some point in the past it was just a car. Well my friend treasured his like nothing else, to him it was a huge deal even in the 70s.

Can't imagine paying 350 for a fake. The entire point of the 300sl is the truss chassis, special motor and all the period awesome.

[tabs]

NO!!!! Lots of other really nice real stuff is out there for that kind of money. The early 70's MB 280 SEC cab..for instance or a nice long hood 911S. take your pick of a muscle car.. and you have dinner and gas money left over.

My Dad's younger brother had 2 MB 300's a mid 50's Sedan and a 300 SL..he was killed on his way home from work in his Maserati.

[Por_sha911]

I would buy (funds permitting) a Shelby Cobra replica but it would be way less than 75K.

[gwood]

Mercedes has gone after replicas before.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/crushed-mercedes-benz-destroys-300-sl-gullwing-copy-181959/

[aigel]

Originally Posted by gwl123

I have a dream and would love to know the process of creating the moulds and then applying the panels (alum. or fiberglass) to a chasis. Are there any legal issues if this came to be a business? I know there are existing replicas but don't know the legalities.

This isn't a replica operation, rather a car being built from scratch. This guy is more of an artist than a gear head but I found his 2 piece summary of his build very interesting and learned quite a bit. He isn't done and has other crazy projects. It's more the journey for him.

[speeder]

The car in the OP would be good for a movie car that gets destroyed on camera, maybe with a real one in the same color for close-ups that obviously does not get destroyed.

And yes, they used to just be old cars. Always special but more like $5k special back in the '60s and early '70s. Sigh...

[varmint]

That’s all CG now.

[pwd72s]

What's the difference between a Mercedes Gullwing replica and a replica Rolex?

[island911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

What's the difference between a Mercedes Gullwing replica and a replica Rolex?

$350k ?

[sc_rufctr]

Ummmm.... Great looking car but replicas have never been a thing for me.

I can see that attraction.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Who wouldn't want this? (Again, for $35K)

Yep, I'd love a good 550 replica, or a Lotus 7 replica. I'd take a 300SL replica if it was beautiful AND engaging/exciting to drive.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Superman

Apparently, my perspective is different from everyone's so far. Sure, I agree the asking price is ridiculous and the car is not worth anywhere near that figure. But AC Cobras and 356 Speedsters are popular 'fake' cars that look very cool, and I wonder if the Gullwing is treated differently in your minds compared to those other replicas. I think all three cars are cool, and it's perfectly okay for folks to honor them with replicas.

if it's a beautiful recreation, that's great, but it would also have to be a great driver that also made great sounds. It would have to have a full character, not just looks.

[GH85Carrera]

To answer the original question, NO.

The 300SL is a very iconic cool looking car and maybe fun to show up at a party where people see you arrive. (Like I do that a lot)

But the 300 SL, Porsche 904 or a Ferrari Daytona all are iconic, they suck big time to be in. Hard to get in and out of, especially the 904. They have pitiful ventilation, no AC and the Daytona and the SL will roast you with the engine heat unless it is 50 degrees or colder outside.

To have them in a garage like Jay Leno's garage would be perfect. Of course Jay has two real Mercedes 300SL and tons of other equally cool cars so he does not want a replica. And if Jay doesn't want it then neither do it!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

To answer the original question, NO.

The 300SL is a very iconic cool looking car and maybe fun to show up at a party where people see you arrive. (Like I do that a lot)

But the 300 SL, Porsche 904 or a Ferrari Daytona all are iconic, they suck big time to be in. Hard to get in and out of, especially the 904. They have pitiful ventilation, no AC and the Daytona and the SL will roast you with the engine heat unless it is 50 degrees or colder outside.

To have them in a garage like Jay Leno's garage would be perfect. Of course Jay has two real Mercedes 300SL and tons of other equally cool cars so he does not want a replica. And if Jay doesn't want it then neither do it!

Whew I was younger, I thought the Gullwing SL was one of THE coolest cars. I know that it's super cool, but honestly, I prefer an open top SL to the gullwing (and I'm not really a convertible guy).

[Tervuren]

Aye, put that Cobra Replica on a late 70's Mercedes chassis and ask $350K for it and it'd also garner a lot of, "Nope, not for me."

Originally Posted by masraum

if it's a beautiful recreation, that's great, but it would also have to be a great driver that also made great sounds. It would have to have a full character, not just looks.

[DonDavis]

Nope, no way I'd shell out 350 large for that.

Plus, the interior looks way too small.

I wonder how the exterior dimensions compare to the real thing?