Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing iPhone Case

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is a breathtaking engineering masterpiece that emerged as the fastest production car of its day and the definitive automotive icon of the 1950s. Born from the DNA of the dominant 1952 W194 endurance racer, this road-going supercar was famously brought to life at the urging of American importer Max Hoffman, who recognized a hunger for a high-end sports car in the post-war US market. Because its lightweight, race-bred tubular spaceframe chassis extended high up into the sides of the car, traditional doors were structurally impossible—forcing engineers to design the signature, roof-hinged "gullwing" doors that gave the car its legendary name. Beneath its long, elegant hood sat a 3.0-liter M198 inline-six engine featuring a revolutionary, world-first mechanical direct fuel-injection system, which boosted output to a formidable 215 horsepower and propelled the car to a mind-boggling top speed of up to 161 mph. With its distinctive fender eyebrows, highly advanced independent suspension, and a production run of just 1,400 units, the 300 SL Gullwing transcended mere transport to become the world's very first true "supercar" and a permanent monument to automotive high art.