Mercedes-Benz brought the W194 sports car to the market in the early 1950s. In 1953, American car importer Maximilian Hoffmann tasked the board of Mercedes carmaker Daimler-Benz (originally known as Daimler-Benz) with creating the next generation of racing cars.

He also ordered 1,000 cars in advance to sell to the US market. Just five months after Hoffmann's proposal, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing was launched in February 1954 and was considered "the world's first modern supercar".

The car was unveiled at the New York International Motor Sports Show. The 300 SL Gullwing amazed the era in terms of design, luxury and vehicle specification.

It is understood that 80% of the SL Gullwing cars produced up to 1957 were sold in the United States. Celebrities of the time were also on the buyer's list. The car was the world's first four-stroke passenger car. 

The car had 215 hp (158 kW) and a top speed of 250 km/h, making it the fastest car at the time. It's not just the speed or the eye-catching design, but the car is also quite light.

Only 50kg. The car uses unique doors to reduce weight. Unlike traditional car doors, these doors could be opened from above, which led to the car being named the Gullwing. In December 1999, this car was named Sports Car of the Century.