Essen 2009: 1,050-hp 1956 Mercedes Gullwing drag car
Gullwing dragster - Click above for high-res image gallery
This ungainly little creature had an area all to itself at this year's Essen Motor Show. Built over four years by Swiss drag racer Stefan Winter – who is a roofer by trade – the most important thing to say is this: Winter did not mangle a genuine 1956 Mercedes 300 SL to create this beast, and we can thank all the gods that be for that. He copied the body in fiberglass and placed it over a tube chassis, hiding a small block Chevy in front that's been bored out to 422 cubic inches.
With modified pistons, crankshaft, cylinder heads, and a bit more black-art-ness, the gullwinged monster puts 1,050 horsepower to the ground through a 3-speed transmission and rear tires 15 inches across. The 1/4-mile rolls off in 8.1 seconds at 166 mph. If nothing else, at that speed he shouldn't have any problem with keeping the car's interior cool, a problem the originals were known for...
[Source: Das Auto Blog (translated) via Autoblog.nl]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Syllepses 7:37PM (11/30/2009)
So excessive. I love it.
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james 5:02AM (12/01/2009)
That is literally the Coolest Thing In The World Ever. Well, as much as the sullying of an important piece of automotive history with crude American pig-iron can be the Coolest Thing In The World Ever, but you get the idea.....
I guess you would if you could.....
Syllepses 11:38AM (12/01/2009)
james, it's not a real Gullwing.
And don't think of it as sullying. Think of it as recognition of a beautiful, classic shape.
Nzo 7:38PM (11/30/2009)
Not really into drag stuff but this doesn't look too bad. Would look better without the scoop and normal rear tires though.
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83gtragtop 8:20PM (11/30/2009)
I think you're missing the point, this is not a street car, it runs 8's.
vespid82 8:24PM (11/30/2009)
1,050 horsepower... and you want "normal" rear tires?!
Good luck getting traction, lol.
Nzo 8:30PM (11/30/2009)
No not missing the point at all, i understand what drag tires are ;) Just saying it would LOOK better without them.
nfong2684 7:38PM (11/30/2009)
thats one hell of a talented roofer!
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gefinley 7:55PM (11/30/2009)
I was just happy to see it was a fibreglass copy.
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Quote the Raven 9:25AM (12/01/2009)
100% agree! When I first saw the picture I almost screamed. Glad to see it's a repro. But that made me think, does anyone sell a fiberglass kit like this? Seems like you'd see these on old Miatas or something. Just curious, replicars are pretty awful anyway. I hate it when they take a beautiful car like a Corvette and turn it into what looks like Enzo's retarded cousin, Fangool Ferrari made. It'd be a shame to have 1500 gullwing SL's cruising your town.
NotJB34 7:56PM (11/30/2009)
Love it, absolutely love it! I love any time someone shows up at the track with something different whether it be power plant or the car itself. Now if only he could stuff a 900 CID Sonny's engine with some nitrous in there and run pro-mod. I'll keep dreaming. But seriously, there Isn't a single thing I don't like about this car.
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LoneWolf 8:06PM (11/30/2009)
Seriously cool.
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cool_ozzyfromkalush 8:39PM (11/30/2009)
This is one, very serious machine...
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EvolutioniuM 8:37PM (11/30/2009)
very unique alternative to the suddenly hip tube frame 5th gen mustangs
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MemphisNET 8:42PM (11/30/2009)
Amazing, although I too was glad to read he didn't harm an original.
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Kaveh 8:56PM (11/30/2009)
Pretty cool, I almost cried thinking it was a real Gullwing.
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ARIS 9:11PM (11/30/2009)
ok i guess
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JDM Life 9:29PM (11/30/2009)
This is sooo bad ass...
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ricky 9:37PM (11/30/2009)
Overkill show-car. For those that dont pay attention to drag racing, the big deal these days is the Outlaw Drag Radial class, which requires stock suspension, no tubbing, drag radials, no wheelie bars and only 1 power adder, in a car that retains most of the interior and all working lights, signals, mufflers etc. The record is in the high 6's.
If this SL wanted to be unique it would have emulated a stock 56 300SL but used a new 6.2L DOHC with boost, a glide and stock rear suspension with drag radials. It could have still ran 8's. Would have just looked way better.
This SBC / glass body on a full chassis "thing" would have been a show stopper...in 1989.
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Justin 1:32AM (12/01/2009)
What do you mean "If this SL wanted to be unique"? Whats more unique than a freakin Mercedes Gullwing drag car?... How many of these do you see at your local strip cause I've never seen one? How much more unique do you want?
What you're talking about is subtle... Why take a car like that, one that everyone and their brother has seen, and add a few performance mods onto it? Yeah it'll go fast and sound cool but it still looks like a subtle, everyday Gullwing. Thats not very original... This however... This is!