Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Wire Sculpture

This W198 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is constructed from silver-colour wire and measures 54″ long and 24″ wide. It features gullwing doors that latch in the upright position, wheels with Mercedes-Benz-branded centres and segments representing headlights, taillights, a fender-mounted mirror, and fender vents.

The 300SL was developed upon the suggestion of US importer Max Hoffman that Mercedes produce a sports car to entice American buyers. The model was inspired by the company’s W194 sports racers, from which it inherited its upward-opening doors made necessary by the high sills of its lightweight tubular space frame. Introduced at the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York, the production version of the 300SL utilized steel bodywork with aluminium panels for the hood, trunk lid, door skins, rocker panels, and floorboards.