Mercedes-Benz 300 SL had a passenger unique feature that’s not been seen since
- When first released in the 50s, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was considered unique
- The gullwing doors were groundbreaking at the time
- However, an interior feature never quite caught on in the car industry
Published on Jul 22, 2024 at 1:50 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 22, 2024 at 7:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
When released in the 1950s, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was a divisive but attention-grabbing car.
Its gullwing doors, which opened vertically, were just one of the features that generated a ton of conversation.
But whilst the doors have caught on, there is one interior feature that has yet to be replicated.
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The Mercedes feature that never quite clicked with car buyers
The car itself has a few issues – and getting inside of it is one of them.
Because the car has a tall tubular frame, the vehicle’s side sills are extremely wide.
Even with vertical doors, the car is a challenge to enter and exit.
Inside the car, the steering wheels flip down to offer the driver more leg room, which is a good idea on the face of it.
However, this means that the driver’s chest space is compromised.
The 300 SL’s issues don’t end there.
The indicator stalk is on the wrong side of the car and doesn’t cancel automatically.
The switch for the high-beam is where the dead pedal is – down by the driver’s feet.
This was standard practice at the time of the car’s release, but still makes it baffling for the modern driver.
And to top it all off, none of the switches are labelled.
So if you’re a new driver, this car might be closer to a baptism of fire than a leisurely drive.
However, one unusual feature that could come in handy is a passenger side horn.
Bear in mind, that this is in addition to the driver’s own horn.
Why might this come in handy?
I suppose it’d give the driver a break from honking on the road and give the passenger something to do.
If you ever have a backseat driver, at least putting them up front in the 300 SL lets them feel important.
Despite its oddities, YouTuber Doug DeMuro found much to like about the car.
He said: “If you want kind of an iconic vintage car, this is one that you can actually use.
“I’m amazed at how relatively easy this car is to drive. It’s just not all that difficult, frankly. And getting up there, it starts to move and it feels reasonably quick.”
He reasoned that the clutch and shifter feel remarkably similar to a modern car, making the Mercedes-Benz SL 300 a ‘usable classic’.
If you want to see his full review of the car, check it out on his YouTube channel.
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