History behind the Sports Light Automobile by Salik Rohman
“Engineered like no other car in the world� - Mercedes-Benz
01
Art Deco to Automobiles
Streamlining Moderne, which is normally referred to as Streamline. It emerged, as an offshoot style of Art Deco as it brought flowing lines to architecture and design of the era. It was a concept, a simplified form of Art Deco for pure line, motion and speed. As the new design was embraced, soon manufacturers of household appliances changed. This replaced the use of sharp angles. People started to accept that streamline objects were aesthetically pleasing to the eye, this can even be seen now.
Within this time line, I will be looking at series of cars by Mercedes-Benz and how its streamline has evolved. Streamlining does not just make cars faster; it also causes the exterior and interior design to change. The Mercedes SL- Class emerged the 300 SL (Model No: W194) Race Car in 1952 and lasted a year before it went into production as a road car in
Design and streamlining played an important role in this 300 SL that is why it became the fastest production car in the world at the time and later spawned many other cars under the SL umbrella, such as the SLR, SLR Striling Moss and latest SLS Gullwing.
1954-1963. The road car was named the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. The car was first offered as a two seat sports car and later a 300 SL (W198 II) Roadster in 1955-1963. Both came with the new iconic Gullwing doors, which opened upwards. A feature that later appeared on cars like the Bricklin-SV1, De Tomaso Mangusta, DeLorean DMC-12, famous for it’s appearance it the 1980’s films Back to the Future films.
02
1951
Mercedes-Benz SLR Sterling Moss
Hudson Hornet
Estimated Cost: Unknown Built: 9 Top Speed: 186 mph Max Power: 310 HP
The great Hudson Hornet which appeared in (2006) Cars, an animation by Pixer.
03
“This was the first mass-produced car to mount the floor at the bottom of the frame rails instead of on top of them�. www.topspeed.com
1954
1957
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chevrolet Bel Air
Estimated Cost: EUR 25,500 Estimated Recent Cost: ÂŁ500,000+ Built: 1,400 Top Speed: 146-160mph Max Power: 215-255HP
The final year of the Chevrolet Bel Air and 57 Chevy. Both Cars were known for their distinctive styling, massive interiors. This car would go on appearing in many films, toys, graphic novels, etc.
04
1955
1963
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Citroën DS
Estimated Cost: Unknown Built: 1,858 Top Speed: 46-160mph Max Power: 215-255HP
This car was known for it’s aerodynamic, futuristic shape and built technology. It exceeded a build of 1,455,746 from 1955–1975 it to remains an iconic car till today.
05
1963
1971
Mercedes-Benz 230, 250 & 280 SL
Pony Cars
Estimated Cost: EUR 14,500 / EUR 15,500 Hardtop Built: 48,912 built Top Speed: 124mph Max Power: 170 HP
1964 was the successful car years in automotive history. The Pony cars (Ford Mustang), America had captured a design style that would be define American muscle cars forever. The cars, with long front ends and beefy looks would inspire generations of American motors. The Dodge Charger & Shelby Mustang GT500 appeared between 1967-1968. The GT500 appeared in (2000) Gone in 60 Seconds movie, earning its recent nickname of Eleanor.
06
1971
1981
Mercedes-Benz SL & SLC
Dodge Challenger
Estimated Cost: Unknown Built: 300,175 Top Speed: 134mph Max Power: 240HP
“The Challenger was Dodge’s late-breaking answer to the Mustang and Camaro”. John Gunnell -American Cars of the 1960s
07
The Dodge Challenger was a great Muscle car along side the third generation of the Dodge Charger.
1989
2001
Mercedes-Benz SL
Lamborghini Countach
Estimated Cost: ? Built: 213,089 Top Speed: 155mph Max Power: 302HP
The Countach was produced by Lamborghini from 1974 to 1990. The design both pioneered and popularized the wedge-shaped, sharply angled look popular in many high performance sports cars.
08
2001
2008
Mercedes-Benz SL500
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Estimated Price Now: 30,000+ Built: Unknown Top Speed: 141mph Max Power: 315HP
The Volkswagon Group unleash the world fastest road legal car, with a top speed of 267.85 mph and 1001 BHP. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has blown away all competition and still holds the world record as the fastest car.
09
2008
Present
Mercedes-Benz SL 500 Roadster
Toyota Prius
Cost: £81,655.00 Built: In Production Top Speed: 155mph Max Power: 388HP
A great Hybrid car “The Prius is sold in more than 70 countries and regions, and has its largest markets in the United States, Japan, and Europe. In May 2008, Toyota announced that its worldwide cumulative sales of the Prius had passed the 1 million mark worldwide cumulative sales surpassed 2 million units in September 2010”. -Green Car Congress
10
1999
Mercedes-Benz SLR Vision Concept
Pagani Zonda
Estimated Cost: Unknown Built: Unknown Top Speed: 199 mph Max Power: 557HP
The (1999) Pagani Zonda would go onto be a major player against super cars such as Lamborghini, Ferrari and others.
11
One of the great cars by Pagani, is the (2009) Zonda R, it noise is so loud that it is not considered and road or track car.
2009
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722
Lamborghini Reventón
Estimated Cost: £ 295,337 Built: 3,500 Top Speed: 208 mph Max Power: 650 HP
The most expensive Lamborghini money can by, it’s cost near to a million the Lamboghini Reventón would be a great piece of design. Like the early day’s it would take its inspiration from the worlds fastest planes. It is said that only 20 will be made and the chance of owning one is 1:700,000.000. Lamborghini.com
12
2009
Mercedes-Benz SLR Sterling Moss Estimated Cost: £650,000+ Built: 75 to be build / Production Date Unknown Top Speed: 217mph Max Power: 641 HP
13
In the next few years there will be some great designed cars and some bad, here are just some of those to come. • • • • • •
2011 Pagani Huayra 2011 Koenigsegg Agera R 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 2012 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 2012 Porsche 918 Spyder 2013 BMW i8
2011
Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG
Citroën C4
Cost: £106,770.00 Built: In Production Top Speed: 155mph Max Power: 525 HP
“Citroën unveiled today the first details on the new generation C4 that will make its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. Citroën’s answer to the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus is a mixture of high-tech gadgets and class-leading interior space”. -Topspeed.com
14
2010
Present
Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing
Ferrai 458 Italia
Cost: ÂŁ 168,345.00 Gullwing Built: In Production Top Speed: 197mph Max Power: 571HP
Ferrari unveils the long awaited 458 Italia. A unique Ferrari designed to replace the F430.
15
Automobiles Now
It easy to see why people started to see cars no different to other objects they possessed. Their important of having a car had risen and automobiles become more then just a vehicle that took people from A to B, they have become a big part of daily life. Cars now offer more and with the boom in manufacturing and machinery, means the number of output vehicles has risen. With more choice, styles, colour and size. They are safer and prices indicate they are available to the rich and poor and more importantly, cars show status.
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Bibliography: Books: Gunnell.J, 2006 American Cars of the 1960s, Krause Publications, USA Internet Sources www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/ home/new_cars/models/sl-class/230.html www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/ home/new_cars/models/sl-class/r230/overview/Design.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_qBHg1VBOg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BnEPk9nM4k&feature=related www.seriouswheels.com/cars-m.htm www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamline_Moderne www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300SL#cite_note-DeAutos45bis90Oswald-0 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull-wing_door#cite_note-0 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricklin_SV-1 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_190SL www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W113 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_R107 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_R129 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_R230 www.flickr.com/photos/shanafin/440693888/ www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_SLR_McLaren#Stirling_Moss www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300_SLR www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M119_engine http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=192291 http://used.mercedes-benz.co.uk/?csref=pc_approvedused http://www.carinf.com/en/c5f0410407.html http://classicponycars.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_in_60_Seconds_%282000_film%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Countach http://www.allpar.com/model/charger.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nivfK0kbtPw&feature=related http://www.lamborghini.com/ http://www.topspeed.com/ http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/10/worldwide-prius-cumulative-sales-top-2m-mark-toyota-reportedly-plans-twonew-prius-variants-for-the-.html#more
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