Where better to put the mighty
Mercedes-Benz 300SLR through its paces, says an enraptured Mick W., than at the
Nordschleife?
Fifty-eight years on, it's remarkable the
effect that the magnificent Mercedes-Benz 300SLR still has on the locals. On a
chilly, overcast morning at the Nürburgring, there's a hushed reverence as the
ultimate 1950s sports-racer drops down on the lift from its secure hold in the
back of the huge Mercedes transporter, in total contrast to the exposed super truck
that once carried it here. Back in May 1955, thousand turned out to see
victorious Mille Miglia team run in the non-championship ADAC Eifelrennen and
cheer the 25-year-old English ace Stirling Moss as he took on 'El Maestro' Juan
Manuel Fangio, the veteran almost twice the age of his gifted young teammate.
In a perfect world, the German Equipe would have preferred a national to be
leading the victory parade, but Hans Herrmann was still recovering from his
Monaco smash so matching the wise old Fangio with the eager British sensation
was the publicist's dream pairing in the exotic silver prototypes.
Fifty-eight
years on, it's remarkable the effect that the magnificent Mercedes-Benz 300SLR
still has on the locals
Even now, Daimler-Benz is selective about
outings for these magnificent space framed wonders, thus ensuring maximum
effect with enthusiasts. All conversation stops as the curvaceous rarity rolls
out into the open paddock. It's not beautiful in the sleek, lean mould of a
Jaguar D-type or a Maserati 300S, but it has a dominant, majestic presence with
its gaping grille, straight flanks and signature wheel arch eyebrows.
Racing cars in the '50s had distinctive
nationalistic styles that went beyond team colors, and the 300SLR's neat,
purposeful design contrasted with its Italian and British rivals. The stunning
profile is deftly enhanced by instantly recognizable details such as the stubby
twin exhausts that exit right through air vents just short of the cockpit, the
long flip-up headrest and the offset air-intake bulge for the plenum chamber.
The flowing form, with horizontal chrome arrows over its side vents, cleverly
evoked the 300SL production models, but under its super-light magnesium-alloy
skin, the SLR's running gear was state-of-the-art Formula 1 engineering evolved
from the W196. Like many of the greatest sports-racers – namely Alfa Romeo 8C,
Bugatti Type 55 and Talbot-Lago – the 300SLR was basically a two-seater Grand Prix
car.
The
SLR’s stunning profile is deftly enhanced by signature details
The power plant closely followed the W196's
straight-eight desmodromic unit, although the two blocks of four cylinders were
cast in silumin instead of fabricated in steel. The square, 2979cc engine –
78x78mm bore and stroke – was canted over in the chassis and featured essential
sports car additions such as a generator and a starter. With Bosch injection,
its power output varied according to fuel and anticipated event demands but it's
good for up to 302bhp at 7500rpm on pump petrol, rising to 340bhp on alcohol
brews. Every aspect from its massive inboard drum brakes to the W196
transmission with ZF'box in unit with the final drive - combined to make up the
ultimate specification. The 300SLR could have been ready in 1954 after early
testing at Monza proved that it was three seconds faster than the
single-seater, but management and team leader Alfred Neubauer considered it
better to focus on the return to Grand Prix competition.
The confidence of the team was confirmed by
its chosen debut event, the Mille Miglia, through Mercedes was even more in the
spotlight with its position as the only non-Italian marque to have won the
fabled enduro. Moss, aided by his fearless bearded navigator Denis Jenkinson,
aka 'Jenks', won in heroic style at a pace never to be beaten. Three weeks
later a large crowd turned out to see the SLRs in action in the Eifelrennen.
Fangio had more experience than Moss at the 'Ring and, in his Mille Miglia car
(chassis 3), he took pole at just over 10 mins, which was 6 secs quicker than
Moss in the prototype (W196S-1).
Karl Kling was 18.2 secs further back,
hounded by a gaggle of Ferrari Monzas and struggling Ecurie Ecosse D-types.
Under threatening skies, the silver train dominated the 10-lap race as Moss
began to gain confidence around the Nordschleife by setting a new lap record at
83.53mph (10 mins 10.8 secs) to take the lead from Fangio. The Argentinian
reclaimed first place on the final tour – maybe to team orders – and led his
colleague across the line by just a 10th of a second. German fans
would never again see the SLRs run in anger on home soil, although Moss became
a megastar at the Nürburgring with triple wins in Aston Martins and a Maserati.
Precise
selector for ZF five-speed
The awesome noise of the three SLRS leading
the pack on the opening lap back in '55 – sounding like a fighter-plane attack
– must have been heard long before the cars came into sight, but just one
starting up is exciting enough for our test. The harsh roar from the twin side
pipes no doubt rings out right across to Quiddlebach, attracting more
enthralled bystanders. With the bonnet raised during the warming up, the loud
shriek has a backing score from its exotic heart of roller bearing, gear trains
and desmodromic valve gear, all building to a Wagnerian chorus.
The door hinges up vertically over the wide
sill, and the only way to get aboard is to step on to the tartan seat and slide
your legs into the strange foot well layout. The wide offset transmission
splays your legs, with your left foot working the hefty clutch and right to the
other side for the closely positioned throttle and brake. Unlike the W196, the
accelerator is on far right, much to Moss' relief because he was never comfortable
with it in the center. Left-hand drive seems strange for a '50s sports-racer
and the position – once the elegant four-spoke detachable wheel is locked into
place - is very upright, with a long stretch to the wooden rim. Typical of the
well-thought-out cockpit, the seat, with its back close to the rear axle,
offers great leg support and your upper body is well braced by the high sill.
There's even a flask holder.
