A very rare 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194) prototype arriving at and leaving the 2021 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. Based on the successful 1952 W194 race car, of which only ten were built, this one-off example, chassis no. 11, was originally developed for the 1953 racing season. Internally referred to as "Hobel" ("carpenter's plane") due to its front end design, W194/11 featured various improvements including direct fuel injection, a transaxle, a shortened wheelbase, and an Elektron magnesium alloy body, resulting in increased power (214 horsepower) and improved handling. The car was not actually raced due to Mercedes-Benz's decision to end participation in sports car racing to focus on Formula One in 1954. However, it served as an important intermediate model that influenced the iconic W198 300SL that entered production in 1954. W194/11 normally resides in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany and was brought to the U.S. for the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which featured a display celebrating the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL.

(August 21-22, 2021 / San Marino, CA)

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