24 April 2009 - 11:00
’Wing commander
See more Gullwing-America 300SL Panamerica pics
With the Mercedes SLS shortly to arrive, we've been spending far too many hours ogling the original Merc gullwing, the 300SL.
So too, seemingly, has designer Arturo Alonso, who's created this, the Gullwing-America 300SL Panamerica concept.
Alonso was responsible for the heavy-metal Bentley S3 we saw last year, but he's not one of these dream-it-up-in-Photoshop-but-never-build-it designers - the S3 is on its way to limited production, and the 300SL Panamerica is a working model which, given sufficient interest, could be built in small numbers.
The Panamerica is based around a composite aluminium body and powered by the 5.5-litre V8 from the McMerc SLR putting out a conservative 370bhp, although Alonso says there could also be a 3.5-litre V6 offered futher down the line. The concept also gets a whole bunch of mod cons - aircon, iPod adaptor and starter button - oh, and gullwing doors. You didn't think they'd forget those, did you?
We're loving the retro detailing on the Panamerica: the dinky outboard wing mirrors, the authentic side vents, the side exit exhausts. We're not sure whether that bumper-less front end would pass crash regs, and we might drop those wheels down by a size or two, but apart from that we'll take three, ta. In silver.
Crunch time, TG faithful: one of these, or the SLS when it arrives? Tricky decision, we reckon...
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Both. They're equally gorgeous. I usually loathe modernist retro-trips, but this is quite, quite beautiful with some wonderful art-deco details. I want.
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Both. They're equally gorgeous. I usually loathe modernist retro-trips, but this is quite, quite beautiful with some wonderful art-deco details. I want.
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Just fantastic looking, a worthy tribute to the 300SL.
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This car has a beautiful butt and it is one of the most gorgeous Mercedes ever built.
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Lovely machine and with 21st century tech it would be super cool and not break down!
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if you want a retro gullwing...buy the proper gullwing you will get far more cool for your money, lets face it thats what a gulwing is for. if you want a new one get the SLS it will have a modern body, gullwings and go like the clappers and be a damned site cheaper than this i suspect
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Retro cars is beauty for all new cars
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wow i actually would have this. im not one for gullwings but this is the exception
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Very nice, but will it drive as well as the 'proper' Merc?
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I think it looks absolutely fantastic and merc's V8's are usually brilliant so definitely one for the dream garage.
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It's not a tricky decision. Whilst everyone's hyping over the SLS, you can look cool and alternative in your retro-future SL Gullwing. It looks great, and will drive much better than the '50s 300SL - and because it won't be as valuable, you might take it out more often, too. I like this idea. A company that was at MPH does something similar with Cobras and Porsche 356s and such - looks and feels classic, but it drives modernly, and it's safe. Surely this Gullwing can pass safety tests without bumpers - the Aston ONE-77 has no bumpers, it's all huge, hand-beaten bits of aluminium, and that's ok.
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I don't like the name though. It has 'America' in it twice, which sounds silly. I mean, I know why they're there (The company's called Gullwing-America and it's inspired by SLs that raced the Carrera Panamerica - occasionally driven by this very designer chap), but it still sounds silly.
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beauuuuuuuuuuuuuty
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The retro style is WAAAAAAAAAY more beautiful and sexy.
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*decision made for me by the immediate need for fresh knickers when looking at the photos of this one* Dear god, that's a pretty car. *wants*
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those brake calipers are HUGE!!!
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SLS anytime! Now, I would choose original Gullwing anytime over any car, but this isn't Gullwing. This is like one of those kit cars... It's nice lookin' dough, except these hideous wheels...
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SLS anytime! Now, I would choose original Gullwing anytime over any car, but this isn't Gullwing. This is like one of those kit cars... It's nice lookin' dough, except these hideous wheels...
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God this is gorgeous!! To tell you the truth I would much rather have this than the SLS.
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This all the way... It's stunning :)
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Oh, it isn't it GORGEOUS! I'd love to have one of these - was always a big fan of the old Gullwing. Not sure if I would have the SLS or this yet.
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Sorry, change of plan, would have both. Both are equally amazing. :)
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Sorry, change of plan, would have both. Both are equally amazing. :)
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why did it do that twice?
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SLS is horrendous, and evidence that the M-B design house needs to do some serious soul-searching. (And by that, I mean "firing".) GT-R lamps on a Dodge pickup front-end with Ford T-Bird porthole windows? Blech. Give me a 300SL tribute any day of the week, and this one is particularly gorgeous.
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this is gorgeous but that's because it looks like a de-bumpered 300sl. your better of getting the original as it looks better with the chrome bumpers and wont have horibble green tinted windows and drug dealer wheels. or you could get the sls. this panamerica sl isn't design its modification, at least make it different from the original while still retaining the retro looks, this is just a failure in my view. plus having too much america in a cars name makes me want to vomit.
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this is cool i wan't that...
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I`m sorry but that is pure phornograpghy.
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It won't be as good to drive as an SLS (or any other modern day Merc) despite what they are claiming, Oldies never are to be honest. But my God, that styling, those lines, those curves.......mmmmmmmm. It's got the SLS beat on the cool wall and that surely is the end of argument.
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wonder how much it'll cost if they ever do make it
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That's stunning! Lose the green tinted windows, and I'd have that.
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how much will it cost ?
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'Mind where the wyvern's been, sir, she's been ill... Oh well, never mind. It'll scrape off beautifully when it dries'. Sorry Wyvern, I could'n't stop me. : ) My god, this car is gorgeous... Are the hearts of the rims really in red or thst just the lighting? They should be red...
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yeh boy!!! that is a good lookin car!!!
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AshHorne commented on this article
24 April 2009
Neither. SL Black. Next!
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