Said it before… this is the best quality car content in the world right now. Thank you to everyone involved. Your passion and dedication shines through in all of these. Bravo.
Agree - Cammisa / Hagerty duo is something we have to be grateful for, don't know how long it will last, but I truly appreciate every single episode. This content is just TOO MUCH QUALITY I can't believe it's free on UA-cam.
I read in a British magazine, Classic & Sports Car about a car dealer in the US in the'50's who wanted a 300SL coupé ..... in kit form. Mercedes complied & duly sent the kit. He never got around to building it & subsequently died. The kit was sold as part of a deceased estate & so the lucky new owner got him self a decades old car that was brand new with zero miles. All he had to do was to assemble it.
@@paganizondasroadster1660 is it though? I mean, the owner had it for years, so if they really appreciated what they had and wanted to drive it then they would have built it and done so. I think it's a cool example of a time encapsulated icon that the lucky new owner gets to enjoy while simultaneously fulfilling the original owner's intentions. Well, that's assuming that the new owner _does_ end up building and driving the kit... I'm not sure which form it would be more valuable in, but either way it's an amount that is so tremendous that it causes people to overthink and to forget that the car was *made* to be driven, which is also what it was _designed_ to do, so building it and then letting it sit there will make it less reliable than if it were properly broken in.
Haggerty spent a lot of money going on a UA-cam campaign and really striving for shows that are special. Most are. But Jason and crew are the one. Keep renewing the seasons guys. This one has to keep going.
I've had my 1957 Roadster since 1974, restored in 2004. Since restoration I've driven appox 38,000 miles. Nothing else drives like a 300 SL, unfortunately 95% of the cars are never driven and if they are its around town miles or up and down the trailer. his is one of the best videos I've seen about the car.
Thank you VERY VERY much for sharing the beauty and engineering marvel to wider folks in your vincinity, i hope seeing one in real life sparks interest in some kids, or made the day for some enthusiasts. Hope you take a lot of parking coffee breaks
Is it just me, or is a 34 Gallon fuel tank ENORMOUS on this little car? Surely the mileage isn't that bad is it? I realize these were designed to be racecars, so the large fuel tank makes sense. However, one half that size, & some storage would have made more sense wouldn't it?
I understand why those 3 are so revered, and I watch old TG all the time - but Jason has something special that none of them could ever touch. Standing on the shoulders of giants, for sure, but to me he reaches so much higher and further in sheer quality content and car nerdery than they ever did. Maybe it's also just a generational thing, though, to be fair.
@@babyfknblu Totally agree. I’ve loved Jason since the head2head days(when motortrend content was on yt). At that time the other 3 were still on TG. They might’ve lost their authenticity by that time though. TG was always scripted, but they started leaning a lot more heavily on the scripted bits imo
Jason mixes the rhetorical eloquence of Clarkson, the cheeky irreverence of Harris, the historic perspective and deep technical knowledge of Harry Metcalfe combined with superb editing and World class production value.... This is better than any competing automotive content on TV or youtube. Absolutely brilliant....
Evidently that’s his goal not necessarily on this particularly series but for Icons he’s stated that his goal is to be better than Top Gear was at its peak, whether he’ll ever reach that remains to be seen (pretty much only because Top Gear’s “peak” was so ridiculously high and they had a whole team of script writers vs just Jason, in fact frankly if we’re speaking in terms of proportionality imo he’s already far surpassed Top Gear.
That footage at the last minutes is gold. Finally someone on UA-cam had the decency to let the car be heard and speak for herself - without talking over her . Pure music.
The framing of the shot at 1:05 with the gull wings behind Jason shows just how thought out and quality this production is. I can't get enough of this channel!
GOD. I love that Jason is making it through the outer edges of my automotive psyche. Cannot wait until he tickles my weird humor with a Piëch/W8 Manual Wagon episode.
I was smiling the whole time watching this video until the ride-along, then I teared up. Thank you so much for this video! My very first car was a 190 sl, while not a 300 sl, it still had it's charms.
Finally! A proper straight six in this series. With a manual transmission as well. I could barely wait till the end to drool over the POV driving footage.
I'd sure like to know where that road is. There's one VERY much like it about 20 minutes from my home in Sonoma County, Northern California. Oh, and a little something to tweek everyone a bit. In 1967, Torvick Mercedes had a 300SL on the showroom floor, listed for $6750!!! You could buy a new Chevy or Ford then, for about $2500 so that used Mercedes was priced proportionally to a modern day Ferrari.
@@MrGaryGG48 Pretty sure there's a wink in your comment. Every Sonoman car enthusiast knows of a road that was named after a British electrics company. Or someone else... No, not that guy.😁
The sound of the engine as you took it through the bends at the end was unbelievable. One of the most amazing sounding engines I've ever heard, much less from a vehicle made 70 years ago. Thank you for this gem of a video and this incredible series. They are both masterpieces. Well done, Gents!
I'd never heard a 300SL being driven before ... nothing could have prepared me for how magical that sound was. And I normally don't like straight sixes.
the 300 SL has been one of the sleekest cars to have ever been conceptualize in history. It's amazong that engineers are capable of creating it in the 50s no less
I just wanted to compliment you on your German pronunciation and accent, just perfectly done well spoken German, surprisingly rare in a time where everyone can research the proper pronunciation in 2 minutes Thank you
I'm glad you mentioned that the 300SL was the first car with direct injection decades ahead of it being everywhere now. It's crazy how far ahead of its time it was
Absolutely one of the greatest cars ever made. It’s amazing it did so well with so many “off the shelf” parts. It’s crazy to me that these not only drove great in period, but still drive great even under modern standards.
To put the achievement of Mercedes 300SL success into perspective, is something that very very few manufacturers ever managed never mind right from the word go! It was only 7 years after WW2 that a car appeared out of nowhere that was an engineering master piece and had innovations fitted to it that were years ahead of its time, and then won every race bar its first ever showing and then was ruthlessly finished off (no manufacturer on the planet would even think about doing that now!), an iconic classic that never seems to age, a fantastic achievement by any standards, you can clearly tell at the end how special this car really is!
Another memory lane trip for me today. I sold parts for Mercedes for 25 years in southern California where I met a man named Lynn Yakel. He was president of the Gullwing club and of coarse drove a Gullwing and his wife Carol drove the roadster. I think it was late 80's or early 90's that Ford offered Carol a job in R&D developing alternate fuel engines. They paid her more than both were making at their respective engineering jobs for Northrup. So off they went to the motor city where Lynn could concentrate on making no longer available parts for these amazing machines. My personal favorite was the 300SEL 6.3. A 5 passenger 4 door with air suspension and the 6.3 liter limo motor. It was the fastest production car of the time, 1969 thru 1971 when the US was all about big block power, this thing tore em up....thanks for the memories
When I was a kid I always thought there was a mistake in this old '50's car. There was not a lot of information about it but on paper the performance looked unbelievable even compare to 80's 90's car. After watching this video I realize it is even more incredible. Thanks Jason.
Best automotive content available anywhere. The storytelling and subject matter are perfect. Jason's sense of humor and personality, also perfect. Please keep funding content by Jason. Side note request: MR2 vs Fiero
I’ve only heard that this is a great car, and I’ve even seen F1 drivers drive and own this. Like: Nico Rosberg. But I never knew WHY this car was good. Thank you Jason for bringing insight into this car.
As an American "Army Brat" living with my Army family in Germany during the mid 50's to late 50's our little "Sports Car Club" invited Mercedes to bring a car down for us to see. They brought a 300 SL with "the doors" and after the meeting was over I talked (begged) with the factory driver and got a short, but never forgotten ride in a factory 300 SL. I think that the 300 SL's in those days cost about $7500. Austin Healey 4 cylinders cars were about maybe $3000 or less.
I love your German, your different accent impersonations, and the jokes and analogies you make. It's a delight watching this series, with great production . Hats off to you guys!
I grew up around these cars due my dad's obsession with them after his (US) service in Germany in WW2. He left us due to Covid-19 in 2020, but his 1959 S class still remains in his carriage barn, sadly undriveable due to a rusty suspension. This video brought back fond childhood memories of several W180 parts cars strewn about our yard. These cars were a neverending stream of innovative and visionary engineering, way ahead of their time. Would live to find a good home for his, but the market is very slow for these cars.
I was working with those cars for years, I love them so much, this is way beyond everything else that came out of Germany at this time, even when you do not consider that many mechanical parts are made of leftovers. The Uhlenhaut Coupe, the Big Brother with the Inline double 4 from the GP Cars for me is the greatest Car of the 20th century even in front of the 250 GTO
My great grandmother drove a 1960 W121 190 MB -SL and I'm now the fourth generation carrying on that tradition of SL ownership. I usually don't care for the aesthetic of German design, but I certainly appreciate the engineering. The SL line is the only place I find where the aesthetic almost equals the engineering. Really enjoyed this presentation. Very informative and fun. Does not surprise me Hagerty is coming up on 2 million subscribers if this is an example of their content.
It's so freaking nice to watch videos from a "UA-camr" you actually does research and reads before making a video, rather than just giving first impressions. There are a million 300SL videos out there, all saying the exact same thing, but this is not one of them! Jason Cammisa is the only automotive journalist I actually care to seek out and the only reason I'm on Hagerty's channel. Also, big props to all the people behind the scenes, because they are killing it, too!!
Jason you contradicted yourself about the flush headlights And who was responsible for getting them past US regulators. I think it was between Ford and Mercedes; it’s either the Taurus or the world‘s most perfect sedan it can’t be both.
Ford was pushing hard because they were making bank with the bubbly t-bird sales on Monday after Bill Elliot won or came close on most Sundays. C'mon Brandon
The 1984 Lincoln Mark VII is widely considered to be first US production car to be legally certified for composite headlights. The Ford Taurus was still in final stages of development and already had composite lights as designed but had a dual rectangular US legal setup for both cars in case the composite lights were rejected by US regulators.
Jesus wept... The sound that thing makes is astonishing! Haven't heard one in the metal before, and don't think I've even heard good audio of it from the outside. So, to hear it from the cabin is just, wow...!! Magnificent!
Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! Amazing in which nasty and absurd way this engine revs !!! It’s a 70year old car and still a racer deep inside! Such a shame most of them are dying quiet in outskirts garages as an invest for the owner only 😪
thanks so much for doing this episode on the gullwing. i now understand everything my dad was talking about growing up about when he owned one. his barn find in calgary alberta which he traded a brand new volvo for. winner dad on that trade then moved to vancouver with his wife and cat driving this car. moved into a small apartment as he had just returned from switzerland having received his degree in forensic science. anyways he dismantled the car down to its simplest form and started rebuilding and boom the beautiful cherry red beast was reborn. so every point you hit on in this video was something he tried to explain to me but not until i heard the engine when you drove it did i truly understand what he was talking about. i got goose bumps and a tear in my eye😢because i never experienced before. thank you it means so much. anyways i guess my brother was conceived in it 50 years ago and he sold to the owner of the mercedes dealership in vancouver and it paid for our house then several years ago his car sold for over a million at the Barrett Jackson auction. Anyways, thanks again.
Because of the quality of your videos and your commitment to Jason and his style, I have insured my GTR with Hagerty. I plan to slowly transition all of my classics as their policies come to respective ends. Keep it up guys!
Jason, your German impressions are hilarious. Love these Revelations clips! The Gullwing truly was/is a work of art. That six sounds absolutely glorious, and the body is gorgeous.
Beautiful car, my grandfather bought one and drove it through 3 states until he ran into a road block. Yes it drives at 150 mph. Had a 700 dollar fine back then with is a value of a house, but pulled out the cash and drove off to Canada. My uncle then sold it in 85 for only 125,000 to a owner in Collingwood On.
My grandfather also used to own a 300SL. The stories he told of the women, the friends he made and some less fortunate incidents are all amazing. Wish there was a way to find where it ended up.
You forgot to mention, "the best resale value......." I met a guy up in Lake George NY, I think he was managing the sagamore island. He drove his to work. What an amazing piece of artwork that vehicle was. My favorite car on the planet is still a Jag XKE e-type, but if I needed just one car, and I needed it to be reliable, the SL would win every time.
I have never so eagerly waited for the "test drive section" in this series, and man, it didn't dissapointed. Long live German Cars (until the mid 2000's) Having said this, Jason you're the man, it's great to see a madly in love with automotive art guy like you deliver such fun, informative and well done shows like this...keep up the excellent work.
“The S class” didn’t exist when the 300sl was designed . The SL came from the Ponton w180 . The S class name came around in 1972 with the the w116 chassis . Great film though !
@@farishanafiah8461 Please, just stop claiming this stupid bullshit about Mercedes-Benz vehicles from that era. "At that time", there wasn't a "S-Class" at Mercedes-Benz, period'! There was the W 116, which was considered as the "big Mercedes" at that time. This has absolutely nothing to do with the much later first S-Class.
@@Porsche1969 So the W116 was not called S Klasse when it was in production? Is that a later thing. As for sure the W116 is usually called today S-Klasse.
Back in the 90's I worked for a restoration company here in Europe and had the privilege of working on 2 Gullwing projects. Truly amazing cars and technically fascinating. I can testify that this car can pull from about 25 mph right up to "I'm too scared to go any faster' while constantly having you pressed into the back of your seat. Wonderful
Oh lordy, I am in love! That last clip of you driving the 300SL was just wonderful. I owned an XK-120 in the mid-sixties. It is amazing how cheap a used one was then. It was fun but oddly primitive in so many ways. The 300SL in production at the same time was a glimpse of the future, superior in almost every respect to the Jaguar. Even then, you couldn't buy a cheap used 300SL.
What an absolute joy to watch! Not talking about the beautiful Merc but the sheer quality of Jason's performance, humor (imitations) and information. Images are beautiful and entertaining, research well done. Top quality!
This was a SERIOUSLY good video!!! The 300SL ended up becoming one of the largest automotive Icons, and they never realised it till some guy begged them to build it!
@@1990Thunderbolt yes truly remarkable considering that at the end of the war in 1945 the country was literally a bomb crater from one end to the other. No power lines no water pipes no railways no bridges factories bombed out and they produced this in the early fifties. In my country South Africa which gained democracy in 1994 without a war fought on its soil and all the infrastructure intact we now have at least weekly power outages, railways barely functioning, our national airline one of the earliest in the world now defunct and general degradation of infrastructure.
The design and development stories behind these cars is incredibly interesting. Thank you to Cammisa and crew for the well researched content. It sure doesn’t hurt that it’s entertaining as well! Also, a nice way to spend some time when it’s 8F outside….
Yes , sadly but true , i had a Tear in my Eye watching the vid and thinking by my self " Where is our Sense for Quality gone .... " into Politics ! Where i was young a 10 year old Benz was " just drivin in " as we say . Now a 10 year old Benz is almost done... 😥😎
Damn, in Jason Cammisa doing this the world has lost a brilliant voice actor! Your German is damn fine, sir! Thank you for your quality content, from a linguist in Germany.
Noch besser ist ja fast sein Denglisch, wenn er einen Deutschen nachahmt, der nicht soo fit in Englisch ist. Zum kaputtlachen. Man merkt, dass er jahrelang hier gelebt hat.
Absolutely stunning content guys! Keep it up! Best UA-cam automotive content out there that’s straight historical automotive content, no gimmicks, no sponsorships just great quality content!
13:07 Oh wow. I've never heard a classic car sound like that when accelerating in the cabin. That's incredible. That's my new benchmark for classic cars in terms of acceleration noise from inside the cabin. Anybody think they know something better?
I owned a 63 E type for 3 yrs when I was younger. The sound of the engine when downshifting from 130 mph was pretty incredible as well as just running thru the gears. 3.8 litre, double overhead cams, triple carbs, cast iron headers and dual exhaust from the manifold straight out the rear. Wish I still had it but feel blessed for at least having had the experience.
I really, really like Jason's presenting style, plus the production values and the content are awesome. I'd love to see more and on a more regular basis.
Bit of fried gold this is! Goddamn thank you for this. To hear you ring out this engine that us mere mortals will never likely see was like hearing Beethoven or Bach for the first time.
Perfect perspective on the FPV video of driving the car at the end. Another brilliant shot and edited video. You guys are killing it for the automotive content!
"This was the mid 1950's. A time where mass transit cars like the VW Beetle couldn't hit 70 Mph, a Porsche could barely manage 100. A Mercedes SL could do over 150 Mph... 'TIL THE END OF TIME!" This, amongst a million other things, is why I love this show.
As a half German myself, Jason Camissa's German parodies are spot on. Best German-Austrian impersonations since Jay Leno's fun pokes at Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wow! Just WOW! Great lesson and reminder of the car magazines that rarely tested these beasts in the 80's and 90's. Great review once again, Jason! Just brilliant!
Yes, yes and I'm gonna marry Margot Robbie eventually. Mate if you're not like the people on the series "succession" don't hurt yourself with a cold bath of reality.
This quality of film making, narration, direction, production, and the driving at the end, *needs* to feature the BMW 2002, Datsun 240Z, Mazda Miata, Skyline R30, Alfa Romeo GTV 1750, BMW E30 M3, Mercedes W201 2.5- 16 EVOII, Subaru 22B, BMW 507, Mercedes Gelandewagen, Subaru SVX, Shelby Cobra, Macca F1, etc Bravo to all involved.
Said it before… this is the best quality car content in the world right now. Thank you to everyone involved. Your passion and dedication shines through in all of these. Bravo.
No doubt 😃🔥
Throttle House and RCR are incredible but I agree, Cammisa makes THE best car content in the world. Absolute treat.
Agree fully, the best!
Agreed!!!
Agree - Cammisa / Hagerty duo is something we have to be grateful for, don't know how long it will last, but I truly appreciate every single episode. This content is just TOO MUCH QUALITY I can't believe it's free on UA-cam.
I read in a British magazine, Classic & Sports Car about a car dealer in the US in the'50's who wanted a 300SL coupé ..... in kit form. Mercedes complied & duly sent the kit. He never got around to building it & subsequently died. The kit was sold as part of a deceased estate & so the lucky new owner got him self a decades old car that was brand new with zero miles. All he had to do was to assemble it.
That’s sad. 😢
@@paganizondasroadster1660 is it though? I mean, the owner had it for years, so if they really appreciated what they had and wanted to drive it then they would have built it and done so. I think it's a cool example of a time encapsulated icon that the lucky new owner gets to enjoy while simultaneously fulfilling the original owner's intentions. Well, that's assuming that the new owner _does_ end up building and driving the kit... I'm not sure which form it would be more valuable in, but either way it's an amount that is so tremendous that it causes people to overthink and to forget that the car was *made* to be driven, which is also what it was _designed_ to do, so building it and then letting it sit there will make it less reliable than if it were properly broken in.
what an incredible deal!
Haggerty spent a lot of money going on a UA-cam campaign and really striving for shows that are special. Most are. But Jason and crew are the one. Keep renewing the seasons guys. This one has to keep going.
They need to replace Jason.
@UCstzj8E59JSguXxxq1sD9kA Yes they do. They need to bring an individual in like Tom Cotter.
Not someone who speaks like they’re high on pixie sticks.
@@cobaharayestephane1190 Do you live under a rock? Going off how dense your comment was I’ll take that as a yes. Broaden your horizon.
@@maxboya idk he does a pretty great job presenting these videos.
@@maxboya no. Jason makes this series
I've had my 1957 Roadster since 1974, restored in 2004. Since restoration I've driven appox 38,000 miles. Nothing else drives like a 300 SL, unfortunately 95% of the cars are never driven and if they are its around town miles or up and down the trailer. his is one of the best videos I've seen about the car.
Make sure your kids & grandkids know how precious this car is. Keep it in the family forever
My respects to you. Gems like this should belong to folks that appreciate it.
Thank you VERY VERY much for sharing the beauty and engineering marvel to wider folks in your vincinity, i hope seeing one in real life sparks interest in some kids, or made the day for some enthusiasts.
Hope you take a lot of parking coffee breaks
Is it just me, or is a 34 Gallon fuel tank ENORMOUS on this little car? Surely the mileage isn't that bad is it? I realize these were designed to be racecars, so the large fuel tank makes sense. However, one half that size, & some storage would have made more sense wouldn't it?
@@pastorofmuppets325 Major point to repear and repeat: designed to be racecars, designed to be racecars. See ?
Jason cammisa is all the best bits of clarkson, may, and hammond rolled into one. He deserves wayyyyyyy more views
Big time. He's the rightful successor
Agree 100%
He's the only reason why I'm subscribed to this channel lol
I understand why those 3 are so revered, and I watch old TG all the time - but Jason has something special that none of them could ever touch. Standing on the shoulders of giants, for sure, but to me he reaches so much higher and further in sheer quality content and car nerdery than they ever did. Maybe it's also just a generational thing, though, to be fair.
@@babyfknblu Totally agree. I’ve loved Jason since the head2head days(when motortrend content was on yt). At that time the other 3 were still on TG. They might’ve lost their authenticity by that time though. TG was always scripted, but they started leaning a lot more heavily on the scripted bits imo
Jason mixes the rhetorical eloquence of Clarkson, the cheeky irreverence of Harris, the historic perspective and deep technical knowledge of Harry Metcalfe combined with superb editing and World class production value....
This is better than any competing automotive content on TV or youtube.
Absolutely brilliant....
The sympathy is Cammisa's own, though.
Evidently that’s his goal not necessarily on this particularly series but for Icons he’s stated that his goal is to be better than Top Gear was at its peak, whether he’ll ever reach that remains to be seen (pretty much only because Top Gear’s “peak” was so ridiculously high and they had a whole team of script writers vs just Jason, in fact frankly if we’re speaking in terms of proportionality imo he’s already far surpassed Top Gear.
Quit while you’re on top, always a good strategy; you will FOREVER be the victor.
But by that logic, this channel should shut down.
@@rjmari ? I’m talking about Mercedes shutting down program. And you talking about what? Are you the type of person that comments just to comment?
@@GRSEMETROMALL he is talking about this channel being on top of car content
@@beersforever I understood, just the leap that was made. And from left field………
@@GRSEMETROMALL
Jesus Christ, dude. Remind me not to ever interact with you ever again.
That footage at the last minutes is gold. Finally someone on UA-cam had the decency to let the car be heard and speak for herself - without talking over her . Pure music.
This is the best car series on youtube. Period.
Maybe the same as ICONS also made by Cammisa
Not even close but good and better than most.
That is one gorgeous car. Thanks Hagerty & Jason for the fantastic content. Keep it coming!
The sound coming from the exhaust is exceptional
I think I slightly prefer the not entirely dissimilar looking Jensen 541.
I'm addicted to these videos, thanks a lot for the hard work guys
ratio
The framing of the shot at 1:05 with the gull wings behind Jason shows just how thought out and quality this production is. I can't get enough of this channel!
Dang. I missed that the first time around. It's like Jason's got angel's wings.
Awesome detail
GOD. I love that Jason is making it through the outer edges of my automotive psyche. Cannot wait until he tickles my weird humor with a Piëch/W8 Manual Wagon episode.
Still waiting Carmudggeon about that lol!
@@JiPappaJi it will happen when Derek actually turns 94
Speaking of Piëch, I think a video on on Phaeton is in order. Proper special car.
I was smiling the whole time watching this video until the ride-along, then I teared up. Thank you so much for this video! My very first car was a 190 sl, while not a 300 sl, it still had it's charms.
That is quite a first car!
Finally! A proper straight six in this series. With a manual transmission as well. I could barely wait till the end to drool over the POV driving footage.
I'd sure like to know where that road is. There's one VERY much like it about 20 minutes from my home in Sonoma County, Northern California. Oh, and a little something to tweek everyone a bit. In 1967, Torvick Mercedes had a 300SL on the showroom floor, listed for $6750!!! You could buy a new Chevy or Ford then, for about $2500 so that used Mercedes was priced proportionally to a modern day Ferrari.
@@MrGaryGG48 Pretty sure there's a wink in your comment. Every Sonoman car enthusiast knows of a road that was named after a British electrics company. Or someone else... No, not that guy.😁
The sound of the engine as you took it through the bends at the end was unbelievable. One of the most amazing sounding engines I've ever heard, much less from a vehicle made 70 years ago. Thank you for this gem of a video and this incredible series. They are both masterpieces. Well done, Gents!
I'd never heard a 300SL being driven before ... nothing could have prepared me for how magical that sound was. And I normally don't like straight sixes.
the 300 SL has been one of the sleekest cars to have ever been conceptualize in history. It's amazong that engineers are capable of creating it in the 50s no less
I just wanted to compliment you on your German pronunciation and accent, just perfectly done well spoken German, surprisingly rare in a time where everyone can research the proper pronunciation in 2 minutes
Thank you
Cannot describe how much i look forward to the release of these vids
That was 14 minutes of pure joy with pure ecstasy of driving at the end. I always look forward to an new Jason Cammisa video...
The driving footage at the end was straight orgasmic. Excellent video by Cammisa, as usual. We need to protect this national treasure at all costs.
I'm glad you mentioned that the 300SL was the first car with direct injection decades ahead of it being everywhere now. It's crazy how far ahead of its time it was
Absolutely one of the greatest cars ever made. It’s amazing it did so well with so many “off the shelf” parts. It’s crazy to me that these not only drove great in period, but still drive great even under modern standards.
To put the achievement of Mercedes 300SL success into perspective, is something that very very few manufacturers ever managed never mind right from the word go! It was only 7 years after WW2 that a car appeared out of nowhere that was an engineering master piece and had innovations fitted to it that were years ahead of its time, and then won every race bar its first ever showing and then was ruthlessly finished off (no manufacturer on the planet would even think about doing that now!), an iconic classic that never seems to age, a fantastic achievement by any standards, you can clearly tell at the end how special this car really is!
Another memory lane trip for me today. I sold parts for Mercedes for 25 years in southern California where I met a man named Lynn Yakel. He was president of the Gullwing club and of coarse drove a Gullwing and his wife Carol drove the roadster.
I think it was late 80's or early 90's that Ford offered Carol a job in R&D developing alternate fuel engines. They paid her more than both were making at their respective engineering jobs for Northrup. So off they went to the motor city where Lynn could concentrate on making no longer available parts for these amazing machines.
My personal favorite was the 300SEL 6.3. A 5 passenger 4 door with air suspension and the 6.3 liter limo motor. It was the fastest production car of the time, 1969 thru 1971 when the US was all about big block power, this thing tore em up....thanks for the memories
When I was a kid I always thought there was a mistake in this old '50's car. There was not a lot of information about it but on paper the performance looked unbelievable even compare to 80's 90's car. After watching this video I realize it is even more incredible. Thanks Jason.
Best automotive content available anywhere. The storytelling and subject matter are perfect. Jason's sense of humor and personality, also perfect. Please keep funding content by Jason. Side note request: MR2 vs Fiero
Second the MR2 vs Fiero idea
Yes please!
88 GT Fiero with Getrag 5 speed manual, never should have sold mine....
@@Mainsail333 I've got a 87 se with the Duke. It's one hell of a project car.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy, in the Fiero, if using the Iron Duke.
I’ve only heard that this is a great car, and I’ve even seen F1 drivers drive and own this. Like: Nico Rosberg.
But I never knew WHY this car was good. Thank you Jason for bringing insight into this car.
Jason is absolutely my favorite automotive journalist.
German guy here. Your pronunciation on that phrase was absolutely perfect. I'm not exaggerating. I couldn't tell a difference to a native speaker
One of, if not THE, best looking cars ever made. Stunning!!
As an American "Army Brat" living with my Army family in Germany during the mid 50's to late 50's our little "Sports Car Club" invited Mercedes to bring a car down for us to see. They brought a 300 SL with "the doors" and after the meeting was over I talked (begged) with the factory driver and got a short, but never forgotten ride in a factory 300 SL. I think that the 300 SL's in those days cost about $7500. Austin Healey 4 cylinders cars were about maybe $3000 or less.
I love your German, your different accent impersonations, and the jokes and analogies you make. It's a delight watching this series, with great production . Hats off to you guys!
Jason, your shows are just perfect. Entertaining, informative, do t stop bringing the content. No one is even close to the quality of these shows
This show and Icons are so good! I always learn a lot, and Jason's writing and presence are great. Keep it up!
I grew up around these cars due my dad's obsession with them after his (US) service in Germany in WW2. He left us due to Covid-19 in 2020, but his 1959 S class still remains in his carriage barn, sadly undriveable due to a rusty suspension. This video brought back fond childhood memories of several W180 parts cars strewn about our yard. These cars were a neverending stream of innovative and visionary engineering, way ahead of their time. Would live to find a good home for his, but the market is very slow for these cars.
I was working with those cars for years, I love them so much, this is way beyond everything else that came out of Germany at this time, even when you do not consider that many mechanical parts are made of leftovers. The Uhlenhaut Coupe, the Big Brother with the Inline double 4 from the GP Cars for me is the greatest Car of the 20th century even in front of the 250 GTO
Please do more of Jason driving, I love that he respectfully drives vintage cars fast like they were designed for.
My love for this car has only grown after watching this. So impressive. The only pre-'70s car I like!
The 300SL is by far my favorite classic. I'm jealous you got to see one, let alone drive one. Fantastic series by the way.
I see Hagerty and Jason, I up vote. Thank you for such great content.
My great grandmother drove a 1960 W121 190 MB -SL and I'm now the fourth generation carrying on that tradition of SL ownership. I usually don't care for the aesthetic of German design, but I certainly appreciate the engineering. The SL line is the only place I find where the aesthetic almost equals the engineering. Really enjoyed this presentation. Very informative and fun. Does not surprise me Hagerty is coming up on 2 million subscribers if this is an example of their content.
Oh my Sweet Lord. The SOUND that thing makes. As beautiful as it looks!
I can’t even accurately describe how consistently impressive this content is. This is legit Hammond/May/Clarkson era top gear level.
I look forward to new Revelations and Icons Videos with Jason. I find myself watching them a second and third time. Thanks Hagerty and Jason!!!!
Jason's content cannot be beat. I hope this goes on forever.
It's so freaking nice to watch videos from a "UA-camr" you actually does research and reads before making a video, rather than just giving first impressions. There are a million 300SL videos out there, all saying the exact same thing, but this is not one of them! Jason Cammisa is the only automotive journalist I actually care to seek out and the only reason I'm on Hagerty's channel. Also, big props to all the people behind the scenes, because they are killing it, too!!
But then again, Jason have the chance to drive it. Not sure about the rest.
The “spec” on the Gullwing featured in this is absolutely perfect. That deep grey with the wood steering wheel 😍
Jason you contradicted yourself about the flush headlights And who was responsible for getting them past US regulators. I think it was between Ford and Mercedes; it’s either the Taurus or the world‘s most perfect sedan it can’t be both.
Ford was pushing hard because they were making bank with the bubbly t-bird sales on Monday after Bill Elliot won or came close on most Sundays. C'mon Brandon
The 1984 Lincoln Mark VII is widely considered to be first US production car to be legally certified for composite headlights. The Ford Taurus was still in final stages of development and already had composite lights as designed but had a dual rectangular US legal setup for both cars in case the composite lights were rejected by US regulators.
Jesus wept... The sound that thing makes is astonishing! Haven't heard one in the metal before, and don't think I've even heard good audio of it from the outside. So, to hear it from the cabin is just, wow...!! Magnificent!
Awesome upload as usual Jason. The SL is without question one of the prettiest cars ever made.
This is the best automotive series on UA-cam hands down. Thank you for investing the time and money into these shows. They will be around forever.
Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! Amazing in which nasty and absurd way this engine revs !!! It’s a 70year old car and still a racer deep inside! Such a shame most of them are dying quiet in outskirts garages as an invest for the owner only 😪
thanks so much for doing this episode on the gullwing. i now understand everything my dad was talking about growing up about when he owned one. his barn find in calgary alberta which he traded a brand new volvo for. winner dad on that trade then moved to vancouver with his wife and cat driving this car. moved into a small apartment as he had just returned from switzerland having received his degree in forensic science. anyways he dismantled the car down to its simplest form and started rebuilding and boom the beautiful cherry red beast was reborn. so every point you hit on in this video was something he tried to explain to me but not until i heard the engine when you drove it did i truly understand what he was talking about. i got goose bumps and a tear in my eye😢because i never experienced before. thank you it means so much. anyways i guess my brother was conceived in it 50 years ago and he sold to the owner of the mercedes dealership in vancouver and it paid for our house then several years ago his car sold for over a million at the Barrett Jackson auction. Anyways, thanks again.
Because of the quality of your videos and your commitment to Jason and his style, I have insured my GTR with Hagerty. I plan to slowly transition all of my classics as their policies come to respective ends. Keep it up guys!
Dad always had a gullwing in the garage when i was a kid. Growing up riding in that passenger seat was an amazing experience.
Years ago I got to drive one, only for a few hundred feet, but I was able to get behind the wheel and step on the gas regardless.
Lets all agree that videos with Jason are extremely underrated
Jason, your German impressions are hilarious. Love these Revelations clips!
The Gullwing truly was/is a work of art. That six sounds absolutely glorious, and the body is gorgeous.
Beautiful car, my grandfather bought one and drove it through 3 states until he ran into a road block. Yes it drives at 150 mph. Had a 700 dollar fine back then with is a value of a house, but pulled out the cash and drove off to Canada. My uncle then sold it in 85 for only 125,000 to a owner in Collingwood On.
My grandfather also used to own a 300SL. The stories he told of the women, the friends he made and some less fortunate incidents are all amazing. Wish there was a way to find where it ended up.
You forgot to mention, "the best resale value......."
I met a guy up in Lake George NY, I think he was managing the sagamore island. He drove his to work.
What an amazing piece of artwork that vehicle was.
My favorite car on the planet is still a Jag XKE e-type, but if I needed just one car, and I needed it to be reliable, the SL would win every time.
I LOVE the raw driving footage at the end of these. It really gives that visceral feeling and embodies the character of each car that's featured.
i am german and hearing the word Schnitzelface made me feel like we should establish something like this in our day to day language
Dürfte einer "Hackfresse" nahe kommen...😂
Jason actually sounds a bit German. His pronouncation is excellent.
@@drgonzo1963
Thats true. He spent some time in Germany...school exchange program I believe.
I have never so eagerly waited for the "test drive section" in this series, and man, it didn't dissapointed. Long live German Cars (until the mid 2000's)
Having said this, Jason you're the man, it's great to see a madly in love with automotive art guy like you deliver such fun, informative and well done shows like this...keep up the excellent work.
Love these hot takes, I wish I know how to do research and presentations like y’all
13:18 Automatic captions think the engine sound is applause. I choose to interpret this as "this is so obviously good the audience must be applauding"
“The S class” didn’t exist when the 300sl was designed . The SL came from the Ponton w180 . The S class name came around in 1972 with the the w116 chassis . Great film though !
Mark, Good catch. I and the engine was from the W186 "Adenauer"
But at the time, the Ponton was considered as the S-Class, so the relation is still there.
@@farishanafiah8461 Please, just stop claiming this stupid bullshit about Mercedes-Benz vehicles from that era. "At that time", there wasn't a "S-Class" at Mercedes-Benz, period'!
There was the W 116, which was considered as the "big Mercedes" at that time.
This has absolutely nothing to do with the much later first S-Class.
@@Porsche1969 So the W116 was not called S Klasse when it was in production? Is that a later thing. As for sure the W116 is usually called today S-Klasse.
Back in the 90's I worked for a restoration company here in Europe and had the privilege of working on 2 Gullwing projects. Truly amazing cars and technically fascinating. I can testify that this car can pull from about 25 mph right up to "I'm too scared to go any faster' while constantly having you pressed into the back of your seat. Wonderful
I forgot to add just in 4th gear :)
Oh lordy, I am in love! That last clip of you driving the 300SL was just wonderful. I owned an XK-120 in the mid-sixties. It is amazing how cheap a used one was then. It was fun but oddly primitive in so many ways. The 300SL in production at the same time was a glimpse of the future, superior in almost every respect to the Jaguar. Even then, you couldn't buy a cheap used 300SL.
What an absolute joy to watch! Not talking about the beautiful Merc but the sheer quality of Jason's performance, humor (imitations) and information. Images are beautiful and entertaining, research well done. Top quality!
This was a SERIOUSLY good video!!! The 300SL ended up becoming one of the largest automotive Icons, and they never realised it till some guy begged them to build it!
Jason Cammissa is absolutely fantastic. He’s like all the best of Top Gear, in one magical human being.
“Roadside battle with a wheel bolt that wouldn’t come off” now that reminds me of something very similar……
*cough* bottas 2021 Monaco *cough*
Oh My Gosh !!! The sound track from the drivers perspective is AMAZING !!!
It’s hard to believe that Mercedes could do much so soon after the war.
it's the germans and especially it's the mercedes benz. that's all you have to know.
I think they had some meth leftover after the war.
@@1990Thunderbolt yes truly remarkable considering that at the end of the war in 1945 the country was literally a bomb crater from one end to the other. No power lines no water pipes no railways no bridges factories bombed out and they produced this in the early fifties. In my country South Africa which gained democracy in 1994 without a war fought on its soil and all the infrastructure intact we now have at least weekly power outages, railways barely functioning, our national airline one of the earliest in the world now defunct and general degradation of infrastructure.
The design and development stories behind these cars is incredibly interesting. Thank you to Cammisa and crew for the well researched content. It sure doesn’t hurt that it’s entertaining as well! Also, a nice way to spend some time when it’s 8F outside….
Being an owner of several newish Benzes I can say for sure that they sometimes choose "nothing"
Yes , sadly but true , i had a Tear in my Eye watching the vid and thinking by my self " Where is our Sense for Quality gone .... " into Politics ! Where i was young a 10 year old Benz was " just drivin in " as we say . Now a 10 year old Benz is almost done... 😥😎
The humor of these episodes is so refreshing.. not only beautifully engineered cars but a laugh mixed in, great content keeps me coming back.
Damn, in Jason Cammisa doing this the world has lost a brilliant voice actor! Your German is damn fine, sir! Thank you for your quality content, from a linguist in Germany.
Noch besser ist ja fast sein Denglisch, wenn er einen Deutschen nachahmt, der nicht soo fit in Englisch ist. Zum kaputtlachen. Man merkt, dass er jahrelang hier gelebt hat.
Another amazing episode! Thanks to everyone involved. Jason makes me love these cars even more then I already did. More please!
It's also one of the most beautiful sports cars ever built.
Absolutely stunning content guys! Keep it up! Best UA-cam automotive content out there that’s straight historical automotive content, no gimmicks, no sponsorships just great quality content!
Am I the only one who read the thumbnail as "Kidnapped from the start"?
I'm always mesmerized by your vids guy, and I'm a bicycle rider that really hates everything that has a motor.
13:07 Oh wow. I've never heard a classic car sound like that when accelerating in the cabin. That's incredible. That's my new benchmark for classic cars in terms of acceleration noise from inside the cabin.
Anybody think they know something better?
I owned a 63 E type for 3 yrs when I was younger. The sound of the engine when downshifting from 130 mph was pretty incredible as well as just running thru the gears. 3.8 litre, double overhead cams, triple carbs, cast iron headers and dual exhaust from the manifold straight out the rear. Wish I still had it but feel blessed for at least having had the experience.
Sounds a lot like V12 which many modern V6 can’t do Inline 6 BMW do get closer but this is just prove that inline 6 can sound like V12
I really, really like Jason's presenting style, plus the production values and the content are awesome. I'd love to see more and on a more regular basis.
Bit of fried gold this is! Goddamn thank you for this. To hear you ring out this engine that us mere mortals will never likely see was like hearing Beethoven or Bach for the first time.
Perfect perspective on the FPV video of driving the car at the end. Another brilliant shot and edited video. You guys are killing it for the automotive content!
"This was the mid 1950's. A time where mass transit cars like the VW Beetle couldn't hit 70 Mph, a Porsche could barely manage 100. A Mercedes SL could do over 150 Mph... 'TIL THE END OF TIME!"
This, amongst a million other things, is why I love this show.
Here we have my favorite automotive journalist talking about my favorite grail car. Thanks Camissa, you're the best.
As a half German myself, Jason Camissa's German parodies are spot on. Best German-Austrian impersonations since Jay Leno's fun pokes at Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The attention to detail in these videos are insane. The sweat at 12:56 after being hot in the cabin, for example.
Direct injection took more than 50 years to come back. Incredible car, incredible tech.
It must have been ludicrously expensive to produce, or Mercedes would have put it on everything.
which means it’s technically possible to run direct injection without electronic sensors and ECUs. Which is absolutely mind blowing 0_0
Wow! Just WOW! Great lesson and reminder of the car magazines that rarely tested these beasts in the 80's and 90's. Great review once again, Jason! Just brilliant!
Beautiful car. Oh and it sounds like a race car should. Great video and history lesson. Thank you Jason.
Way better content than regular cable tv. Jason really delivers every time
300sl is my dream car. I like everything about it and I am gonna buy one eventually.
Yes, yes and I'm gonna marry Margot Robbie eventually. Mate if you're not like the people on the series "succession" don't hurt yourself with a cold bath of reality.
I had no idea what the point of a space frame actually was, and now I understand it perfectly. I love this series!
This quality of film making, narration, direction, production, and the driving at the end, *needs* to feature the BMW 2002, Datsun 240Z, Mazda Miata, Skyline R30, Alfa Romeo GTV 1750, BMW E30 M3, Mercedes W201 2.5- 16 EVOII, Subaru 22B, BMW 507, Mercedes Gelandewagen, Subaru SVX, Shelby Cobra, Macca F1, etc
Bravo to all involved.
As fantastic as that documentary was, ending it with the POV drive was just icing on the cake. Thanks for putting in that bit.