Fancy a wide body Mercedes-Benz 300 SL?
Posted by Madabout News on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 12:13 AM |
 ATELIER VALDEIG floats the idea of a wide body conversion of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster W 198 - better known as the roadster version of the iconic 300 SL Gullwing model of the 1950's.
The press release we received was in mottled English but you get the jist. The renderings are just that, no car exists but the company are putting it out there as an idea for an updated version of the Merc 300 SL roadster in component form.
Below is the press release and some tempting pictures.
"ATELIER VALDEIG floats the idea of a wide body conversion on the basis of the
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster W 198 - better known as the roadster version of the
iconic 300 SL Gullwing model of the 1950's.
It has initially been designed for a replica car maker. After the project has been cancelled,
ATELIER VALDEIG continued with this approach and overworked the drafts. So the 300
SL now has lots of features in keeping with its period, and does not come as a flashy show
car.
The side panels got a completely new look. Thanks to wider fenders, there is room for
broader rims. In contrast to the original design, they do not have the typical bulges over
the wheel arches. And even the characteristic side gills have been omitted. Instead there
are large air outlets behind the front wheels.
Because there are no authentic rims for such a project, ATELIER VALDEIG falls back to
wheels of a classic style. For example, traditional 16 Inch Revolution rims equipped with
white wall tires. A larger and more modern alternative is the 1/11 and the 1/16 rim from
Carlsson. Wire wheels or the American classic for muscle cars, the Torq-Thrust alloy
wheel, would be good options too.
Regarding the front lights, there could be both the original upright head lamps or the round
ones of the earlier Flügeltürer (Gullwing model). At the rear, the standard tail lights could
be used, as the rear end is intended to correspond to the bending of the genuine parts.
But, also other classic rear lamps would be possible. There are also two options
concerning the exhaust system. Either it gets just some larger end tips or, more
spectacular: Side pipes
Another issue is whether an expensive iconic vintage car like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
W198 should be revised as deeply as this!? ATELIER VALDEIG, at least, ventures to
present a concept to discuss about. Some might think that nobody wants to know how a
1950's classic would look like when being converted into a wide body version. Others
possibly take pleasure in the result as designed by ATELIER VALDEIG.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Wide Body is a design sketch. It is not intended to
be offered for sale by ATELIER VALDEIG."
Wide bodied Merc 300SL Roadster concept
Modern take on the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster
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