Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster vs 300 SLS

One of the brightest stars of thenext month will be thestunningRoadster. And in an Auto Express exclusive, we’ve brought thenew Mercedes soft-top face-to-face with its forerunner: the 300 SLS from 1957Even though the two models are separated by more than half a century, when lined up alongside one another, the similarities are striking. Both feature classic sports car proportions, with long, stretched bonnets, stubby tails and big wheels pushed deep into each corner.The matching sets of vents in the front wings make the link even more obvious, butdefinitely the more aggressive of the two. Losing the roof and dramaticset of gullwing doors has done nothing to blunt its brutish, square-jawed styling. It’s significantly longer and lower than the 300, too, giving an imposing presence that will pull the crowds to the Mercedes show stand.

The replica in our pictures was one of only 29 examples built by Mercedes itself to the original specification, using plans dug out of the archives by former engineer Hans Scherenberg. 

There’s only a tiny sliver of glass to shield you from the elements, no windows andjust a single roll-hoop to protect the driver in a crash. The enormous wood-rimmed steering wheel dominates the cramped cabin, while the four-speed bakelitegearknob could be no further removed from the lightning-fast seven-speeddual-clutch unit in theRoadster. Start both engines, and a deafening sound fillsthe air. The 300racing pedigree becomes clear from the instant the 232bhp3.0-litre straight-six roars into life. The twin exhausts in the side sills blare out an unfiltered race car soundtrack that’s utterly unique

responds with a threatening, bassy rumble that hints at its huge reserves of power. With 563bhp and 630Nm, the new drop-top has more than twice the firepower of the old car – even if the 300 is 620kg lighter due to its featherweight aluminium body and total lack of safety kit or roof.

The performance stats reflect this. Brave racers could push the 300

to a face-shredding 164mph in its heyday, but the new Roadster will sail well past this to a top speed that’s just below the 200mph barrier.

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