Mercedes-Benz Sport Racing Car · 300 SL Prototype
W194
Racing prototype that foreshadowed the gullwing.
- Production
- 1952
- Built
- 10
- Body
- Grand Prix / race
- Chassis
- W194
The W194 was the competition car that made the 300 SL possible — a lightweight tubular-spaceframe racer built for the 1952 season that proved Mercedes-Benz could win again after withdrawal from Grand Prix racing.
Powered by a tuned 3.0-liter inline-six from the 300 sedan program, the W194 used aluminum bodywork and minimal weight to compete in sports-car events. Victories at the Bern Berne Prize, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the Carrera Panamericana demonstrated the concept's speed and durability — and gave Rudolf Uhlenhaut the evidence he needed to push for a road-going version.
Mercedes-Benz built exactly 10 W194 cars in 1952. Every one was a racing tool, not a production car — but without them, the W198 300 SL gullwing that followed might never have existed.
Every model.
1 model designation for 1952 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the W194.
| Model | Model years | Chassis | Engine | Transmission | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 SL | 1952 | 194 | 194 | 10 |
* The published production figure covers every series of that model; the source does not break it down further.
