Made in 1954 for the 1955 racing season, this is a truck version of a gullwing, purpose made to carry Gullwings or in this photo, a W196 racing car.
From the Mercedes Benz Museum: "Only one example of the high-speed racing car transporter was built, for the 1955 motor racing season. Nevertheless, the one-off was closely related to the production vehicles of the time. This is because the engineers and designers used numerous components adopted from the passenger cars produced in the mid-1950s: the suspension, for example, came from the highly exclusive 300 S (W 188). The Ponton saloon (W 120) in the upper medium class contributed numerous body parts. The six-cylinder M 198 engine with a displacement of 2,996 cc, on the other hand, came from the 300 SL Gullwing super sports car (W 198). In that car the engine developed 158 kW (215 PS) at 5,800 rpm, while in the high-speed racing car transporter it delivered 141 kW (192 PS) at 5,500 rpm.
The radiator grille with the central Mercedes star is reminiscent of the production sports cars, racing sports cars and racing cars of the time.
The various standard components were harmoniously blended into a design all of its own. The flowing design idiom of the cab continues through to the rounded rear end. The design is accentuated by chrome trim, from the bumpers to the surrounds of the windows and headlamps. The two-section rear window makes a particularly organic impression. Its glass surfaces follow the shape of the cab, curving around the cab and inwards at the same time."
Only one was made, which was recycled decades ago; the example in the Mercedes Museum is a reconstruction, Jay Leno also owns one.
