Book excerpt: A lavishly illustrated tribute to one of the most beloved European cars of all time. For nearly seventy years, no car has moved the lovers of classic cars more than the 300 SL. A legend since its launch in 1954 as a gullwing coupe, the 300 SL has been seen as the very model of what a sports car can be, its style and beauty perfectly matched to its power and handling. This beautifully illustrated tribute volume brings together Hans Kleissl, one of the world's leading experts on the 300 SL, and former Daimler historian and Mercedes-Benz archive manager Harry Niemann. The resulting book captures the magic and mystique of the car through history, photographs, insights into its technological breakthroughs, and firsthand accounts of its storied run. There's no better gift for the passionate fan of the 300 SL.