Reporter Zhong Zhaozhen/Comprehensive Report
▲BRABUS restored Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. (Picture / Retrieved from the BRABUS website)
In 1986, Mercedes commissioned the American pop art master Andy. Warhol created a series of visual art works with the theme of cars, and finally completed the famous “Car Series”. There is a 300 SL Gullwing eight creative images in the works. Years later, the deity in the picture was found by BRABUS, a large refitting factory. , and start the 6-star repair program.
▲ The deity in the picture was found by BRABUS, a major refit manufacturer, and a 6-star restoration project was launched. (Picture / Retrieved from the BRABUS website)
Andy. Warhol was heavily inspired by the book “World Sports Cars: Series-Built from 1945-1980” before preparing to execute the Mercedes commission, introducing the 300 SL Gullwing on pages 94 to 95, with its striking EI-DR1 license plate, and Di. Warhol used this car as his creative subject for eight creative images of the 300 SL Gullwing.
▲Andy. Warhol used this car as the object of creation for the 300 SL Gullwing. (Picture / Retrieved from the BRABUS website)
in Andy. Thirty-five years after Warhol completed his creation, BRABUS, a major German refit manufacturer, compared many original materials with the license plate in the photo, and confirmed that the 300 SL Gullwing chassis number in the work is 198.040-5500629. After expert investigation and search, the 300 was found by accident. SL Gullwing, BRABUS bought the car right away for restoration.
▲BRABUS restored Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing with 6-star specification. (Picture / Retrieved from the BRABUS website)
Since the 300 SL Gullwing was born in 1954, it is difficult to repair such an old car. The repair team disassembled the car, re-checked and corrected the frame, and repainted the car shell in the way of a new car after repairing. The most difficult part is the engine. This 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine was the first commercially available jet engine in history. In order to restore the engine to its original condition, many parts were rebuilt to order and took a total of 4,500 man-hours to complete. The restoration was completed. The 300 SL Gullwing with the original EI-DR1 license plate will be on display at the Brunswick Museum soon.
▲ The 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine is the first commercially available jet engine in history. (Picture / Retrieved from the BRABUS website)
