Performance Review: Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 - [1957]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mercedes 300 SL Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1957. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette C1 283 Convertible and the 1957 Aston-Martin 2/4 MK III Special.This particular Mercedes 300 SL has a 2996cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The 300 SL shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 300 SL's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1330 kgs (2932 lbs) this makes the Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 in the same weight category as the 2021 Aston-Martin Valkyrie Coupe 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Mercedes 300 SL shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 2996cc 12V St6 engine produces 240 bhp (178 kW) @ 6100 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (243 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St6 throws out 217 lb-ft (294.2 Nm) @ 4800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mercedes 300 SL you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2006 Ford Mustang GT-H 4.6 V8 Hertz Edition (205.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mercedes 300 SL.

The Mercedes 300 SL has a Power to weight ratio of 180.4 bhp per ton and 163.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1957 300 SL competing with the 2006 Ford Mustang GT-H 4.6 V8 Hertz Edition (205.4 bhp per ton) or the 2009 Ford Focus 2.5 RS (205.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mercedes 300 SL generating around 163.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1998 Nissan 300ZX Version S Twin Turbo (188.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 Mazda 3 2.3 Mazdaspeed (188.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.30 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.5 secs, this made the Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 as fast as the 2019 Peugeot 508 PureTech 225 GT S and S (7.30 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 2.0 TDI FR (7.30 secs) the 2013 Subaru BRZ 2L 210ps (7.30 secs) the or the 2013 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD DSG 2.0 Turbo Diesel (7.30 secs). This Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue (7.40 secs) the 2013 KIA Pro Ceed GT 1.6 Turbo (7.40 secs) the 2012 Mini Cooper S Paceman (7.40 secs) the and the 2012 Seat Ibiza 1.4 FR Turbo Supercharged (7.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 300 SL and the 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS

When talking about the performance of the Mercedes 300 SL on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.49 secs @ 94.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS (14.42 secs), the 1998 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro (14.42 secs), and the 1993 Toyota MR2 Mk2 Turbo Rev 3 (14.43 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1957 version of the Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 1957 300 SL equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1957 Mercedes 300 SL II Roadster W198 then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

1957 300 SL Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mercedes

Car Comparison