35. 1961 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster
In the early ’50, Mercedes was in ruins. Production was low and the factory slowly recovered from the devastating World War II. Nobody expected it to produce one of the finest sports cars of all time. It was also the fastest production car of the ’50s – the 300 SL. This unusual creation was arguably the first supercar in the world. It transcended the limits of the sports car class and went beyond design, power, and technology, creating a one-of-kind innovation as a result.
Using a space frame chassis, fuel-injected straight-six engine, and race-proven parts, Mercedes created a masterpiece with fantastic performance. With just 240 HP on tap, the Mercedes 300 SL was a 150 mph car. Some even claimed it could reach 160 mph. It was available as a Gullwing coupe and gorgeous Roadster. The Roadster can be yours for north of $1,250,000 (via RM Sotheby’s).
