Let’s face it, the odds of us owning an original 1950s Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is next to none. The average cost of buying one surpasses the million-dollar mark and has reached up to five million for race car variants. So, those of us with budgets under seven figures have to settle for the next best thing. Crossley & Webb, located in Cape Town, South Africa, have spent the last five years building that next best thing. They have taken a 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 AMG and turned it into a Gullwing tribute.
It was a painstaking process to build the 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK 32 AMG Gullwing Tribute. It required cutting away the SLK 32 AMG’s body and constructing a 300SL aluminum body. Photos of the car show that this is not an exact copy with subtle unique design elements. The Gullwing cosplayer is the SLK’s original 3.2-liter supercharged V6 engine. It provides the car with 350 horsepower, and Crossley & Webb claimed the SLK Gullwing is 882 lbs lighter than stock. The main criticism on the web about this car is the base model used for it. The Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 AMG is not known for its performance and agility. But, now this SLK 32 AMG looks like a 70-year-old sports car, so maybe the less than preferable handling will make the driving experience feel more authentic. The car is currently on display in Cape Town, and it is up for sale. It may not be an original Gullwing, but this alternative is a damn sight more affordable.
Check out the transformation of this Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
