Hot on the wheels of the new McLaren-Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss is another Mercedes-powered revamp. The 300SL Panamericana keeps the retro stylings of the original Mercedes 300SL Gullwing – widely regarded as one of the best-looking cars of all time – but incorporates aircraft composite technology into the bodywork and the same 5.5-litre, 370bhp engine as the SLR and AMG models under the bonnet. And it’s meant to be driven as well as admired, with little comforts such as an iPod-friendly radio (otherwise, the instrumentation remains pleasingly old-fashioned) and fitted leather luggage. Expected in 2010, the concept is the work of Arturo Alonso’s Gullwing-America. He himself used to race a Mercedes 300SE in the Carrera Panamericana, a famously lethal Mexican road race turned classic car rally.
From around £178,000 (TBC). info@gullwing-america.com
