F1 Champ Explores Monaco in 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
We’re not all lucky enough to be Formula One champs with a stunning Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, but we sure can dream.
Ah, to be a Formula One driver/champion and world famous race car driver. Such is the difficult life of one Nico Rosberg, the German-Finnish lad currently piloting Mercedes machinery around the world’s most famous circuits. But Rosberg isn’t just a race car driver, of course. He’s also a big time classic car fanatic who owns, among others, a gorgeous 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. And when you own something that awesome, you might as well drive it around and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Monaco, right?
Thankfully, Rosberg was more than happy to film his recent cruise for our enjoyment. Even if we’d rather be in the passenger seat, this virtual test ride is the next best thing. And in case you were a little jealous by now, rest assured. Even the masterful driver grinds a gear as he pulls onto a city street. But at least he knows the “many procedures you need to know to operate a historic car like this.”
Those include things like a cooling fan that must be manually engaged when driving around town to keep the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing from overheating. Rosberg also points out that you must wait for the oil to reach 130 degrees before you can rev the engine past 3,000 rpm. The Gullwing “wasn’t really designed to sit in traffic,” so extra care must also be taken to keep the car in neutral whenever possible.
All of which are minor niggles, of course, when you’re lucky enough to own something as special as a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. But it’s also cool to listen to Rosberg explain the Monaco circuit as he cruises around it. Before he heads off to the nearby mountains for a spirited drive. With a little stop for a photo shoot by the water in between, of course!
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