Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing’s X-Ray Reveals Its Inner Beauty

Already known as one of the most beautiful automotive designs of all time, the 300SL Gullwing manages to stun aficionados yet again.

When Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300SL series in 1954, it knew it possessed an exquisite and glamorous vehicle that was bound to sell well globally. After all, the Sport Light (SL) model had already done well in sports car racing since 1952 with its W194 predecessor.

More than 60 years later, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing isn’t only a pricey collectible with values ranging from two to four million dollars, but it’s also one of the few of vehicles that can take an enthusiast’s breath away. Interestingly enough, there’s one particular way in which the 300SL can be admired.

Meet Nick Veasy, a British artist whose tools of the trade include a medical-grade dark room and a massive–and we repeat massive–x-ray machine. Veasy was recently featured in this video by SWNS TV, where he expands on what he does, as well as some of his more interesting subjects.

While the video documentary also focuses on a stunning Ferrari F40 GTE, some American muscle cars, and even a few microcars, our eyes were immediately drawn to the Mercedes-Benz. Veasy got his hands on a 1955 300SL Gullwing, which he cleverly X-rayed with the iconic doors propped open.

Despite not being featured in the video, this image courtesy of SWNS shows just how much detail can be gathered through an x-ray. One is able to appreciate the engine, the transmission, the shifter, and basically every component that makes the 300SL tick. Our favorite feature is by far the engine block’s top end.

With so many different kinds of videos and photographs nowadays, it’s absolutely refreshing to see something completely different.