It's a summer evening to dream of Zandvoort is at our disposal until sunset, and three silver fantasy machines wait in the pitlane of the famous Dutch track: Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Ferrari 275 GTB and Aston Martin DB5. The latter two represent the crème de la crème of the mid-'60s, the first is a superstar of the '50s, and we've already covered many road miles in all three to get to the circuit, thanks to a generous collector who thought it was time his showpieces stretched their legs.
In the 1960s, a 300SL would never have been subjected to a comparison with a 275GTB and a DB5. It had been out of production for half a decade by the time those two direct competitors came on to the market, but today the cards are stacked rather differently. All three of these cars are now blue-chip exotics, and their dates of birth hardly matter to an enthusiast who can easily shell out a million or more for a classic toy. The more pertinent question is which of the three appeals most as a driving machine.
With great memories of an epic Gullwing road trip years ago still fresh in the mind, I don't hesitate when asked which car I want to drive first. Getting into this 1954 300SL feels very familiar, but I'd forgotten how huge the steering wheel is - at a lap-encroaching 42cm diameter.
The cockpit is cosy: the Mercedes is the widest of our three cars, but interior space is restricted by the high, wide sills needed to accommodate the 300SL's tubular spaceframe construction.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Classic & Sports Car.
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This story is from the October 2022 edition of Classic & Sports Car.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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