The Mercedes-Benz W194 300 SL | The Big Thing with Magnus Walker - Ep. 01

In the series premiere of Magnus Walker’s all-new show “The Big Thing,” Magnus is back and he’s here to tell you about cars that are, in his opinion, The Big Thing.
For this episode, Magnus spends some time in the hills of Malibu, California, with the Mercedes-Benz W194, also known as the 300 SL. One of only ten ever made and the precursor to the more well-known W198 Gullwing, it’s considered to be one of the most significant cars Mercedes-Benz has ever made-a perfect candidate for The Big Thing.
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[@michad.8412]

This is so awesome, just absolutely thrashing an early racer 300SL on a mountain road like this. Stuff that dreams are made of.

[@cathrynm]

I think I'd be a little nervous driving a $20M car. That's just too precious.

[@bhaggen]

This was filmed on Mulholland Hwy in the Santa Monica Mountains; and yes, its a great ride or drive to the beach; and that place in Cornell Magnus stops at is a tripie little place to eat

[@papa_pt]

You got me excited and then I couldn't find any "thrashing" part :(

[@nexas2316]

most of the "thrashing" footage is sped up

[@amberheardsbumpyknuckles9336]

Magnus has an uncanny ability to pick the best looking, somewhat forgotten motors to showcase for us... Bravo 👏

[@ethanallan1254]

Two hagerty videos on the 300sl within a week? Yes please

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

When you said “…is the car I’m driving today” I got full body goosebumps and the hair on the back of my neck stood up immediately.

[@valentinkostov593]

So happy that Magnus is back!

[@impslap7620]

Man, I would lose my mind if I saw this on the road! Definitely the protoype for the supercar. Well done, Hagerty team!

[@robertgrant4501]

Not only would I lose my mind if I saw it on the road I'd lose it more if I was offered the chance to ride in it or drive it.

[@jryalls]

Can’t believe Matt Farah’s show wasn’t recommissioned but this was.

[@1300zw]

this show isn't the *next* big thing, this show is **the** big thing

[@joejoe2658]

@@1300zw it's also the worst series title in youtube history

[@daveco1270]

Gotta love Magnus. Very cool that he's doing an on-line show for Hagerty.

[@hancock_sam]

This is tremendous film making boys, well done all.

[@QXZ9027MKII]

Top notch sir, much obliged for the insight, scintillating indeed. Props to all the guys & gals at Hagerty. Bless you all for taking us on this mesmerizing journey.

[@cgmoog]

First Jason with the W198, now Magnus on the W194

[@marcusrussell8660]

In 1975 I was offered a similar gulllwing for $21,000. I was in college and he also had a mustang cobra with less than 5,000!!

[@wakjob961]

Man... I didn't realize how much I'd miss a Magnus episode. It's been a minute since the last.

[@uliwehner]

it was obvious that Magnus was going to like the W194. Just look at the plaid seat covers from the factory. I hope this is the beginning of a small series. Next would be a late disk brake roadster, and as the highlight a straight 8 powered SLR.

[@ronlynch7744]

Yeahhhh, the Mag is back. Seat of the pants driving. This is one rare Sports Gull Wing Benz. 😎👍🇨🇦

[@grid212]

Welcome back and happy 2022 Magnus.

[@gggromay]

Carrera Panamericana is under rated, it gave its name to the Porsche Carrera, Porache Panamera, Porsche colour Mexican Blue, Mercedes's Panamericana Grill, etc. Ii is my dream to make it down there and do this race before it is also lost like many other road races. Only until its lost will it become an icon. Great video

[@turbogrin]

What a Great video and great having Magnus give his views on this marvelous machine, Thank you Hagerty for this ride along and history lesson of this wonderful Mercedes-Benz!

[@christophermichael.w.7577]

This car has to be one of the best that I have seen. I love the way that the car is designed.

[@brunobegic3841]

One of the best, if not the best looking cars ever made. Period

[@ctex9050]

amazing! true masterpiece that shaped the car industry forever

[@joshuagibson2520]

I believe this man has enough oil in his hair that I could exchange the contents of my crankcase with it.

[@geemanbmw]

70 year old daily driver.... LEGENDARY

[@kenta326]

Hagerty team always bring top tier motoring contents!

[@panamared354]

I like that guy, he seems to be a person that will tell you like it is whether you like it or not.

[@GeorgesMiniatureCars]

Stunning to say the least!!!!😍

[@mtnvalley9298]

Hey Magnus! Do an audio book. Well done.

[@Steven91637]

You witnessed a Legend here Folks.A Le Man’s Double 🏆 🏆 Winner in 1952 against Porsche,Ferrari,Jaguar etc…. That’s says it all Folks.

[@erichakanson7010]

I always thought there was no way Mercedes-Benz could've improved upon the traditional 300sl Gullwing. But this car does it. You might even say this is the Gullwing Mercedes-Benz should've produced "en masse." FWIW, although I'm a Porsche guy, I admit the Gullwing in any variant is stunning but I always preferred the 300sl roadster. Although I wouldn't kick either of them out of the garage!

[@BRAINFxck10]

The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was the greatest gullwing Mercedes ever made

[@BeantownToBigD]

Gotta love the W194

[@kevinbarrett9615]

Beautiful, rare, storied. Thanks for presenting it.

[@rickintexas1584]

I will never get to drive one. But thanks to this video I got to enjoy one being drive.

[@roberttuinstra5494]

There is room in my driveway for this

[@ashookchandra8191]

Not even the most recent incarnation of the legendary 300 SL gullwing can compare to the original 😳😊👍💯❤️💋🔥🔥🔥

[@MaksMaks-ov8nd]

Great review man!

[@nathanjmahrt]

Hagerty + Magnus Walker....I'm all in. What's next 57 Testa Rossa? PLEASE Also was that Doc Hudson from the movie Cars wrecked in the Panamericana?

[@geoffcline9593]

Fantastique!! Merci.

[@robertdavidsanders]

Excellent! Nice job guys.

[@amberheardsbumpyknuckles9336]

The chassis only weighed 150lbs??! Smh.

[@rrotsaert]

I get it, this is a big thing. Bring back "The NEXT big thing" teach me something new about the obscure.

[@denniswhite9721]

Great production and I'll subscribe to the channel if this series continues!

[@Mohammed-80-M]

What a car it is absolutely fabulous.

[@300NationWill]

Love this channel man so epic so fun just beautiful I love being a car enthusiasts

[@joeblow5037]

Thanks Magnus and Hagerty! 😁

[@ashlynbright5880]

❤️ you, Magnus!

[@MatteoHuqi]

One of the best content I've seen in my life

[@jimiverson3085]

Actually, the W194 was a Big Thing because it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There aren't many because it was a prototype class car - like the Ford Mk IV or the Ferrari 330P4.

[@luisfelipecabana1743]

Decades ahead of its time!

[@bullast2046]

Hell yea! More Magnus!

[@New_Jax_City]

Magnus is my SPIRIT ANIMAL

[@zapher007]

The best video I've seen on KZbin in a VERY long time. 10/10. Well done to everyone involved in making this masterpiece!!

[@ydid687]

Good God she's a looker!

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

Gorgeous

[@tomranum6]

Great video! Kudos for making awesome content always!

[@z06doc86]

Magnus is a natural for video production.

[@pooryaradpoor3156]

Hello thank you man I loved.i love Germany.

[@jareknowak8712]

Im waiting for the MC12 episode.

[@maadhavteeyes1867]

Does all 10 of these still exist ?

[@Sideways_Singh]

Sexiest classic car ever made, and one of the best sounding cars ever

[@LawrenceMarkFearon]

Excellent Magnus !

[@Fr0dders]

Timing of this video is a bit off considering we just had a Camisa video on the 300 SL this week. Somebody should have spotted the clash and put this one later in the series to space them out a bit.

[@elpasoben]

Amazing! And did he say he put 1,600+ miles on it?!? On a #5/10, $20 million car?!? Yes, cars should be driven, but wow, that’s (I can’t find the words).

[@PhillyDee215]

This was cool😎

[@arnoldmbuthia2687]

Saw somewhere, with the 300sl gullwing, you can run the engine at 6000rpm, at 151mph, with a continuous supply of fuel and oil, indefinitely.

[@TheLambo123254]

great vid

[@nikita_kozlov]

Epic!

[@Steven91637]

Awesome 😎 Video

[@mrrichardshort]

Lovely Marcus!

[@erenoid123]

incredible car

[@nickwilliams5163]

Well done!!

[@mobiledevto]

I would argue that Connecticut is the second best place to find cool cars in America (even if only seasonally). Change my mind??!

[@MrAndyLocksmith]

I must say I prefer the road going 300SL’s looks to this. Not that I need worry too much both are out of my budget!

[@NanoDex]

So-Cal isn't anything for long... Great car

[@mindkiller76]

I thought this was Rob Zombie.

[@davidlizom7556]

those fast cuts near the 9 minute mark are a bit too over the top I think

[@Steven91637]

Wonderful Car the first MK I SL wich won Le Man’s

[@gabrielsandoval4994]

Powered by a slant six cylinder engine, like all great sports cars should be 😀like my 1963 plymouth valiant and also 1999 E36 M3 is.

[@AZ-ng6lj]

As an Englishman this guy’s accent does my head in.

[@jeremywentworth1833]

Magnus is as English as you and myself he's picked up some words and says it like Yanks but after listening to him and seeing him on quite a few videos streams etc he went to live in the states at 19 he must be in his 50s as he looks it so he's bound to pick some words up ..

[@carbonemtree]

Magnus!

[@gregsweeney216]

lovely

[@idiOTytinflUnceRs]

Outstanding episode… Magnus always has a lock on narrating the history of the cars he drives. The car and the video are works of art. 👍

[@mrbookends]

What a wonderful start to a very exciting series - but I swear, his voice doesn't match his look!

[@todddenio3200]

His voice isvery well soken and has a soft tone, whereas his looks are like an old time american mountain man or gold prospecter

[@mrbookends]

@@todddenio3200 exactly! I keep expecting him to yell "What in tarnation is this!" In a gruff, thick accent lol

[@todddenio3200]

@@mrbookends I got used to being around people whose appearances were like his when I used to do Rendezvous historic reenactents f the fur trade voyageursand mountain men and while not all of them had the long hair and beards some did and surprisingly the scruffiest looking guy out of all f them was very soft spoken and was obviously very well educated and his 2 sidekicks were as well and were also pretty scruffy. The main scruffy guy turned out to be a highly rated corporate lawyer and his 2 scruffy sidekicks? 1 was a judge and the other a general practitioner medical doctor at a private clinic. It's surprising how many different backgrounds and jobs are present at these events. There are doctor, lawyers, ditch diggers and high ranking political leadersat some of them and they will all hang out together and very rarely is anyone looked down upon or treated as an inferior unless they did something really bad or caused some other major issue to the other participants

[@elephantsandbadgers9189]

These videos where magnus does not have to interact with other people are so much better than the earlier ones. It’s still like getting car information from someone who is not a car enthusiast and is doing this for the money and attention. But it is an improvement. Nothing against magnus, just stick to making clothes or whatever you do and please stop doing this and making terrible Porsches.

[@GiletheCarGuy]

I'll take one race spec replica, please. Take all my Karma points!

[@dbowen22]

Releasing this like a week after Cammisa did the 300sl is questionable timing.

[@brodieandre]

Awesome vid, but Why Hagerty put this vid out a week after Camisa vid with duplicate information and storyline? Whoever is running this channel really needs fine tune the chaos. You're shooting yourself in the foot

[@gsmith207]

I guess if MW wants to drive a 20mil car he can… F’n A cotton F’n A. Just awesome!

[@New_Jax_City]

PRAT MOTORS ON THE FENDER. AS IN RON PRAT??

[@JMc.D]

You wouldn’t want to prang that one Magnus

[@dashiznit89]

WHERE WINGS TAKE DREAM

[@mafracao]

Those fake/highly enhanced gear shift noises. Make it stop. Please. You guys are making the best content on KZbin for auto enthusiasts, and this Fast and Furious audio gimmick just don't belong...

[@XoVoX]

He says this thing is not intimidating? Said by no one about a 300 Super Leicht. Auto journalists are quoted in saying it has "A Habit of coming wildly and suddenly unglued" or "a wicked and vicious final-oversteering monster". Its pendulum axles are certainly not for the inexperienced. It's a great car for people with racing experience, but a terrible car for the average amateur; this goes for all 300SL other than the roadsters. The Roadsters are much better cars for the everyday driver, different suspension which lessened the oversteer and some even have 4 disc brakes. That being said, I will agree that these things are dead reliable as are most Mercedes well into the mid-80s

[@davidsteinhour5562]

Tires have changed a lot over the years. I'd bet that's most of it.

[@josephf-p9668]

Would you be able to look at a Porsche GT1? i think it's a big thing with only 20-25 made

[@GingerZero]

Great idea for a series, good editing, good writing but not so sure about the narrator (too close to the mic in the voice-over recordings or lack of pop-filter & not a fan of the accent).

[@joshuagibson2520]

Drives 165 miles in it and calls it a good daily driver. Well alright!

[@roymanewell4958]

can i hear a yorkshire accent hiding in the vocals

[@joshuagibson2520]

So is it a W194 or an SL300? Naming conventions are odd.

[@sidforbrains6552]

I did Mercedes parts for 25 years starting in 1973, I hope i get this right. The production series was a w198 chassis, I think the gullwing was 198.040 and the roadster w198.042, but they carried the 300sl type designation. The type usually indicates the displacement of the engine, 3.0 liter in the car. In 73, the 280sel was in production and the chassis was referred to as a w108 with many engine options through it's production from 1967 to 1973... 2.5 liter was a 250se or sel, the L indicated a 4 inch longer body. The v/8 version was a 280se 4.5 with a 4 and a half liter motor. In my days with them we serviced 450sl's, the roadster (w107) and 450sel, a 4 door sedan (w116) and so on.....my favorite of all time was the 280sl, w113.044 from 65 to 1972 starting with a 2.3 liter, then a 2.5 and finally a 2.8 liter motor. A sweet looking car that Mercedes said was "too femanine" and replaced it with the 450sl. The first of the 450sl's to come to the US were labeled 350sl (w107.043) but 3.5 would not smog and they stuck the 4.5 in it but emblems were on back order....just a bit of trivia....I hope this helps

[@TheHannahElliott]

Soooo pretty....!

[@joshuagibson2520]

More Camissa and Co. Less Magnus. Please.

[@jasonwest2072]

well spent 11 minutes

[@CC-wg8gs]

Aluminum? Really? I thought it was aluminium ;)