Boschert B300 Gullwing: The Turbocharged Tribute That Remained a Legend

There are cars that follow history. Then there are machines that look at history and attempt to rewrite it with a complete disregard for subtlety. 


The Boschert P300 Gullwing falls squarely into that second category, showcasing a wild car modification that answers a question Mercedes-Benz never dared to ask. This rare car features striking gull wing doors and a unique automotive fabrication, making it a true standout in the world of modified cars and supercars.


The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.

An AI-generated transcript edited by a staffer is below.

[Image: YouTube Screenshot]


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Summary: The Boschert B300 Gullwing – A One-Off Mercedes Reinvention

The transcript tells the story of the Boschert B300 Gullwing, an extraordinary custom-built Mercedes that reimagined the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing decades before Mercedes itself revisited the idea.

Key Points

    • A modern interpretation of a legend
    • The project sought to revive the spirit of the iconic 1950s Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing rather than simply replicate it.
    • The original 300 SL's famous gullwing doors were born from racing engineering, and Mercedes never officially revived the design after production ended in 1957.
    • Built from a Mercedes 300 CE
    • The donor car was a Mercedes-Benz 300 CE (W124), originally powered by a 185-horsepower M103 inline-six.
    • Creator Hartmut Borchert transformed it through an extensive engineering program rather than a conventional tuning exercise.
    • Extensive structural redesign
    • Installing functional gullwing doors required major chassis modifications.
    • The A-pillars were moved forward nearly 10 inches.
    • Reinforced sills and a redesigned roof structure maintained rigidity without conventional door frames.
    • The project involved significant structural engineering rather than cosmetic changes.
    • Blending classic and modern Mercedes styling
    • Instead of copying the original 300 SL, the design combined elements from different eras.
    • The front end was adapted from the R129 SL, giving the car a more contemporary appearance while retaining W124 foundations.
    • The result was a unique fusion of 1950s inspiration and late-1980s Mercedes styling.
    • Bold interior
    • The cabin featured an unmistakable two-tone purple leather interior covering nearly every surface.
    • The design emphasized individuality rather than understatement.
    • Performance upgrades
    • The original engine received twin turbochargers, increasing output to approximately 283 horsepower.
    • Performance figures included:
      • Zero to 60 mph in under 6 seconds
      • Top speed of approximately 165 mph
    • These numbers placed it among serious performance cars of the late 1980s.
    • A bridge between two automotive eras
    • The B300 Gullwing combined the mechanical spirit of the original 300 SL with the comfort and technology of a modern executive coupe.
    • Unlike simple retro recreations, it attempted to merge classic racing heritage with contemporary engineering.
    • Production ambitions fell short
    • The car debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show and generated significant interest.
    • Initial plans called for around 300 examples, priced at roughly 186,000 Deutsche Marks.
    • However, the extensive hand-built modifications made production prohibitively expensive.
    • Extreme rarity
    • Only 11 Boschert B300s were ultimately produced.
    • Just one received the complete gullwing conversion, making it a true one-off.

Overall Takeaway

The Boschert B300 Gullwing represents an ambitious, highly engineered reinterpretation of one of Mercedes-Benz's greatest icons. Rather than merely copying the original 300 SL, it fused classic inspiration with late-1980s engineering, creating a unique machine that was structurally reimagined, visually striking, and surprisingly capable. Although commercial success never materialized, the sole gullwing version remains a fascinating example of what independent visionaries can achieve when manufacturers choose not to revisit their own legends.




via Autobuzz Today

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