Tropicana Magazine Mar-Apr 2018 #117: Edge Of Excitement
MARCH into April with the Edge of Excitement: Featuring the power couple of sustainability, legendary dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, and the swanky bars of Singapore. Read it here now:
MARCH into April with the Edge of Excitement: Featuring the power couple of sustainability, legendary dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, and the swanky bars of Singapore. Read it here now:
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
THE DRIVE<br />
The roadster version was a comfortable cruiser, and a<br />
new swing axle improved the car's cornering behaviour and<br />
predictability.<br />
Weight was up, but the fun factor increased a lot too.<br />
At 250 kilometres per hour, top speed was still sensational.<br />
There were wind-up windows on conventional doors, and a<br />
cloth hood which made getting in and out of the cabriolet<br />
much less of a pain.<br />
“ Gullwing drivers even started saying the roadster was<br />
designed for softies and called it a rolling lounge,” says<br />
Hoffmann.<br />
Today, the roar of the six-cylinder engine still sends<br />
a tingle down the spine of enthusiasts. This was one of<br />
the fastest-production cars of its day and it needs only 10<br />
seconds for the surge to 100 km/h from a standing start.<br />
Naturally, this is no cheap classic either, and roadster<br />
examples in excellent condition change hands for around<br />
USD 1.25 million.<br />
Detractors of the gullwing used to say that getting<br />
out of one was like escaping from an egg cooker, since the<br />
cockpit quickly became unbearably hot.<br />
After stepping out of a roadster, by comparison, a<br />
lady or gent will feel refreshed and maybe just a little<br />
windswept.<br />
IMAGE BY STEPHEN REUSS/DPA/THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE IMAGE BY DAIMLER AG/DPA/THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE<br />
TM | MARCH/APRIL <strong>2018</strong><br />
120
Change language