Third party revives the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Saoutchik, a Netherlands-based car company, has unveiled the first production-ready example of its Torpedo S roadster envisioned as a modern reincarnation of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It will be coming to the market in a tiny batch of 15 units.

The car was announced last fall under the name “300GT”, which was later changed to “Torpedo S”. According to Ugur Sahin, the Netherlands-based car designer of Turkish origins who carried out the project, the name alludes to a horizontal shoulder line that visually connects the front fenders with the rear end.

All bodywork is carbon-fiber. Like its source of inspiration, the Torpedo S boasts widened front wheel arches, round headlights, gill-like side vents and a well-rounded rear. Despite its retro looks, the car takes full advantage of the Mercedes-AMG GT hardware it’s based upon. As you can see, the interior layout is pretty much the same.

With a turbocharged V8 pushing 625 PS (616 hp / 460 kW) to the wheels, the roadster sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and ultimately hits 325 km/h (202 mph). Saoutchik doesn’t talk about the origins of the engine, so we assume it’s a tuned stock unit. What we do know is that the whole roadster weighs as little as 1,450 kilograms (3,196 lbs).

All production will be handled by Pogea Racing, a company specializing in tuning premium German cars and building restomods. We are told that delivering just one example will take eight months, not least because of extensive customization options. Prices haven’t been announced, but we hear whispers that you may need at least $1,750,000, or €1,538,000.