Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 17, 2025
Mercedes Gullwing Tribute Revives Classic with Modern Engineering at DFW Museum
TLDR
- The Mercedes SLK320 Gullwing Tribute offers collectors a unique advantage with its rare homage design blending vintage aesthetics with modern Mercedes performance.
- This tribute car uses a 3.2-liter V6 engine with sequential fuel injection and retains the R170 SLK chassis with modern suspension and braking systems.
- This tribute car preserves automotive heritage while making classic design accessible through modern engineering and public display at the DFW Car & Toy Museum.
- A 2004 Mercedes SLK320 transformed with gullwing doors and vintage styling pays homage to the iconic 1950s 300SL supercar with modern performance.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it represents the growing trend of automotive preservation and reinterpretation that makes classic car culture accessible to modern audiences. For car enthusiasts, it demonstrates how historical automotive design can be preserved while incorporating contemporary reliability and performance. For the general public, it offers an engaging museum experience that bridges generations of automotive innovation. The tribute car's presence at a free-admission museum makes automotive history more inclusive and educational, potentially inspiring future generations of car designers and collectors while preserving important automotive heritage in an interactive, visually stunning format.
Summary
The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has unveiled a stunning automotive tribute piece that masterfully blends classic design with modern engineering. The 2004 Mercedes SLK320 "300SL Gullwing Tribute" from the Ron Sturgeon Collection pays homage to the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, featuring signature upward-opening doors, vintage styling cues, and authentic Gullwing proportions while maintaining contemporary performance capabilities. This remarkable build showcases the vision of collector Ron Sturgeon, whose 30-year passion for automobiles has culminated in this extraordinary museum display that bridges automotive eras.
Under the hood, the tribute car retains its modern 3.2-liter M112 V6 engine producing 215 horsepower, coupled with a 5G-Tronic five-speed automatic transmission for smooth, capable performance. The chassis maintains the R170 SLK's reliable dynamics including ventilated disc brakes and independent suspension, ensuring modern drivability while evoking 1950s supercar spirit. Inside, the cockpit artfully combines vintage aesthetics with modern comfort, featuring beige loop carpeting, VDO gauges, and air conditioning, creating an immersive experience that honors the original Gullwing's legacy while providing 21st-century convenience.
Now proudly displayed at the DFW Car & Toy Museum's new 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth, this unique automotive creation offers visitors free admission to experience automotive history reimagined. The museum, formerly known as DFW Elite Toy Museum, continues its mission of entertaining car and toy enthusiasts while offering climate-controlled storage and event facilities. This tribute car represents more than just a restoration—it's a carefully crafted celebration of automotive heritage that demonstrates how classic design can be revitalized with modern technology, making automotive history accessible and engaging for contemporary audiences.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Mercedes Gullwing Tribute Revives Classic with Modern Engineering at DFW Museum
