While imitation may be the most sincere form of flattery, Daimler doesn’t believe it needs the love, apparently. A reproduction Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “gullwing” coupe was confiscated by German customs and turned over to the to the company. Daimler had the body disassembled from the chassis and the whole shebang was crushed by a pair of 30-ton industrial presses.
After the carnage was surveyed, the fiberglass replica body was given a “confirmation of scrappage” stamp on all official paperwork.
In today’s age of laser accuracy and internet knowledge it makes sense that Daimler would want to keep fake SLs out of circulation so not as to muddle the waters of the real cars for sale, but it still brings a tear to the eye to see such a creation, one that someone obviously put time and love into, be destroyed.
While this old replica may be destroyed, Mercedes has also been making plenty of the new 2012 SL-Class roadster, which can be viewed in our gallery below.
