231:
157:. With members worldwide, the organization aims to maintain the 300SL and provide members with the opportunity to become acquainted with the mechanics and handling of the iconic car. In addition to fostering a community of enthusiasts, the GWG organizes car-related events, including driving tours, an annual convention featuring technical sessions and driver's education, and social events. The organization also supports various charities and has an open membership policy, inviting individuals with an interest in the 300SL to join. In 2020, the GWG extended membership to owners of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a modern revival of the Gull Wing design, further expanding the reach of the organization to younger car enthusiasts.
516:
528:
142:
480:
492:
540:
552:
504:
472:
discussed market trends related to the 300SL. Board member Robert
Webster, presented his highly modified 300SL. Additionally, board member Paul Devers conducted a presentation on the SLS. Board member Craig Mclaughlin stepped down from the GWG board of directors after 6 years as a board member and
319:
edition produced in
January 1962. The cover topic for the June 1962 issue was the First Anniversary Dinner, which was coming up later that month at the San Francisco Airport Hilton. The tab of $ 5.00 per person for the evening included a cocktail hour and dinner. The award-winning 300StarLetter is
291:
The organization has an international membership of approximately 600 members from 25 countries. As of 2019, Southern
California is the largest region with 150 active members. Membership is open to anyone. Each fall, an annual convention is held in different locations throughout the United States
226:
owners to become members. Inviting the SLS owners into the GWG exposes the 300 SL model to younger car enthusiasts. The SLS AMG is the spiritual successor to the 300 SL. The SLS AMG was designed to be a modern Gull Wing revival, and
Mercedes produced 11473 cars from 2010 to 2015. Many GWG members
202:
By fall of 1963, there were by-laws, and members paid dues of $ 10.00. By 1965, the GWG had formed a
Southern California Chapter, and the first meeting took place at the home of Stan Kauffman on August 11, 1965. Kauffman was President, James Mangham was VP, and Tom Burniston was Secretary.
218:
The organization began attracting members from all over the country, and Hunt suggested a formal
Business Office be created. In 1971, membership had grown to 387. The GWG accepted roadster owners in 1971 though they could not vote. In 1972 Roadster owners were able to vote.
473:
Amir
Almagor stepped down from the board after 8 years as a member of the board. Molly Dunne and Ed Knoll were elected to the board. President John Willott stepped down from the board of directors after 6 years in office and David Dukehart was elected president.
283:
F/GT speed record in 2016 in a 300 SL, establishing a new mark for 3L Sports cars of 190.759 mph. Sirna's project was executed with Dean
Johnson's assistance. Dean Johnson is an ex-board member of the GWG and serves on the Tech Committee.
441:. As well as eight SLSs (5 coupes and three roadsters), a 280 SL, a 300D Adenauer, two “Ostermeier” Gullwings, and one hand-built tribute Gullwing. The 2022 convention had enough SLSs at the show to give awards for the first time.
287:
Amir
Almagor, a board member of the group, organized the 2015 and 2018 Holyland1000 tours in Israel. Eight Roadsters and two Gullwings participated in March 2018 in a 1000-mile tour of 77 pre-1965 cars around Israel.
592:
515:
527:
479:
446:
1024:
165:
The GWG started with eighteen
Mercedes 300SL enthusiasts on August 1961 by Ernie Spitzer, an entrepreneur who owned a commercial printing business. The first meeting was held in
191:
and again in 1979. By the end of 1962, the organization had grown to just over 50, with some now coming from the rest of the United States and Canada. Many members were from
1029:
539:
712:
584:
300:
for five days celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Gull Wing Group. One hundred and seventeen members came to the Convention, including 15 first-time attendees.
503:
331:
The GWG has a parts store open to members, technical assistance from its technical committee, an annual convention and rally held in different parts of the USA.
230:
491:
323:
The Group's roster has been a valuable vehicle ownership source and maintains an active directory that shows the provenance of cars sold at auction.
468:, Canada. The convention attracted 94 registered members and was chaired by Gina and Peter Starr. In a Thursday Tech Session, representatives from
742:
551:
141:
334:
The 300SL Classic was initiated by GWG members Tom Thornhill, John Willott, and Craig McLaughlin and continues to be supported by the GWG.
29:
172:
By the end of 1961, the club had expanded to 38 dues paying members. A year later, the members and their cars were photographed at the
916:
795:
687:
438:
426:
942:
704:
215:
in May 1969. Membership had risen to nearly 200, and almost half attended the event when Chad Hunt became president.
303:
The GWG members attend events around the country every year, including the Copperstate 1000 and the Colorado Grand.
422:
370:
297:
445:
presented on classic car insurance and others gave a review of SLS cars, options, and current market trends. The
255:
204:
402:
418:
868:
835:
354:
338:
764:
McGraw, Jim (November 2016). "Bonneville Bob, Big Pete, Tall Mike and the Gullwing". Vintage Motorsport.
382:
366:
223:
166:
1019:
734:
461:
406:
362:
154:
442:
280:
192:
398:
374:
265:
President John Willott and fellow members Craig Mcloughlin and Tom Thornhill organized a tour of
259:
177:
153:(GWG) is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization founded in 1961 by enthusiasts of the 1954 to 1963
683:
342:
244:
76:
705:"GULLWING; EPIC USA DRIVE One thousand miles through Arizona in a 'survivor' Mercedes 300 SL"
243:
The first official event was a series of three technical sessions by a representative of the
908:
791:
437:
One hundred five attendees, along with ten Gullwings and twelve Roadsters participated in
182:
394:
248:
1013:
386:
293:
276:
In 2012, member, Garry Boyce, organized an international rally tour in New Zealand.
28:
968:
Willott, John (November 2022). "GWG Convention at the Greenbrier A FAMILY AFFAIR".
390:
890:
353:
As of 2023, there have been 54 Conventions. Past conventions have been held in
465:
410:
227:
who own a 300 SL also own an SLS. SLSs can be shown and judged at conventions.
316:
414:
378:
58:
311:
Spitzer typed up a (nearly) monthly bulletin, the precursor to the Group's
358:
270:
203:
Nineteen members of the Northern and Southern California Chapters met in
173:
469:
266:
212:
196:
229:
140:
1004:
860:
251:
system. GWG has held driving events every year other than 2020.
208:
279:
Bob Sirna, a previous president of the organization, set a new
128:
509:
Gullwing group convention 2021 with B-52 plane and 300 SL cars
207:
to plan for the first annual get-together, which was held in
521:
Gullwing group convention 2021 with 300 SL cars near bridge
652:(18 #2 ed.). Automobile Quarterly. pp. 131–133.
533:
Gullwing group convention 2021 with 300 SL cars on bridge
585:"Sharing the Tips That Keep Classic Gullwings Running"
449:
inspected twelve cars for the first time for the GWG.
447:
Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA)
663:
Wilott, John (June 1, 2020). "President's Message".
545:
Group photo at the Quebec City 2023 Convention rally
123:
113:
103:
93:
83:
72:
64:
53:
35:
222:In 2020, the GWG board voted on formally inviting
337:The 300SL Classic supports charities such as the
187:and the 1963 issue of the Mercedes Benz magazine
678:Kleissl, Hans; Niemann, Harry (August 4, 2021).
16:Organization of Mercedes-Benz 300 SL enthusiasts
262:to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club.
682:. Dalton Watson Fine Books. pp. 334–335.
485:2019 GWG Convention in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
234:Roadsters and SLSs' are welcomed in the Group
8:
1025:Automobile associations in the United States
792:"$ 100 million is rolling in the Arava"
680:Mercedes-Benz 300 SL: The Car of the Century
315:. The first Bulletin was a simple four-page
21:
830:
828:
650:Two Decades Later. Flying Low in the 300 SL
292:and Canada. The 2021 annual Convention in
27:
20:
936:
934:
891:"1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE"
145:Coupe and Roadster at 2019 GWG Convention
1030:Clubs and societies in the United States
981:
979:
568:
475:
1005:Gull Wing Group International web site
629:"The Annual "Exclusive Car' Meeting".
578:
576:
574:
572:
557:2023 Gullwing Group Saturday car show
254:On 11 June 2011, the GWG gathered at
7:
941:Constantin, Kate (January 1, 2022).
836:"1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing"
460:The 2023 convention was head at the
919:from the original on March 29, 2019
871:from the original on March 29, 2019
798:from the original on March 29, 2019
745:from the original on March 29, 2019
715:from the original on March 29, 2019
595:from the original on March 29, 2019
943:"Follow your (Three-Pointed) Star"
68:Social & Recreational Car Club
14:
790:Ben-Zaken, Nir (March 30, 2018).
169:at Ricky's Studio Inn and Hotel.
22:Gull Wing Group International Inc
775:"The World's Fastest Gullwing".
739:Mercedes Benz Club International
583:McCraw, Jim (November 9, 2012).
550:
538:
526:
514:
502:
490:
478:
427:Greenbrier County, West Virginia
273:founder, Don Rose participated.
703:Osborne, Donald (March 2019).
618:(66): 242–243. August 1, 1963.
1:
151:Gull Wing Group International
947:Pebble Beach Winter Concours
913:Gullwing Group International
320:published ten times a year.
269:driving 1000 miles in 2018.
614:"Mercedes-Benz in the US".
497:2019 GWG Convention line up
1046:
821:: 13–21. November 1, 2021.
429:and many other locations.
423:Colorado Springs, Colorado
391:Victoria, British Columbia
371:Saratoga Springs, New York
298:Colorado Springs, Colorado
26:
403:Palm Springs, California
258:at the south end of the
245:Robert Bosch Corporation
355:Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
339:Make a Wish Foundation
235:
180:in the background for
146:
41:; 63 years ago
779:: 34–40. May 6, 2021.
383:Newport, Rhode Island
367:Jackson Hole, Wyoming
233:
224:Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
167:Palo Alto, California
144:
990:: 4. September 2023.
648:Fitch, John (1975).
407:Montvale, New Jersey
387:Nashville, Tennessee
363:Santa Fe, New Mexico
155:Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
909:"Gullwing benefits"
419:Homestead, Virginia
281:Bonneville Speedway
247:covering the car's
193:Southern California
39:August 1, 1961
23:
399:Flagstaff, Arizona
375:Dearborn, Michigan
260:Golden Gate Bridge
236:
178:Golden Gate Bridge
147:
105:Official language
988:300 SL Starletter
741:. June 23, 2015.
637:(160E): 30. 1979.
462:Chateau Frontenac
395:Sun Valley, Idaho
343:McPherson College
139:
138:
1037:
992:
991:
983:
974:
973:
965:
959:
958:
956:
954:
938:
929:
928:
926:
924:
905:
899:
898:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
857:
851:
850:
848:
846:
840:Goodings Auction
832:
823:
822:
814:
808:
807:
805:
803:
787:
781:
780:
772:
766:
765:
761:
755:
754:
752:
750:
731:
725:
724:
722:
720:
700:
694:
693:
675:
669:
668:
660:
654:
653:
645:
639:
638:
626:
620:
619:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
580:
554:
542:
530:
518:
506:
494:
482:
183:Road & Track
135:
132:
130:
49:
47:
42:
31:
24:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1034:
1010:
1009:
1001:
996:
995:
985:
984:
977:
967:
966:
962:
952:
950:
940:
939:
932:
922:
920:
907:
906:
902:
889:
888:
884:
874:
872:
859:
858:
854:
844:
842:
834:
833:
826:
816:
815:
811:
801:
799:
789:
788:
784:
774:
773:
769:
763:
762:
758:
748:
746:
733:
732:
728:
718:
716:
702:
701:
697:
690:
677:
676:
672:
662:
661:
657:
647:
646:
642:
628:
627:
623:
613:
612:
608:
598:
596:
582:
581:
570:
565:
558:
555:
546:
543:
534:
531:
522:
519:
510:
507:
498:
495:
486:
483:
458:
456:2023 convention
452:
435:
433:2022 convention
351:
329:
309:
241:
163:
127:
116:
106:
96:
86:
45:
43:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1043:
1041:
1033:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1012:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1000:
999:External links
997:
994:
993:
975:
970:300 StarLetter
960:
930:
900:
882:
852:
824:
819:300 Starletter
809:
782:
767:
756:
726:
695:
688:
670:
665:300 Starletter
655:
640:
621:
606:
589:New York Times
567:
566:
564:
561:
560:
559:
556:
549:
547:
544:
537:
535:
532:
525:
523:
520:
513:
511:
508:
501:
499:
496:
489:
487:
484:
477:
457:
454:
439:Greenbrier, WV
434:
431:
361:, California;
350:
347:
328:
325:
308:
305:
249:fuel injection
240:
237:
162:
159:
137:
136:
131:.gullwinggroup
125:
121:
120:
119:David Dukehart
117:
114:
111:
110:
107:
104:
101:
100:
97:
94:
91:
90:
87:
85:Region served
84:
81:
80:
74:
70:
69:
66:
62:
61:
55:
51:
50:
37:
33:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1042:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1006:
1003:
1002:
998:
989:
982:
980:
976:
971:
964:
961:
948:
944:
937:
935:
931:
918:
914:
910:
904:
901:
896:
892:
886:
883:
870:
866:
862:
856:
853:
841:
837:
831:
829:
825:
820:
813:
810:
797:
793:
786:
783:
778:
771:
768:
760:
757:
744:
740:
736:
735:"Garry Boyce"
730:
727:
714:
710:
706:
699:
696:
691:
689:9781854433084
685:
681:
674:
671:
666:
659:
656:
651:
644:
641:
636:
632:
631:In Aller Welt
625:
622:
617:
616:In Aller Welt
610:
607:
594:
590:
586:
579:
577:
575:
573:
569:
562:
553:
548:
541:
536:
529:
524:
517:
512:
505:
500:
493:
488:
481:
476:
474:
471:
467:
463:
455:
453:
450:
448:
444:
440:
432:
430:
428:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
348:
346:
344:
340:
335:
332:
326:
324:
321:
318:
314:
313:300StarLetter
306:
304:
301:
299:
295:
294:The Broadmoor
289:
285:
282:
277:
274:
272:
268:
263:
261:
257:
252:
250:
246:
238:
232:
228:
225:
220:
216:
214:
210:
206:
205:Santa Barbara
200:
198:
194:
190:
189:In Aller Welt
186:
184:
179:
175:
170:
168:
160:
158:
156:
152:
143:
134:
126:
122:
118:
112:
108:
102:
98:
92:
89:International
88:
82:
78:
75:
71:
67:
63:
60:
56:
52:
38:
34:
30:
25:
19:
987:
969:
963:
951:. Retrieved
946:
921:. Retrieved
912:
903:
894:
885:
873:. Retrieved
864:
855:
845:December 29,
843:. Retrieved
839:
818:
812:
802:February 25,
800:. Retrieved
785:
776:
770:
759:
749:February 26,
747:. Retrieved
738:
729:
719:February 25,
717:. Retrieved
708:
698:
679:
673:
664:
658:
649:
643:
634:
630:
624:
615:
609:
599:February 21,
597:. Retrieved
588:
459:
451:
436:
352:
336:
333:
330:
322:
317:mimeographed
312:
310:
307:Publications
302:
290:
286:
278:
275:
264:
253:
242:
221:
217:
201:
188:
181:
171:
164:
150:
148:
95:Membership
79:, California
73:Headquarters
18:
1020:Motor clubs
953:February 2,
865:Jim Luikens
817:"Reunion".
711:: 500–550.
466:Quebec City
411:New Orleans
349:Conventions
1014:Categories
986:"Events".
563:References
381:, Nevada;
256:Fort Point
57:Nonprofit
46:1961-08-01
923:March 17,
875:March 17,
794:. Y Net.
415:Louisiana
379:Las Vegas
176:with the
115:President
59:501(c)(7)
36:Formation
917:Archived
869:Archived
796:Archived
777:The Star
743:Archived
713:Archived
593:Archived
359:Pasadena
327:Benefits
271:Rykodisc
185:magazine
174:Presidio
949:: 28–39
895:Bonhams
470:Hagerty
443:Hagerty
267:Arizona
161:History
124:Website
109:English
65:Purpose
44: (
972:: 6–9.
709:Octane
686:
239:Events
213:Nevada
197:Oregon
861:"Bio"
77:Chico
955:2022
925:2019
877:2019
847:2019
804:2019
751:2019
721:2019
684:ISBN
667:: 3.
601:2019
341:and
209:Reno
195:and
149:The
133:.org
54:Type
296:in
129:www
99:600
1016::
978:^
945:.
933:^
915:.
911:.
893:.
867:.
863:.
838:.
827:^
737:.
707:.
633:.
591:.
587:.
571:^
464:,
425:;
421:;
417:;
413:,
409:;
405:;
401:;
397:;
393:;
389:;
385:;
377:;
373:;
369:;
365:;
357:;
345:.
211:,
199:.
957:.
927:.
897:.
879:.
849:.
806:.
753:.
723:.
692:.
635:4
603:.
48:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
