Gull Wing Group History - Gull Wing Group

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Gull Wing Group - Club History

The Gull Wing Group International was founded in San Francisco on June 16, 1961, at a time when the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was still a relatively young automobile but already unmistakably special. Eighteen owners, united by the experience of driving and maintaining these remarkable cars, came together with a simple but durable idea: share knowledge, solve problems, and enjoy the cars as they were meant to be used.

From the beginning, the Group focused on substance rather than formality. Early members quickly discovered that ownership of a 300 SL brought unique technical challenges, none more mysterious than the mechanical fuel-injection system. The club’s first official events were not social dinners or concours displays, but hands-on technical sessions led by a Bosch representative, setting a tone that would define the organization for decades. Driving events, newsletters, and informal gatherings followed soon after, and by the end of its first year the Group had grown steadily beyond its founding circle.

As interest spread, the Gull Wing Group began to attract attention well beyond Northern California. By the early 1960s, the cars and their owners were being photographed for international publications such as In Aller Welt and Road & Track. Membership expanded to include enthusiasts across the western United States, and the club opened its doors to associate members who shared the passion even if they did not yet own a Gull Wing. Period advertisements from the era, offering cars for sums that now seem astonishingly modest, provide a reminder of just how early this community recognized the significance of the 300 SL.

Growth continued through the 1960s with the formation of a Southern California chapter and increasing collaboration between regions. In 1969, members from Northern and Southern California gathered for what would become a defining moment: the planning and launch of the first annual Gull Wing Group Convention. That inaugural three-day event near Reno drew nearly half of the club’s membership at the time and established a tradition of national gatherings that remains central to the Group’s identity.

During its first decade, the Gull Wing Group evolved from a regional association into a national organization, and soon after, an international one. Roadster owners were welcomed alongside Coupe owners, reflecting a broader understanding of the shared engineering and heritage of the 300 SL family. What began as a practical response to technical challenges matured into a durable institution built on continuity, documentation, and community.

Today, more than sixty years after its founding, the Gull Wing Group International serves members around the world. It supports an active network of chapters, hosts annual conventions across North America, and publishes the 300 StarLetter, a professionally produced journal that blends technical depth with historical perspective. Decades of newsletters, articles, and technical discussions are preserved in a searchable digital archive, complemented by a members-only forum where hard-won experience continues to be exchanged.

What has not changed is the club’s character. The Gull Wing Group remains a volunteer-driven organization, sustained by members who value accuracy, generosity, and stewardship over commercial interest. Its strength lies not only in the cars themselves, but in the collective effort to preserve the knowledge required to keep them running, driving, and understood.

The Gull Wing Group exists because a small group of owners in 1961 believed that these cars deserved more than admiration. They deserved care, use, and a community committed to passing that responsibility forward. That belief continues to guide the Group today.