How nice is the life of a former Formula One champ? So nice that Nico Rosberg is cruising around the scenic and picturesque city of Monaco in his very own 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. The German-Finish lad is currently piloting Mercedes cars around the world’s most famous circuits.
More than being a world-famous race car driver, Rosberg is also a classic car fanatic. One of the classic cars he owns is the 1955 Gullwing, a gorgeous dream of a car that requires a special driver to handle her. Rosberg is special enough, and generous enough to capture his drive around Monaco and share it with us, mere mortals.
We’d rather be in the driver’s seat, of course, but even the masterful driver grinds a gear when he pulls onto a city street. We want to be a passenger next, but that’s impossible, so let’s settle with this virtual test ride and enjoy the views and the commentaries.
Rosberg said that a car like the 1955 Gullwing has many special procedures, including a cooling fan that must be engaged manually when driving around to keep the car from overheating. The F1 Formula champ also pointed out that the Gullwing’s driver must wait until the oil reaches 130 degrees before the engine can be revved up past 3,000 rpm. The Gullwing wasn’t also designed for traffic, so the driver needs to take extra car to keep it in neutral whenever possible.
These are all minor nuisances, of course. If you’re lucky enough to have a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, these little procedures are what make the car even more special and unique.