the M 196 S engine is designed to run on standardised, commercially available Super 98 RON petrol (DIN 51600). Suspension system To enhance stopping power extra wide diameter drum brakes too large to fit inside 16" wheel rims were used, mounted inboard with short half shafts and two universal joints per wheel. Suspension was four-wheel independent. Torsion bars fitted inside the frame's tubes were used in the double wishbone front. To prevent cornering forces from raising the car, as occurs with short swing axles, the rear used a low-roll centre system featuring off-centred beams spanning from each hub to the opposite side of the chassis crossing one-another over the centreline. Nevertheless, snap-oversteer could be still a notable problem at speed. At Le Mans in 1955, the 300 SLRs were also equipped with a large rear mounted "wind brake" that hinged up above the rear deck to slow the cars at the end of the fast straights. The idea came from director of motorsports Alfred Neubauer, who had been seeking to reduce wear on the huge drum brakes and tyres during long-distance endurance races where cars repeatedly had to decelerate from to as little as 25 mph. In tests the light-alloy spoiler slowed the car dramatically and improved cornering, helping to compensate for the superior new disc brakes of the SLR's main rival Jaguar D-type. SLR McLaren Inspired by the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren grand tourer made its debut in 2003. Jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive it featured a hand-built 5.4-litre, supercharged all-aluminium V8 engine. The SLR McLaren was available in both coupé and roadster versions, as well as a number of other specialized variants. Production ran through early 2010. See also Mercedes-Benz W196 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Mercedes-Benz in motorsport List of Mercedes-Benz cars References Notes Bibliography (includes the 300 SLR) (includes the 300 SLR) External links 1955 World Sportscar Championship 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe 300 SLR Sports prototypes 24 Hours of Le Mans race cars Mille Miglia Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Roadsters Automobiles with gull-wing doors