Excerpts from the book:

<<<The work commenced alongside the W196 Formula One racecars in the competition department of Daimler-Benz and it was soon realized that there was a big problem: without a proper roof, the new  open Mercedes 300SL was not stiff enough. The tubular frame chassis needed to be revised. Uhlenhaut, who created the lightweight frame tried first to alter the design of the existing one, but that did not bring the desired results. He needed heavier gauge steel and possibly larger diameter tubes to stiffen the chassis>>>

<<<On August 15, 1955 Daimler-Benz announced that a roadster version of the Mercedes 300SL could be finished by September of that year. Uhlenhaut had used heavier steel and larger tubes and had changed the center tunnel portion behind the bulkhead and the sides to provide in addition to a stiffer frame also space for conventionally hinged doors. Gullwing doors of course would not have worked on a roadster. Geiger, who worked in Wilfert's department, had come up at the same time with a beautifully balanced, purposeful looking design for a fast and elegant open tourer. It speaks volumes for the meticulous approach of Daimler-Benz engineers that an internal memo from November of that year listed as issues still to be looked at: a somewhat difficult to operate soft top and of all things: a faulty dimmer switch>>>

highlight many interesting features, this includes pictures of the suspension.

A separate chapter covers the technical features and production figures. Enjoy!