YouTuber Tyler Hoover’s long-running pursuit of the perfect Mercedes-Benz has reached a new milestone after his recently acquired 300SL Gullwing survived a grueling thousand-mile rally and earned an unexpected stamp of approval from Jay Leno. The car, considered by Hoover to be the pinnacle of his decades-long fascination with the brand, required extensive repairs after the road event nearly sidelined it for good.
The trouble began when the vintage Mercedes developed multiple failures during the rally. A ruptured oil cooler, a leaking cooling system and a braking disaster triggered by unknowingly driving for miles with the parking brake engaged left the car in rough condition. By the time it arrived back at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in California, technicians faced a long list of issues typically seen on vehicles subjected to years of neglect rather than a single outing.
The Classic Center’s team undertook a comprehensive restoration effort. They removed accumulated grime, pressure-washed the chassis and worked through the heat-damaged brake components. The overheated rear drums were beyond machining and were replaced entirely alongside cracked linings and refinished wheels. Cooling issues were corrected by repairing the brass expansion tank, addressing cracked solder joints, cleaning the radiator and fixing the leaking oil cooler. Corroded aluminum water pipes were replaced, and technicians refreshed ignition components to eliminate high-rpm misfires. Discussions even surfaced about potential period-correct performance tuning that could extract additional power without altering the engine’s originality.
Once the Gullwing was running properly, Hoover drove it to Burbank for a visit with Jay Leno, who owns a well-used 300SL of his own and understands how a properly sorted example should behave. Behind the wheel, Leno immediately noted the car’s precise steering feel and smooth power delivery, complimenting the mechanical work and expressing admiration for the acquisition.
The journey continued to San Diego, where Hoover met with Doug DeMuro for an informal comparison of dream cars. DeMuro’s Porsche Carrera GT remained in the shop, becoming a recurring punchline, but he was quick to praise the 300SL in person and support Hoover’s decision to trade a Bugatti Veyron for it.
Between the Classic Center’s meticulous repairs, Leno’s endorsement of the car’s condition and DeMuro’s enthusiastic reaction, the 300SL appears to have completed more than a restoration. It has become a fitting culmination of Hoover’s long, unconventional path through Mercedes-Benz ownership.
