🏁 Mel’s Motor Club – Issue No. 1

Welcome to the very first issue of Mel’s Motor Club.

This newsletter is a tribute to my grandfather, Melvin—a gentleman, gearhead, and a man who believed that life was best lived behind the wheel of a classic. He had a knack for finding beauty in old machines, a taste for strong coffee, and a wristwatch that ticked as precisely as his ’67 Corvette Stingray purred.

Each week, we’ll explore the stories and culture that make machines more than metal. You’ll find classic cars, car culture deep dives, timeless watches, and the kind of travel and coffee that pairs best with an open road.

This club is for those who appreciate the details. The feel of a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The sound of an analog click. The smell of a carbureted morning drive.

Thanks for riding along.

— Brennan

There are cars that turn heads—and then there are those that stop time.

The 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is the latter. With its upward-opening doors, race-bred fuel-injected inline-six, and silhouette sculpted by both wind tunnels and imagination, the Gullwing wasn’t just advanced—it was otherworldly.

My grandfather Melvin not only owned one of the last 70 ever built in 1957, the final year of production, but also painstakingly performed a “body-on” restoration of the car. His exact car, chassis #7500853, was originally finished in DB 158 White Gray but updated by Melvin to DB 608 Ivory Paint with a 1079 Red leather interior—a visually arresting contrast that made the car feel both elegant and aggressive. That exact car was sold, but you can still see the listing here.

To Melvin, the 300SL was more than a car. It was an experience. This was a car born from motorsport lineage and engineered with uncompromising vision. The Gullwing introduced the world to direct fuel injection, was capable of over 160 mph, and featured its now-iconic vertically opening doors—not for flair, but out of necessity due to its tubular spaceframe chassis.

🔧 Quick Spec Check:

• Engine: 3.0L Inline-6 with mechanical fuel injection

• 0–60 mph: 7.4 seconds

• Top Speed: ~161 mph

• Production (1957): Only 70 units

• Notable Feature: Tubular space frame & upward-opening doors—engineering born from necessity, remembered for beauty

In racing circles, a “gentleman driver” is an amateur with the means and passion to race without sponsorships. But the term’s roots go deeper—into a culture of driving not for glory, but for grace.

Melvin believed in that mindset. It wasn’t about going fast—it was about going well. Knowing your car. Respecting the road. Wearing driving gloves not for style, but out of reverence.

This week, consider what it means to be a gentleman (or gentlewoman) driver in 2025. Slower isn’t lesser. It’s intentional.

While the 300SL didn’t launch with an official timepiece, the era’s car enthusiasts often wore Heuer chronographs—especially the Carrera 2447, introduced in 1963.

Designed for race car drivers by Jack Heuer, the Carrera was clean, legible, and precision-driven—everything a 300SL driver would have admired. Named after the dangerous Carrera Panamericana road race, it became a motorsport icon.

If you're in LA, take Mulholland Drive near sunset. The curves are cinematic, the views surreal, and it’s one of the rare places where car and road still feel in conversation.

Park at one of the scenic overlooks and take in the city below. Bonus points if you’ve got something pre-1975 and analog under your feet.

Coffee stop: Caffe Luxxe on San Vicente for a serious espresso and zero attitude.

This week’s picks for the enthusiast’s garage (or couch):

• 🎬 Watch: Senna (2010) An award-winning documentary on Ayrton Senna—Formula One legend, national hero, and deeply spiritual driver. Even if you’re not a racing fan, this film will move you. It’s a story of talent, tragedy, and purpose at 200 mph.

• 📘 Read: Go Like Hell by A.J. Baime – Ford vs. Ferrari, but with more grit and boardroom fury.

• 🔍 Explore: Bring a Trailer – If you know, you know.

What was the first car you ever loved?

Shoot me a reply. I’d love to feature your story (and maybe a photo) in an upcoming issue.

🏁 See you next Sunday. Until then, keep it classic.

Mel’s Motor Club
Founded in memory. Fueled by passion.