It was only the successor to the legendary Pagoda and yet many consider the Mercedes SL of the R 107 generation to be the SL in general. From 1971 onwards it was the roadster of sophisticated life.
The appearances of an SL in films and series cannot be counted and in reality this SL was present at every favorite place of high society. The luxury roadster was particularly successful in the USA, probably also the reason for its long production time. Compared to the Pagoda, its predecessor, the R 107 appeared more masculine, but without losing its lightness.
Compared to the Italian coupes of the 1970s, the 107 was more of a large car, but its clean shapes and straight lines perfectly matched the style of the time. It completely redefined the luxury roadster segment in the early 1970s. And is still the most popular roadster of the time today. Around 22,000 models are still registered in Germany today.
Despite the long construction period, the R 107 was only slightly modernized when it came to the facelift. The engines were based on the respective S-Class. Initially there was the 200 hp 350 SL with the V8 engine from W 108/109/111. Only later came the 450 SL / SLC with its 225 hp eight-cylinder and in 1974 the entry-level model of the solid 280 SL with its 185 hp six-cylinder.
The SL was not really revised until 1980. Then the 218 hp 380 SL replaced the 350 and the 500 SL with its 240 hp became the new top model instead of the 450 SL. In addition, some interior details moved from the S-Class (W 126) to the Roadster. The new 500 SL also has the light metal trunk lid with polarizing black plastic rear spoiler from the SLC Coupé with a five-liter engine. With the second major facelift in 1985, there were 15-inch wheels ex works and the new engines of the Mercedes S-Class W 126 series.The base version was henceforth the 188 hp 300 SL with six combustion chambers and, depending on the region, the 420 versions SL, 500 SL and 560 SL. The closed coupé variant of the C 107 had become obsolete in the early 1980s and was replaced by the C 126 and the models 380 SEC, 500 SEC and later the 420 SEC and 560 SEC (only for USA, Japan, Australia).
The SL was mostly sold with an automatic. If you look at today’s offer, you will find many economy equipment in the lists. But without power windows, automatic transmission, leather seats, aluminum rims or air conditioning, the luxury roadster looks like a plucked chicken. The V-8 engines with full equipment are really sought after and therefore of stable value. In addition to the fabric roof, the Mercedes SL Roadster had a complete hardtop, which should also be installed whenever possible during the cold season.
Despite the well-known claims of the brand, the quality is not so good. Rust corrosion affects both the R 17 and the C 107. It gnaws at the body edges at the front, rear and side and on the sills and the underbody. Nevertheless, the Mercedes SL of the R 107 series is a coveted classic. Beautiful models with a complete history and a mileage of 100,000 to 150,000 kilometers cost easily more than 40,000 euros – or even crack the 50,000 mark. Because of the rust problem, re-imports from southern Europe are popular. In addition, there are very high-quality models from Japan on the market that have been cherished and cared for by collectors. The US imports, on the other hand, were often gladly used for a long time, suffering from the sun and decades of neglect.
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