I've been reading the Scotty Kilmer thread with some interest and noticed it occasionally strayed into appearance and eye appeal discussion. That made we wonder just what SL's, starting from 1952 and the introduction of the 300SL Gull Wing right through to today's R231 people thought the most appealing. Forget about value, rarity, performance and that stuff. What SL's, when just parked on the street, maybe at a car show or even just driving past, cause people to stop and ogle, even drool? Bear in mind that latter day SL's (since 1990 anyway) seem to appear in a preponderance of darker colours which may tend to make their predecessors more attractive. My list of head turners starts with 1957's W198 300SL roadster, followed by the W121 190SL from 1954 and then the original Gull Wing. After that the R107. Many will dispute this preferring the W113 Pagoda, and it was indeed a very pretty car, and In fact would follow the 107 for me, however the 107 just seems to have more presence, hence my choice. I'm afraid the R129, fine car though it undoubtedly is, just doesn't have any outstanding characteristics to make it more than just a nice looking sports car and I'd put it behind the R230 and even the R231 both of which have, if not the appeal of earlier models, at least modern flair..
So what is the most eye catching SL?
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1985 500SL. Previous cars-190SL, 230S, 250SE, (2) 300SDs
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My choices would be the Gullwing, The 190SL,and followed closely by the European 1955
500SL
500SL
1983 380SL, ivory/dk brown, 46k miles, dual roller timing chain. 1986 560SL, red/white, 190K mile.
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The only thing I like about the 300SL Gull Wing is the gull wing doors. I do like the 190SL and the Pagoda, but my absolute favorites are the R107's and R129's. Could give a rats ass for anything after the R129's.
So my absolute favorites are a red or black R107 500SL in Euro, and a red, black, or white 1998 R129 SL500.
So my absolute favorites are a red or black R107 500SL in Euro, and a red, black, or white 1998 R129 SL500.
I look at it every day!
450slc5.0cab 280sl5sp 280se4.5 500seAMG +250seStkW108 350sl4spdX3 500secEuro 300sel5spd R+C107galore
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Huh? White 1998 r129?
The 1996-98 r129 are the last of the m119 with the desirable electronic transmission, but I think the exterior styling of the later models wasn't as nice as the more aggressive, slightly-less-jellybean, early r129 cars. The interiors of the later models are certainly nicer with more wood and seat patterns I like more too.
For me?
- gullwing
- 300sl
- 190sl
- pagoda
- euro 107 with 86-89 front lip
- 5.0/1980+ euro SLC
- early US small bumper r107
Couldn't really care beyond that too much.
The first SL that I can remember which really caught my eye was a Pagoda in the mid 60's that belonged to the uncle of a girl I was dating, and I thought, "Wow", that's the kind of car I'd like to own one day.
The first SL I ever owned, however was a 1960 purchased in 1984; one of a pair owned by some guy in CT that my father and I found and we each bought one. His was a 1963. I enjoyed it very much for the 8-10 years I owned it, but it spent too much time in the garage waiting for me to get around to giving it some TLC. Sadly, that never really happened so I sold it to have more room in the garage.
Of course, then there's the 300. The Gullwing doors were the attention-getter, but I preferred the roadster.
...and then there's my 107.
As far as eye appeal, I'd rank them this way:
1. 300
2. 190
3. the Pagoda
4. the 107
The first SL I ever owned, however was a 1960 purchased in 1984; one of a pair owned by some guy in CT that my father and I found and we each bought one. His was a 1963. I enjoyed it very much for the 8-10 years I owned it, but it spent too much time in the garage waiting for me to get around to giving it some TLC. Sadly, that never really happened so I sold it to have more room in the garage.
Of course, then there's the 300. The Gullwing doors were the attention-getter, but I preferred the roadster.
...and then there's my 107.
As far as eye appeal, I'd rank them this way:
1. 300
2. 190
3. the Pagoda
4. the 107
1983 380SL, ivory/dk brown, 46k miles, dual roller timing chain. 1986 560SL, red/white, 190K mile.
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Didn't Mercedes made the 1998 in white ?
1983 380SL, ivory/dk brown, 46k miles, dual roller timing chain. 1986 560SL, red/white, 190K mile.
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Is Samson the only V12 R107 ... any other attempts?
And it's green!!
I like the 107... I love the real 107 AMG but they are as rare as rocking horse droppings.
I'm not sure that's exactly the same reaction I had with the uncle standing there, but your point was made!
Well, for me it's a 1952 300sl competition coupe, like this one that I was lucky to see at Amelia Island Concours D'élégance a few years ago. Absolutely beautiful in so many ways. Another thing was that it was just parked there
in a line of cars as if it was not worth untold giga-millions of dollars. The owner or caretaker nowhere in sight!
It actually made seeing it even better. Droves of people just walked by, not "seeing" it. Later on, on the show field it was a different story.
W194 was the first car to carry the SL (sport, Leicht = light as in weight) designation. This is the 1952 Le Mans winning car which impressed Max Hoffman so much he persuaded Mercedes to build a customer version. If that had not happened there may not have been a SL designation for Mercedes sports car, since after these first ones they were no longer that light. Who knows what our cars would have been called. 560GT? 450Si? 380Sport? 500 Stuttgart?
One of only two cars in private ownership. And the same man owns the other one as well. (Of course)
Google Bruce McCaw car collection.
in a line of cars as if it was not worth untold giga-millions of dollars. The owner or caretaker nowhere in sight!
It actually made seeing it even better. Droves of people just walked by, not "seeing" it. Later on, on the show field it was a different story.
W194 was the first car to carry the SL (sport, Leicht = light as in weight) designation. This is the 1952 Le Mans winning car which impressed Max Hoffman so much he persuaded Mercedes to build a customer version. If that had not happened there may not have been a SL designation for Mercedes sports car, since after these first ones they were no longer that light. Who knows what our cars would have been called. 560GT? 450Si? 380Sport? 500 Stuttgart?
One of only two cars in private ownership. And the same man owns the other one as well. (Of course)
Google Bruce McCaw car collection.
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No other attempts I'm aware of. I do know of 2 126 SEC's with the M120. Delilah may soon be getting an M113 or possibly an other M120.
I always favored the 107 over the 113, but definitely find the uniqueness and rarity of the 113 make it more appealing. Same for the 190 except for its lameness in power.
I would probably find myself with the gall to put an M120 into an R190 and make the perfect SL.
Will you donate the 190.
I'm doing some work on a SL600 right now. Lots of real cool shit and 475 HP, but not quite the lines of the 107.
Here's how I would rank them:
300SL Roadster
190SL
300SL Gullwing
All of the above are just beautiful, and unobtainable.
Any 113
Non-US 107
Almost a tie, but since 113's are now achieving silly prices, they seem more appealing.
US spec 107's
And a distant last- any post '89 SL I find none of them interesting visually.
300SL Roadster
190SL
300SL Gullwing
All of the above are just beautiful, and unobtainable.
Any 113
Non-US 107
Almost a tie, but since 113's are now achieving silly prices, they seem more appealing.
US spec 107's
And a distant last- any post '89 SL I find none of them interesting visually.
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