The magic of the classic Mercedes SL lives on in the cars, owners and restorers

Telegraph

5 days ago

It's the holy grail when buying a classic car: You want something beautiful, with design elements that perpetuate the same language of good breeding as a Cartier Tank watch might, but it's even more difficult to find one that strings this cachet so convincingly enough over multiple generations.
Few marques have managed to maintain an existential design lineage from the 1950s without looking like new money. Amid the endless choice lurks a car of one that somehow manages all of these prerequisites with considered nonchalance – the classic Mercedes-Benz SL. As dignified as a butler and cooler than something new from Italy which ends in 'i'.
If you have been slowly allured by the house of SL only one question comes to mind: which one should you buy?
The SL story started with the W121 series from 1954 to 1963, a road-going version of Mercedes' fabulous 300 SL racing car. But those rare and ultra-desirable SLs (in 'gullwing' coupé and later roadster forms) have long been beyond the reach of mere mortals, so instead we're concentrating on the W113 (nicknamed the Pagoda, due to the distinctive shape of its roof), produced from 1963-1971. We will also consider the R107 (1971-1989) and R129 models (1989-2001).
These were followed by the R230 series (2000-2011), R231 (2011-2020) and current R232, which debuted in 2022. However, these are too recent for the scope of a classic car article.
Sam Bailey of the SL Shop has been a global authority on classic SLs since 2006. So, who is the typical classic SL customer? 'It has changed in recent years. Pre-Covid, it was predominantly a classic car enthusiast with the time and money to buy one,' he says. 'Either to bring back memories or hopefully to have the vehicle as an appreciating asset.' Now, Bailey is seeing a younger generation buying SLs. Often these customers are disillusioned with the latest Ferrari or Porsche GT3. Bailey points to the 'Pagoda' W113 or the R107 models as the better choice.
Easier to live with
'It's a lower price point to start with a R107. They are also easier to live with; you're more likely to have trouble-free long-distance touring in 107 than in a Pagoda, as it is another 20 years older,' Bailey says.
However, the chances of a Pagoda needing a little bit more maintenance are likely, he cautions, and will cost a bit more than a 107. 'They're both great cars, but serve slightly different purposes. The 107 is [mechanically] bulletproof.'
Does he see the later R129 SL as more of a risk to a buyer? 'Very much so,' he says. 'There are throttle body and ECU [the engine's electronic control unit] issues to the point that we've taken on a full-time in-house ECU repairer. He only looks at electronic modules on R129s because dry joints within cause us challenges.'
Corrosion is a problem, too. 'They have been a low-value classic car for quite a while and might have been through multiple owners and not had the correct servicing. Part of the SL appeal is that old Mercedes-Benz cars are so substantial that they can withstand abuse until one day they bite and become expensive.'
Signs of neglect
What is the best way to sniff out a good R107? Almost automatically, Bailey lists the tell-tale signs of neglect. 'Multiple owners; lack of history. It's one thing getting a stamp in a service book but it's another entirely changing bushes and engine mounts when they need changing – it is evidence of correct maintenance,' he says.
Trust your nose as well. 'You can tell if a car has been stored outside or inside. If you open the door and it smells damp, walk away as it is likely it has corrosion in multiple places.'
Bruce Greetham is another Mercedes SL expert. Which SL would he pick? 'For me I think it would be R107. They seem to fit the bill for most people; young and old, male and female,' he says. 'Even though they look like a '70s and '80s design of car, it still drives reasonably modern, especially towards the production between 1986 to 1989, where you've got the 300s, 420s and 500s.'
It's possible, says Greetham, to drive long distances. He wouldn't hesitate to drive one to the South of France, for example. He adds it's possible to use them as a daily car, too. 'It's only because values have risen that people are hesitant to leave one in a place that's not secure.' Expect to pay around £40,000 to buy a good R107.
The later cars
If your budget is tight, then the later Bruno Sacco-designed R129 remains an option. Produced between 1989 and 2001, the car was significantly more advanced, with safety features like a pop-up roll-over safety bar that activates automatically. At the time, the powered hydraulic fabric convertible top was a marvel for onlookers to watch.
Greetham doesn't discount that R129 SL. 'You're not paying the premium of the R107,' he says. 'There is a huge choice of engines and you have more factory options as standard – electric windows and air-conditioning, for instance. They are a more comfortable, more refined car for daily use.'
He, like all SL pros, insists on a full expert inspection though, and verification of provenance and history is also paramount. It is the only way to avoid taking on an SL hiding a history of horrors. Greetham reiterates the utmost need for caution when buying: 'They are proper finger-burning territory. You've got to buy with caution; very quickly that £15,000 SL will become £30,000 to put back on the road properly.'
Top tips for correct servicing include using genuine parts, like oil filters. The Bosch injection system of the very early cars was complicated and didn't like stop-start urban traffic. The later cars from 1986 to 1989, particularly the 300, are very durable. When buying with sensible mileage – around 100,000 miles – they should go on forever.
The owner's view
One SL owner delighted in sharing his joy of owning a string of SLs. 'I had a W113 Pagoda, two R107s and the R129 SL60 AMG,' says Alan Torbet. 'The Pagoda is much more expensive, but always attracts positive interest. And it is a piece of automotive engineering that borders on art.'
If there is a budget consideration, then Torbet puts his money on the R107 as well – this time a 300. 'However, the R129 featured increased complexity and Mercedes was concerned with regulations and recycling [fitting] the wiring loom, which was biodegradable. There is a lot more to go wrong.'
But with the expert evaluation Torbet is quick not to write off the R129 SL. 'Given you buy the right car from the right person, you are getting a huge amount of car and value for money,' he adds.
Having owned an SL60, which is considered the flagship R129 SL, Torbet says the level of Mercedes engineering at the time bordered on commercial insanity. 'The SL60 came out of the factory as an SL500 and was transported up the road to the AMG plant, dismantled, the engine worked by AMG to up to six litres, along with the bodywork being subtly recrafted.'
So, which one will you choose?