Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

Features
 | 24 Dec 2024
Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

The R107-generation Mercedes-Benz SL had a 19-year production life, from 1972 to 1989, with nearly 300,000 built.

The 350SL’s 3499cc V8 has Bosch injection and makes 197bhp at 5800rpm, with 211lb ft at 4000rpm.

The transmission is a three-speed auto.

Mercedes claimed 0-62mph in 9.2 secs and a top speed of 127mph.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

This Mercedes-Benz 350SL flies the flag for R107 reliability – it has never missed a beat

Early cars have no electrical refinements, so no air-con, central locking or electric windows; what you do get are four wheels and a big motor.

But it’s easy to maintain, with the added benefit of being road tax- and MoT-exempt.

My 350SL was first registered in February 1972 and appears to have had six previous owners.

It has covered 122,000 miles.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

This Mercedes’ fuel-injected V8 makes 197bhp at 5800rpm

I bought it in 2000, following a train journey from Cambridge to Manchester with only a classic car magazine for entertainment.

The deal was done on the phone: all I needed to know was the car’s length, to the millimetre, because it had to fit a particular space in my garage.

The day I picked it up, my wife and I drove to the Chilterns for my birthday.

The R107 ran beautifully and it continues to do so.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

This Mercedes 350SL has toured Wales and Ireland

It has toured Wales and around the coast of Ireland (clockwise); it has been to Silverstone, the Le Mans Classic and Bicester Heritage.

On the 1500-mile Welsh tour I opened the bonnet only three times: once for scrutineers, once for concours judges and once to check the oil.

On the Irish tour I only opened it twice – no oil check that time.

At some stage the colour was changed from ‘467 Sandbeige’ metallic to British Racing Green, with the traditional colour-coded chrome hubcaps.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

‘I bought the Mercedes in 2000, following a train journey from Cambridge to Manchester with only a classic car magazine for entertainment’

The vinyl dash and door cards are the original two-tone brown and ochre, and the brown leather seats and brown carpets are factory.

As might be expected of a car that was already 28 years old when I bought it, the driver’s seat leather was more than a little patinated.

I didn’t want to spoil the originality by having the seats recovered, so I found a local upholsterer who carefully swapped the front seat covers over.

Now the most worn bit is the inner bolster of the passenger seat, while I sit on that chair’s original cover.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

The Mercedes 350SL’s snug hardtop is refitted in the autumn

The exceptionally smooth ride is aided by a recent suspension and steering overhaul, and the car emits a pleasant V8 burble from the non-catalysed exhaust.

The only modifications are a 12V socket hidden in the glove compartment for a sat-nav, and an ‘Econocruise’ mechanical cruise control (of the type fitted to 1980s Jaguars and Rolls-Royces), which was added in 2004.

This is operated by a genuine Mercedes cruise-control lever (from a later saloon) mounted on the steering column behind the indicator.

It adds to the pleasure of motorway driving and has some effect on fuel consumption – although if you really want economy you don’t buy a 1580kg ’70s V8 sports car.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Mercedes-Benz 350SL

This Mercedes 350SL is mostly original, and a clever seat-cover swap retained the trim’s authentic patina

Music is via a JVC radio-cassette with a discreet display.

When it was fitted, the mechanic suggested that I changed the speakers, too, because the new system would blow the original paper-cone ones “straight out of the dashboard”.

A few small patches of rust in the floorpan and sills have been dealt with, and the underside has been undersealed and Waxoyled twice.

Every year a local mechanic changes the oil and filter and gives the car a good going-over to make sure there are no issues.

A full ‘health check’ at The SL Shop in 2015 showed it to be very sound.

The hardtop comes off at Easter and goes back on in September, and I use the car all year round.

The plan is to keep the Mercedes for as long as I can still enjoy it, after celebrating the car’s 50th birthday in February 2022.

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Factfile

  • Owned by Jo Davies
  • First classic 1971 VW Beetle 1200
  • Dream classic 1980s Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

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