Fridae

The Mercedes Benz SL has always been the pinnacle of open top motoring. No other car would come close to the cult status enjoyed by the Mercedes Benz SL range. Its seamless blend of high performance and elegant style has won the hearts of numerous fashion conscious drivers all over the world. Fridae Auto Club explores each of the five incarnations of the dazzling SL models that has wowed hair-in-the-wind motorists for over 50 years.

Batman and Robin's first car
Model: 300 SL Gullwing Coupe
Production years: 1954 to 1957
Numbers Sold: 1400

The SL was unveiled in 1954 at the International Motor Sports Show in New York to much fanfare as a coupe with its famous Gullwing doors. It was the first in the world to feature a gasoline injection engine rated at 215 horsepowers. Despite its elegant outlook, the 300 SL had a nickname; the "Widowmaker" as many young men were killed crashing their 300 SL. The combination of tubular grid-type frame and gullwing door made access into the SL difficult, as many would joke that ladies in dresses would need a Japanese screen to be set up. Cleverly Mercedes has created the tilt away steering wheel to help ease entry to the coupe.

Model: 190/300 SL Roadster
Production Years: 1955 to 1963
Numbers Sold: 25,881 (190 SL)/1858 (300 SL)

Despite the SL tag with the Gullwing coupe, the 190 SL launched alongside had other ideas of fun; cruising! It sublime looks are complemented by a 1.9-litre 105 horsepower engine with a 4-speed manual gearbox. The 190 SL was essentially a convertible; the optional hardtop required unbolting the hood frame, not exactly a glamorous task. The 300 SL's 3.0-litre engine came from the Gullwing Coupe remains powerful despite a 100 kg penalty. This pair are the loveliest roadsters one can sit in today as they command sky high prices among vintage Mercedes Benz models. Restoration work has to be carried out only by specialists as the SL uses aluminum doors, bonnet and bootlid. Interior fittings are particularly tricky to repair despite its simplicity. For example, the glovebox mounted clock.

Pagoda/Grace Kelly (W113)
Model: 230 SL/ 250 SL/ 280 SL
Production years: 1963 to 1971
Numbers Sold: 48,912

The successor to Gullwing was also a design masterpiece with its crisp lines lending the car a slender and elegant appearance. The pagoda reference to the W113 SL came about from a removable hardtop which dips inwards in the middle. Despite the glamorous outlook, the W113 SL was developed with safety as a priority. The unusual hardtop is said to offer high levels of occupant safety without compromising headroom. Three engines were available on the second SL incarnation, with a 280 SL automatic being the most sought after for its higher performance. The celebrity endorsement for the W113 SL is highlighted by Grace Kelly owning one and cruising around town with her Hermes scarf flowing along her porcelain-like face. Its street cred and desirability is simply unmatched! Kate Moss, George Michael and Geri Halliwell are among current W113 SL drivers. Punters of the W113 SL (Grace Kelly SL) loved its low waistline and big wheels, an effortlessly stylish Mercedes that has never gone out of fashion!

Pagoda II (R107)
Models: 350 SL/ 450 SL (1971 to 1980)
280 SL (1971 to 1985)
380 SL/ 500 SL (1980 to 1989)
300 SL/ 420 SL/ 560 SL (1985 to 1989)
Production years: 1971 to 1989
Numbers Sold: 237,287

The R107 SL is certainly an enduring classic as it remained relevant throughout its long 18-year sale. Its long production run was made even more miraculous given that there was a debacle in the America with regards to the safety of open top cars. The front end followed closely the lines of the previous Pagoda SL while the rear was adopted from the W124 sedan (an old generation E-Class). The end result is a stunningly beautiful car with handsome proportions that made it look still wonderful today. 8-cylinder engine models were available for the first time on SL cars. The confident looking pagoda II was developed clearly for cruising with its soft and absorbent suspension mated with cushy huge seats that lacks support. The tiny rear seats on the R107 SL are usually used to hold their handbags and shopping. Collectors loved the R107 SL as this is the last SL that had a simple and uncluttered interior. Almost every R107 SL that left the factory came with the optional hardtop. Princesses, be warned that the hardtop would require 2 able bodies to remove it. Pristine late models could still be used as a great everyday car with the classic 70's and 80's symbolic looks locked into an immaculately built car.

Modern Marvel (R129)
Models: 300 SL/ 300 SL-24/ 500 SL (1989 to 1993)
600 SL (1992 to 2001)
SL 280/ SL 320 (1993 to 1998)
SL 280/ SL 320/ SL 500 (1998 to 2001)
Production years: 1989 to 2001
Numbers sold: 205,000

The forth of the SL range could be a bargain as a second hand buy now. Prices should be low now as it is still too young to be considered a classic and the new shape has been around only for seven years. This is the last of the 'coach-built' Mercedes Benz SL. Build quality is exemplary and mechanics are still very sound. The R129 SL embarked a brave new modern front treatment and had very muscular lines; some loyal SL fans complained a lack of visual link from the previous model. The 'modern marvel' has brought us rollover bars that are concealed creating a smooth and uninterrupted silhouette. These rollover bars will be activated in an event of an accident or at the push of a button. Also, this car had the world's first automatic fabric roof. Strangely, the R129 SL is one of Mercedes least loved roadsters.

Technical battleship (R 230)
Models: SL 350 (2002 to 2006 with 245bhp, from 2006 with 272bhp)
SL 500 (2001 to 2006 with 308bhp, from 2006 with 388bhp)
SL 55 AMG (2001 to 2006 with 500bhp, from 2006 with 517bhp)
SL 600 (2003 to 2006 with 500bhp, from 2006 with 517bhp)
SL 65 AMG (from 2004 to 612bhp)
Production years: 2001 '

The fifth and latest incarnation of the SL model has caused plenty of sensation with its folding metal roof (called the vario roof) following the lead on the popularity of the more compact SLK. The R230 SL promises the style of its glorious fore-models and newfound levels of driving pleasures. The folding roof meant the days of the removal hardtop is finally over. The SL 55 AMG is particularly popular among petrol-heads for its thunderous supercharged 8-cylinder throaty grunt. The R230 SL has certainly re-found its styling mojo. It has been voted car of the year in 2002 among gay and lesbians in Europe. A heavily face-lifted Mercedes Benz R230 SL has recently broke cover and is slated to arrive to our shores in the last quarter of the year.

*Just for laughs!
Close friends and mega superstars Geri Halliwell and George Micheal are both W113 SL/Grace Kelly drivers. George actually bought Geri one SL to stop her from damaging/crashing his own beloved SL in Monaco. Allegedly Geri is such a terrible driver. Her infamous 'incidents' portfolio with all her cars could be longer than this article!