Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Is the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL beating the Fiat 2300 S?

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on August 26, 1964

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Simon Clay - Courtesy RM Auctions

3

Bruno von Rotz

3

Archiv Daimler AG

2

Archiv

23

Simon Clay - Courtesy RM Auctions

3

Bruno von Rotz

3

Archiv Daimler AG

2

Archiv

23

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - Ausschnitt vom Titelblatt im Kampf gegen den Fiat 2300 S

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - auf dem Titelblatt im Kampf gegen den Fiat 2300 S

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - moderner Motor, übersichtliche Instrumente und ein Kofferraum für zwei Personen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1964) - Hochleistungsmotor, schöne Instrumente und genug Kofferraum für vier Personen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - angeboten als Lot 116 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in London am 31. Oktober 2012

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - angeboten als Lot 116 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in London am 31. Oktober 2012

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1966) - Elegantes Coupé von Ghia

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - angeboten als Lot 116 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in London am 31. Oktober 2012

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1963) - Serien-Interieur ohne die zusätzlichen Lüftungsschlitze hinter der Frontscheibe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 230 SL (1963) - bequemer Einstieg, relativ viel Bewegungsfreiheit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 230 SL (1963) - modernes Interieur, Armaturenbrett und Lenkrad mit Pralltopf

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1966) - vollständig bestütcktes Armaturenbrett

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1962) - Einstieg

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S Coupé Ghia (1962) - Innenverkleidung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - mit aufgesetztem Hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - für Geniesser

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - mit wettersicherem Verdeck

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1962) - auf Testfahrt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1967) - auch nach mehreren Jahren Produktion optisch immer noch überzeugend

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1963) - Sechszylinder-Reihenmotor mit Einspritzung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1966) - schön präsentierter Reihensechszylinder

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1963) - dank guter Heizung kann man selbst im Schnee offen fahren

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1963) - Durchsichtszeichnung - Silhouettenanischt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1963) - in unüblicher Umgebung im Schnee

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1965) - bei Testfahrten im Winter

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1966) - passte stilistisch gut nach Südeuropa

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (1964) - Durchfahrt der Seitenwindanlage auf dem Versuchsgelände Stuttgart-Untertürkheim im Jahr 1964

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1966) - das schön geformete Coupé im Kurztest

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S Coupé (1963) - Webster (Standard Triumph), Ware und Caine (beide Rootes-Ingenieure) betrachten den schnellen Fiat prüfend

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S Coupé (1967) - Coupé der zweiten Serie, man sieht die Belüftungsklappe hinter den Vorderrädern

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 2300 S (1962) - grosszügiger Kofferraum

You have only

1 out of 31

images seen in high resolution

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, the "dream car" of the sixties from Germany, is pitted against the exotic from Italy, the Fiat 2300 S Coupé. "What does a touring sports car have to offer?" asked the magazine 'hobby' and measured the two incomparables against each other. And the result was far less clear-cut than some fans of one brand or the other might think. This comparative test report reproduces the original wording from 1964 and supplements the pictures from that time with extensive archive material.

This article contains the following chapters

Two real dream cars
Beauty is subjective
Same displacement - different performance
Fever curve of temperament
Comparison of acceleration times
Plus points for Fiat comfort
200 km/h - only theory on our roads
Spoilt for choice ...
Technical data in comparison

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Inexpensive does not necessarily mean cheap, and we would like it to be understood in the true sense of the word when we refer to the Mercedes Benz 230 SL and the Fiat 2300 S as inexpensive touring sports cars. Not only do both cars rank in the top class of sports cars in terms of performance, but they also offer even more: luxury, comfort, good looks and - above all - safety. We had long intended to compare the two representatives of the sports touring car class from Germany and Italy. But something kept getting in the way; sometimes one was unavailable, sometimes the other. Now we were finally able to bring the two cars together, and we are happy to admit that it was a small celebration for us to run the 230 SL against the 2300 S.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Photos of this article

Source: