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The Mercedes-Benz 350 SL for special applications

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Created on March 9, 2016

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daimler AG

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Bonhams

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Archiv

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Daimler AG

25

Bonhams

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Archiv

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - with the hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - the R107 was built like this for almost 20 years

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - straightforward design

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - elegance of the seventies

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - with the forged rims at extra cost

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - View into the cockpit

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - the interior with the foam-filled safety steering wheel

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - just over 17,000 km after more than 40 years

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - the V8 3.5-liter fills the engine compartment well

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - Shortwave radio in the glove compartment

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - I wonder if the first-aid kit was needed at some point?

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - Full-size spare wheel

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - Design drawings

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - final test laps with mild camouflage on the Hockenheimring before the presentation

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - the characteristic shape of the hardtop is clearly visible from the front

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - rear view with the characteristic trunk lid shape

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - significantly more imposing front compared to its predecessor, the 280 SL Pagoda

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - front view

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1972) - early model, without headrests

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - the convertible with attached coupé roof

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - most beautiful open, here with the forged aluminum rims

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - with attached hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1975) - the 280 SL and 450 SL variants are also identical

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1975) - with the classic rear lights

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Mercedes-Benz 380 SL (1984) - Transparency drawing

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - large steering wheel from the C111, clearly arranged dashboard

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - View into the cockpit

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1976) - Steering wheel with large impact absorber

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - with many safety attributes

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - dual-filament halogen lamps are used as standard in Germany; in other countries approval is imminent in 1971

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - development/design of the radiator - radiators from different eras were set up here for comparison - 300 S 1952, 220 1954, 190 1963 and 200 1970

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - Door jambs with greater strength and integrated wind deflectors to reduce soiling of the side windows

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - with hardtop painted in body color

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - spacious, albeit shallow trunk

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - the V8 engine completely filled the engine compartment

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - the V-shaped eight-cylinder engine fills the engine compartment, but is easily accessible for maintenance work

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - the forged light-alloy wheels with lifter blades cost 1550 francs - reducing the weight of the unsprung masses by around 20 kg

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - nameplate indicates the V8 engine

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - on the beach

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1976) - elegant and timeless design

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1972) - idyllic sunset scene

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1972) - with steel wheels and hubcaps as standard

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1975) - on the road on Sylt, Westerland

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1973) - together with SSK and 280 SL (R113) Pagoda

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1975) - together with SSK, 300 SL Gullwing and 190 SL at the Hockenheimring

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - between the ancestors 500 K (W107) and 300 SL (W198)

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1982) - the three model variants, on the right the 500 SL

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (1971) - with and without folding roof and with hardtop

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (1987) - the last incarnation of the R107

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Summary

The R107 was a great success for Mercedes-Benz in 1971, and the comfortable touring sports car was ultimately produced until 1989. More comfort and more safety were at the top of the engineers' list of priorities. These qualities also convinced a certain Nicolae Ceaușescu, the supreme ruler of Romania at the time. This very car will now be auctioned in Stuttgart on March 19, 2016. This report describes the characteristics of the first R107 models and shows the Ceaușescu-350 SL in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Designed for safety
Not an ecomobile
Quieter and more comfortable
A good choice
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In April 1971, Mercedes-Benz presented a new touring sports car that was to follow in the footsteps of the popular 280 SL, known as the Pagoda. The new model was significantly larger, with a 6 cm longer wheelbase, 8.5 cm longer and 3 cm wider. The additional weight of almost 200 kg was compensated for by a now 3.5-liter V8 engine, which could be shifted with a four-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, as in its predecessor. Back then, the technology was mainly based on the Stroke Eight, at least the front and rear suspensions came from there. The lines had been stretched, the radiator in particular appeared significantly wider and the whole car was flatter. Horizontally arranged rectangular headlights were used at the front, while the rear lights were fitted with ribbed glass to effectively reduce soiling.

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