Mercedes-Benz 500 SL
(1980 - 1993)
Car articles about Mercedes-Benz 500 SL by year
Car fans once dreamed of top-of-the-range or super sports cars. Since the turn of the millennium, however, hypercars have been regarded as the ultimate in automotive transportation. But whether they offer real driving pleasure is doubtful. To prove this thesis, this article takes you through the development of the sports car up to the present day and shows many of the cars mentioned in pictures.
Over 35 years ago, Mercedes presented the S-Class of the W 126 series, the superlative saloon that was more aerodynamic, safer and more innovative than all the competition. Only the simple and unusual design initially caused some controversy, but the continuing success and over 800,000 units produced proved that Mercedes was right. This driving report portrays a Mercedes-Benz 500 SE of the first W-126 generation and describes its development and special features.
Eight out of 26 Grand Prix drivers in the 1983 Formula 1 season drove the same car privately, a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC. With automatic transmission and five-liter V8 engine. And not only the racing drivers were enthusiastic about the elegant coupé, the press and customers also recognized the qualities of the four-seater top-class coupé. And even today, almost 40 years later, the 500 SEC is far more than just an old car. This driving report tells the story of the W126 coupé series and shows it in almost 100 illustrations, supplemented by the sales brochure and a sound sample.
Between 1971 and 1989, Mercedes built the R107 and the coupé variant C107 as the 280 SL to 560 SL and 280 SLC to 500 SLC respectively. Commercially, the model series was a great success and the R107 was the longest-built SL ever; the predecessors W198, W113 and the successors were all built over much shorter periods of time. The last examples of the R107 series became classics from the assembly line and today, together with their older brothers, enjoy a large fan community.
Almost 40 years and several model series lie between the first open-top 300 SL and the last. Technically and conceptually, the W 198 and R 129 series are far apart. But both offered pleasurable open-top driving and superior performance, i.e. the same thing, albeit nowadays at a price that differs by a factor of 50. This report compares the first and last bearers of the 300 SL name and shows both in historical and contemporary pictures.
Hardly any other car was as polarizing in the 1990s as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140 series. Too big, too ostentatious, that was the criticism. This criticism has since been silenced, because a W 140 is no bigger than a current Passat. Only much more sophisticated. But how does the top saloon, the 600 SEL from back then, feel today? This driving report focuses on the twelve-cylinder version of the Mercedes-Benz W140 series and portrays it in current and historical pictures.
In 1990, Mercedes presented the 500 E saloon at the Paris Motor Show, a car developed in collaboration with Porsche with an eight-cylinder engine and luxury equipment, which was more expensive than the S-Class at the time. Nevertheless, over 10,000 customers took delivery and enjoyed the family-friendly quasi-sports car. This driving report tells the story of the exceptional 500 E / E 500 model and shows it in over 100 historical and current pictures. And the sound sample is not missing either.
When Mercedes-Benz introduced the 600 SL in 1992, a twelve-cylinder engine was the order of the day in the top class. With 395 hp and six liters of displacement, the 600 SL easily eclipsed the already very agile 500 SL, but also cost the equivalent of a simple detached house. "Luxury is what you don't necessarily need," wrote one tester at the time. This driving report describes the Mercedes-Benz 600 SL, showing it in many photos from then and now, as well as in the sales brochure. Of course, you can also listen to the sound of the engine.
Current market prices for Mercedes-Benz 500 SL
Convertible, 239 PS, 4973 cm3
Convertible, 239 PS, 4973 cm3
Convertible, 223 PS, 4939 cm3
null, 326 PS, 4973 cm3
Convertible, 374 PS, 5956 cm3
null, 320 PS, 4973 cm3
Convertible, 320 PS, 4973 cm3
Coupe, 239 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 239 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 231 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 223 PS, 4939 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 326 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 223 PS, 4939 cm3
Coupe, 231 PS, 4973 cm3
Coupe, 252 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 320 PS, 4973 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 320 PS, 4973 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Mercedes-Benz 500 SL
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL 1991 Sold Coys Graz Sale (October 12, 2013) |
500 SL | 1991 | Sold | Coys Graz Sale (October 12, 2013) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL 2+2 1987 Sold Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2014 Sale (July 5, 2014) |
500 SL 2+2 | 1987 | Sold | Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2014 Sale (July 5, 2014) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL auto 1990 Sold H&H Classics The Imperial War Museum Motor Car Auction (April 24, 2014) |
500 SL auto | 1990 | Sold | H&H Classics The Imperial War Museum Motor Car Auction (April 24, 2014) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL with Hardtop 1984 Sold Bonhams Grand Palais Paris (February 7, 2019) |
500 SL with Hardtop | 1984 | Sold | Bonhams Grand Palais Paris (February 7, 2019) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (107) 1981 Sold Classic Car Auctions UK The Classic Car Sale (June 18, 2016) |
500 SL (107) | 1981 | Sold | Classic Car Auctions UK The Classic Car Sale (June 18, 2016) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL auto hardtop 1987 Not Sold H&H Classics Buxton Auction (February 26, 2014) |
500 SL auto hardtop | 1987 | Not Sold | H&H Classics Buxton Auction (February 26, 2014) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (107) 1988 Sold Artcurial Paris (October 15, 2017) |
500 SL (107) | 1988 | Sold | Artcurial Paris (October 15, 2017) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (107) 1988 Sold Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn Auction (April 9, 2016) |
500 SL (107) | 1988 | Sold | Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn Auction (April 9, 2016) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Roadster 1989 Sold Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco (May 11, 2018) |
500 SL Roadster | 1989 | Sold | Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco (May 11, 2018) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (107) 1984 Sold Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (November 25, 2015) |
500 SL (107) | 1984 | Sold | Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (November 25, 2015) |
Query all auctioned vehicles of Mercedes-Benz 500 SL
Engine sounds of Mercedes-Benz 500 SL vehicles (random selection)
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