MERCEDES - 500 SL Lot n° 11

The car of TV series The model The new SL has become the symbol of success and showbiz. It was featured in the pages of celebrity magazines and, above all, in international soap operas such as Dallas and Pour l'amour du risque. Ownership of the SL in those days flattered your ego and allowed you to flaunt your affluence. In the Mercedes range, the SL represents a kind of culmination of the brand's know-how. With the 300 SL, 190 SL and Pagode as ancestors, the legacy is a heavy one. The R107 generation appeared in 1971, with a new design. The "Pagoda" roof was not retained, and the front did not feature the usual headlights. Nevertheless, the clean, beautiful lines ensured a long service life. The hard-top is completely removable, giving the car a well-balanced, practical look that the competition doesn't offer. On the technical side, as the car had to appeal mainly to Americans, V8s were offered in several displacements over the course of its career. The initial V8 (350 SL) was followed by a 4.2-liter on the 450 SL in 1973 (225 hp, but only 195 for the USA), then an entry-level in-line 6-cylinder in 1974 on the 280 SL. In 1980, new engines appeared: V8 3.8 218 hp or 157 hp for the USA (380 SL, replacing the 350 CL), and 5-liter and 225 hp (500 SL). The emphasis is on torque and driving comfort rather than performance. There are 3 and 4-speed automatic gearboxes, and 4 and 5-speed manual gearboxes depending on the generation. During its 18-year career, this generation sold almost 240,000 units, of which nearly 60% were sold in the USA. It was re-styled in 1985. The example The car for sale is a Mercedes 500 SL 2+2 R107 from April 1988, with 171,000 km on the clock. It was delivered new in Germany. Its 5L V8 90° engine, positioned longitudinally in front, develops 225 HP, mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle's bodywork presents itself well, with a glossy anthracite-grey metallic full covering. The vehicle was originally painted in black 040-type varnish. The vehicle's chromework looks very good, with a high gloss finish. The soft top is functional. The interior is in good condition, with clean leather seats and no major defects. The dashboard looks good. The underpinnings are in good condition and show no signs of rust. The engine and accessories are visually in good condition and present well. The vehicle runs very well. A few traces of surface corrosion are visible on the exhaust. The current owner has changed the engine oil, filters and battery. The starter motor has been changed, as has the fuel pump, all Bosch brand. The front brake calipers have been rebuilt, the discs are new, the front brake pads are new and so is the sun visor. The driveshaft is also new. This vehicle is in good condition, both cosmetically and mechanically. This vehicle has been visually inspected by an independent specialist. The report is available on request. The car of TV series The model This new SL has become the symbol of success and showbiz. It appeared in the pages of celebrity magazines and, above all, in international hit series such as Dallas and For the Love of Risk. In those days, owning the SL flattered your ego and allowed you to flaunt your affluence. In the Mercedes range, the SL represents the culmination of the brand's expertise. With the 300 SL, 190 SL and Pagode as its ancestors, the legacy is a heavy one to bear. The type R 107 generation appeared in 1971 with a new design. The 'Pagoda' roof was not retained, and the front did not have the usual headlights. Nevertheless, the lines were beautiful and pure, which ensured a long life. The hard top is completely removable, giving the car a well-balanced, practical look that the competition does not offer. On the technical side, as the car had to appeal mainly to Americans, V8s were fitted in several displacements over the course of its career. The initial V8 (350 SL) was followed by a 4.2-liter on the 450 SL in 1973 (225 bhp, but only 195 for the USA), then an entry-level in-line 6-cylinder in 1974 on the 280 SL. In 1980, new engines appeared: V8 3.8 218 bhp or 157 bhp for the USA (380 SL replacing the 350 CL), and 5 liters and 225 bhp (500 SL). The emphasis was on torque and driving comfort rather than performance. There are 3 and 4-speed automatic gearboxes, and 4 and 5-speed manual gearboxes depending on the generation. During its 18-year career, this generation sold almost 240,000 units, nearly 60% of them i