MERCEDES-BENZ 107
MASSIVE PRICE INCREASES SAW THE COST OF AN SLTREBLE BETWEEN 1973 AND 1980
By the 1970s, any car-maker seeking success in the prestige arena had to focus on the massive United States market. For Mercedes-Benz that involved building a sporty model with a V8 engine and that car – or sequence of cars – was the W107 Series.
W107s came initially with 3.5 and 4.5-litre V8 engines, in short or long-wheelbase versions and with a look of determined opulence. This was a more conservative design than most M-B shapes but that attribute would help W107 derivatives age slowly and remain in production for longer than other Mercedes-Benz series.
The 350SL Roadster made its Australian appearance in 1971. At $15,400 it was slightly cheaper than the four-door 350SE sedan and a whopping $5000 less than the long-wheelbase 350SLC version.
Cars for Australian sale were delivered with factory airconditioning and power steering but Roadster owners missed out on the SLC’s electric windows. A hefty addition to the options list was the SL hardtop which came with a pulley system and special storage frame.
Buyers who chose the bigger-engined 450SL would have struggled to notice any performance advantage. Early cars were rated at 167kW but almost immediately the bigger engine’s potential for more power was sapped by various emission-control measures, leaving it with similar output to the 3.5 but slightly more torque.
Massive price increases saw the cost of an SL treble between 1973 and 1980, yet there seemed no lack of customers as each new version came along. Late in 1980 arrived an SL that has remained popular and is now gaining significantly in value. The 3.8-litre 380SL produced less power than the 450, however when hooked to a new four-speed automatic transmission the engine delivered faster response and better fuel economy.
Performance, considering the weight an SL typically carries, was fair enough with 0-100km/h from two-seaters coming in under nine seconds and the heavier SLCs 1.5 seconds slower.
Last of the 107 Series cars was the 560SL. It arrived in 1986 and output was rated at a conservative 182kW, however there was a significant 30 per cent gain in torque over the 3.8-litre.
Some people love the durability of MB-Tex upholstery, while others describe SL seats as resembling an expensive cafeteria chair. Maybe M-B didn’t want its drivers dozing off on long journeys but do give yourself enough time during the test-drive to make an informed judgement.
While prices for 1980s SLs look unlikely to reach original levels (new in 1989 a 560SL cost $183,600), 107 Series values have been climbing steadily and top-quality cars are nudging past $100,000.
The ancient saying; ‘If you need to ask about fuel consumption you can’t afford the car’ certainly rings true for big-engined Benzes. However fuel cost is less relevant now than when these cars were new. 107 Series cars also qualify throughout Australia for Historic or Concessional registration.
Once you decide on a possible car to buy, engage a specialist Mercedes-Benz technician to provide a pre-purchase report. Problems that are might be trivial in other brands can cost significant sums to rectify.