Mercedes masterpieces under cover at the Mercedes Factory facility. Is that a 280SL embedded among the 300SLs?

31st Annual Convention of the German 300SL Club
May 13 – 16, 2010
Dresden / Germany

May in Germany can be sunny and warm, as we have experienced at prior conventions. This year it seemed like the typical April weather continued into May: it was rather cold and rainy.

Dresden is called again “Elb-Florenz” (which means: it has the flair of Italy’s Florence on the Elbe River). After Dresden was totally destroyed at the end of WWII reconstruction was very slow during the Russian occupation thereafter. Only after the German reunification in 1989 did the real effort begin to restore the city to its former glory. Today Dresden with its many castles along the Elbe River, is a major tourist attraction, being one of the most beautiful cities in Germany.

SLR roadster and ivory Gullwing front grand Trachtenbergpalais Kempinski Hotel located in the heart of Dresden.

The convention was well attended: 216 member brought eighty-three 300SL’s to the luxurious Trachtenbergpalais Kempinski Hotel located in the heart of Dresden, next to the famous Zwinger, the Semper Opera and the Frauenkirche.

Thursday May 13
Arriving members met at the vast Mercedes factory store, an impressive facility even by Mercedes standards. After check-in at the hotel, the convention kicked off with a dinner cruise on the Elbe River onboard the MS “August der Starke”, along numerous castles and villas lining the shores.

Grey, wet weather greets the group.

Friday May 14
The day of the rally was leading us to the Bastei in the Saechsische Schweiz (the Sandstone Mountains in the so-called Switzerland of Saxony) high above the Elbe River. Despite the rain and fog nobody missed the guided tour of this famous area with its stunning rock formations.

Breathtaking view high above the fog shrouded Elbe river.

After a buffet lunch at the Bastei Hotel the rally continued through the beautiful countryside, with a stop at a member’s industrial bakery, where a five foot round “Mercedes” cake was waiting for us. Back to the hotel to get ready for the bus transfer to the beautifully restored Albrechtsberg Castle, for an evening of entertainment, followed by a delicious dinner in the royal ballroom of the castle.

Saturday May 15
The morning offered a guided walking tour through the inner city, followed by the opportunity to attend an organ concert at the beautifully restored Frauenkirche.

A few of the 83 300SLs lined up at a small airfield awaiting a stunt plane demonstration.

At 1 PM a long convoy of SL’s found its way to the nearby Aviation Museum in Grossenhain, for a great buffet lunch. The afternoon was free to take sightseeing flights in historic open double-deckers. The rain stopped just in time to enjoy a flight show by a daredevil stunt pilot. The evening was reserved for the gala dinner at the hotel.

A serious performer closed up against the elements: $1m Stirling Moss Edition SLR rests in the courtyard of the Trachtenbergpalais Kempinski Hotel. What a glorious piece of automotive sculpture!

Sunday May 16
After a farewell breakfast the skies cleared up, which was a welcome site for the members and their cars on the long drive home. We headed for Nuremberg on the Autobahn, where the rented S Class Diesel felt at home, effortless reaching 150mph, traffic permitting.

Gullwings and Roadsters touring Germany.

We do not understand why Mercedes does not make this wonderful model available in the US. The torque and economy of the diesel engine combined with the comfort of the S Class is an unbeatable combination. Yes, there is the S400 Hybrid, but the premium you pay for a diesel vehicle is paid back by lower fuel cost in a shorter time than required for hybrid vehicles.

When was the last time you saw a non-metallic green 300SL of any type? The bumperless red GW looks like its spent some time on the track - note the yellow tow loop next to the number plate.

Our thanks to the organizers for another great convention, which despite the weather could not dampen the spirit of this wonderful group of people. We are looking forward to next year’s convention to be held May 26-29, 2011 in the historic city of Wuerzburg/Germany.

Eckart A. Scheffler, MercedesHeritage.com editor at large
Croton-on-Hudson NY

Please post your comments below.

Luis Pacheco's Anthracite 6.3 just might be the most original example in the US with but 21k miles showing.

Extraordinary 21k mile 6.3 Survivor

If you’re a Mercedes 108/109 series enthusiast, you’ve probably mused over the experience of somehow driving a new 300SEL 6.3. Most of the cars offered today offer handling and refinement characteristics generally removed from what the cars felt like when new, even nicely restored cars. What did a new 6.3 feel and look like?

The Mercedes Museum probably has a superb example but here is a car you can buy today, Luis Pacheco’s mind boggling 1970 6.3. It is literally “in the wrapper” and retains its original fitted luggage. Amazing! Everything seems to be in order: decals, luggage, handbooks, tool roll, perfect original wood and leather.

Restored? Nope, just mint original with every decal/label in place as original.

We've never seen luggage for a 108/109 sedan. This set is as new and never used!

Here are some details about this spectacular 6.3

• 172G Anthracite
• Original mint condition Parchment leather
• 21,000 documented miles
• Sunroof
• Perfect tool kit
• Unused original spare
• Service history from virtually new
• All owner’s manuals
• Mint Macasser Ebony wood
• Not Cheap!

There is much more to say about this car and Luis would be happy to discuss it with you. Click this link to view the listing and contact the seller.

Advertisement

Advertisement

__________________________________

The Gullwing had an opportunity to return via the C112 program of the early '90s. But this car ultimately served only as a test bed for many technical advances that would be embodied within future Mercedes.

C112 Pioneered Advanced Chassis Technology

The Mercedes-Benz display at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show contained a mid-engined Gullwing coupe engineering exercise that contained many systems that would find their way into future models.

Designated C112, this sober design represented the next step in Mercedes’ technology development using a mid-engined platform. Its numeric predecessor, the fabled Wankel – and for world record attempts, turbo diesel – engined C111 program teased us with the prospect of a 400hp, four rotor Wankel gullwing Supercar. Begun in the late ’60s the exciting C111 project became essentially a dead end when the factory dropped Wankel engine development. However, technology developed and tested on the C112 proved to be more relevant for future road cars and we rely on many of these technical advances today.

The C112's sober and clean shape eschewed the 'tack-on' styling gimmicks so often found on future - and current - generations of Supercars. Front spoiler was automatically adjustable in concert with rear spoiler depending on the C112's speed. Mirror placement is similar to the Sauber C11 Sports Prototypes of the era.

Active Body Control

In 1991 active suspension had long been a featured technology in the automobile racing world, particularly F1 and was just beginning to enter the production car realm. Infiniti’s 1990 Q45 sedan was an early “active” production car. Each wheel of the C112 is equipped with a combination of spring and hydraulic servo cylinder. Sensors detect all vehicle motions – vertical displacement, roll and pitch and computers evaluate the data and control the active suspension elements accordingly. The result was a high level of stable roadholding. This technology was the basis for what would become Mercedes’ ADS (Adaptive Damping Suspension) initially found on Mercedes’ V-12 cars introduced in 1993.

ADS Racing Heritage

Have a look at the interesting video below for a quick active suspension tutorial by motorsports media maven Chris Economaki. While the system described was on the late Ayrton Senna’s 1987 Lotus 99T F1 car, the basic system concepts are the same for production cars.

A new V-12

Anyone peering under the enormous clamshell rear deck of the C112 in 1991 would have been struck by the prominent cast aluminum intake manifold incorporating 12 intake runners: A V-12. It’s worth noting that Mercedes’ most potent production engine at the time was the 5.0 liter, 4 valve per cylinder V-8 producing a paltry 322hp and 332 ft/lbs of torque. This exotic new 6.0 liter V-12 produced 408hp and massive torque in a silent, linear manner. In a scant 2 years, the Silver Star’s most discriminate and wealthy buyers could purchase this silky smooth powerplant in either an SL or an SEL. The C112 undoubtedly contributed to this range of engines.

Raising the C112’s massive engine cover reveals the 6.0 liter V-12. You’ll have the same view if you raise the hood on a 1993 SL600.

Extendable rear deck predated speed sensitive automatic spoilers by some years. This position was for maximum drag to aid stopping. Mercedes has experimented with his concept with their racing cars, most notably the 300SLRs airbrake at LeMans 1955.

One bit of technology not making the production cars was the active rear steering system. The ESP (Electronic Stability Program) certainly did, however and has helped thousands of over enthusiastic Mercedes drivers avoid slipping their cars off the road and into the bushes: All thanks to the C112’s hard work at the Mercedes-Benz test facilities.

Recommended Reading:

Mercedes-Benz C111: Experimental Cars by Paul Frere, Gunther Moltler and Julius Weitmann (German Text). ISBN-10: 2880010977

The Mercedes-Benz Museum by Max-Gerrit Von Pein, Thomas Wirth, and Markus Bolsinger. (German Text?) ISBN-10: 3797705298

Shop Amazon.com for Mercedes-Benz Books

___________________________________

Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com

Photography from ign.com and Dirk de Jager

Please post your comments below.

300SL Roadster at Riverside, CA circa 1959 sans windscreen and with head rest added.

Surviving the rigors of the Track

While 300SL Gullwings and Roadsters are nitpicked today for minute variations in originality by concours judges and discriminating buyers, this was certainly not the case in the late ’50s and early ’60s. This era saw the cars fall to their lowest values in the 55 year history of the series and repairs were often made with an eye toward expediency rather than maintaining an original configuration, particularly in the racing arena.

Many 300SLs were raced vigorously across the country by their owners and when calamity struck whether of a mechanical nature or resulting in folded coachwork, repairs were made that would make today’s 300SL crowd gasp. Crude repairs were often made to quickly get the car back on the grid for the next event.

Gullwing "Speedster" a result of damaged roof/doors having been sawed off! Vaca Valley, CA circa 1962.

If you happened to roll your Gullwing at one of northern California’s bleak road courses such and Vaca Valley or Cotati, one solution to quickly return to competition would be to simply saw the deformed roof and gullwing doors off. You’d end up with a 300SL speedster and be back to the track the next weekend, although likely re-classified as a “Modified” and now competing with the odd Ferrari Testa Rossa or Maserati 300S.

The Chuck Porter Special

Hollywood body shop owner, Chuck Porter, put together perhaps the most sacrificial 300SL by re-constructing a wrecked Gullwing into a bastardized road racing special. The car had been comprehensively destroyed somewhere between Los Angeles and Palm Springs during delivery to its new owner and was sitting in a Los Angeles salvage yard when Porter found it. Purchased in 1955 for $500 the twisted hulk would emerge after Porter’s handiwork as a competent road racing special initially still fitted with its original engine. The car was raced throughout California from 1955-1959 with a variety of engines, the most potent of which was a Hilborn fuel injected Corvette unit.

Chuck Porter Mercedes 300SLS Chevy special at this time owned by Peter Culkin

Fuel injected Corvette engine in Chuck Porter 300SLS(scrap) special.

Peter Culkin Gullwing

Other modified cars followed as crunched SLs were cobbled back together to continue their racing exploits. Perhaps one of the most raced and least damaged Gullwings would have to be the Peter Culkin car. Raced extensively throughout California with great success, this Gullwing sits in California today in largely “as-raced” condition awaiting a sympathetic restoration.

Peter Culkin's much raced and rarely damaged Gullwing.

Roy Spencer,
editor www.ourSL.com

Palo Alto Concours 2010: Mike Blanton discusses the merits of his creamy Gullwing as new SLS owner Larry Brackett looks on. Blanton's voluptuous rudge wheel GW certainly contrasts the edgy, muscular SLS. Would you connect the two cars if the SLS lacked a grille star and had doors closed?

Mercedes-Benz joins Cadillac as Featured Marque

The 44th edition of the Palo Alto Concours offered Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts an opportunity to immerse themselves in displays covering six decades of the Silver Star’s products. Thanks to the Mercedes-Benz Club of America’s San Francisco region, we were blessed with a fabulous and highly educational group of Mercedes.

Pat Matthews' glorious - and with only 53 constructed exceedingly rare - 300Sc Roadster was an early arrival.

We mustn’t take these concours displays for granted. Palo Alto’s massive Mercedes display – over 40 cars – was largely do to the efforts of MBCA’s SF Bay region president Robert Schilling, MBCA director at large Laura Simonds, and former MBCA president and Star Magazine publisher, Richard Simonds. We present a photo essay below of many of great cars this trio pulled together.

Walking the Lawn among the Mercedes-Benz

Bruce Canepa (Canapa Design, Scotts Valley CA) can always be relied on to display a showstopper. His 1962 Black/Black Roadster featured some rare factory options: 6" wheels, 3.23 final drive ratio and high compression engine. Bruce noted the car produced 190hp at the rear wheels on the chassis dyno. Pathetic in today's world, 190hp is serious power for a roadster. Canepa was coy about the price, noting it was sold for north of $700k. Look at the razor sharp reflections in the door and front fenders - a result of precise metal preparation.

Jim Morris performed most of the restoration on his 1959 220S Convertible himself. 14" wheels - 220s were originally fitted with 13" wheels - aid drivability by effectively raising the final drive ratio.

Gerry Holzapple's understated 173 Grey 280SL is a blend of largely original interior and fresh chrome adorning bare metal resprayed coachwork

Advertisement

A 280SL presented in a most unusual color/trim combination. Craig Hartman's Moss Green/Green full leather 280SL is gorgeous and correct. Green on Green! One of my favorites and a car I restored some years ago prior to selling to Craig.

Advertisement

Who in their right mind would fully restore a 220SE sedan? Pat Matthews! He saved what is quite a rare ponton sedan, 1 of the 1,974 fuel injected examples. How many had sunroofs?. Probably less than 100. This sedan is indeed a rare car.

Advertisement

Byron and Myra Brill's 1971 280SE 3.5 is finished in Midnight Blue(904) with Parchment leather, a rich and desirable combination. Proper 3.5 Cabriolets easily bring $100k+ today and deservedly so. A well sorted example is a comfortable, quick and eminently usable classic today.

Greg Hubit managed to snag this extraordinary low grille 280SE Cabriolet out from under the noses of a number of SF Bay area enthusiasts including this editor. It is also an original Moss Green/Green leather car - like Greg Hartman's 280SL a few cars above - and fitted with a green soft top. It showed only 16k miles(!) on the odometer when he purchased it a few years ago. It is certainly one of the lowest mileage, original 111 chassis convertibles in existence. I'm still depressed at missing this car.

The heavyweight of the Mercedes-Benz on display, Arturo Keller

Who in their right mind would fully restore a 220SE coupe? Pat Matthews! These cozy coupes were largely hand crafted by Mercedes-Benz and cost twice as much as the base six cylinder sedan, the 219. Pat's car is stunning in Midnight Blue with Grey leather.

Larry Brackett is a certified Mercedes nut having owned 60 or 70 examples over the decades. He's not interested in the classics, however, and just added a new SLS to share his garage with this SLR. According to Larry his new SLS is vastly more user-friendly than his SLR.

Larry Brackett's dilemma is what to drive on Sunday morning, the new SLS in the foreground or his SLR behind. What a dilemma!

Chuck and Sue Cortsen's cheery 1953 220 Cabriolet A is a prewar design carrying 170 styling cues. The faired in headlights tell us this is a post war 220.

Sigi Appelt's stately 1960 300d looks quite smart in Silver with acres of Red trim. Three liters and fuel injection provided a respectable 160hp for the ponderous "Adenauer." Only 3,077 were constructed.

300SLs were well represented. Rudge wheels complement this Silver/Red roadster nicely.

Susan Hoebich's 190SL was fitted with slightly(!) non-standard ostrich skin interior trim. The car is fitted with the large rear window hardtop introduced during the 1958 model year.

Event sponsor Academy of Art University provided their 540K Convertible B (4 passenger convertible w/rear quarter window) in recognition of Mercedes-Benz as the featured marque.

Recommended Reading:

Mercedes-Benz The Supercharged 8-Cylinder Cars of the 1930s by Jan Melin ISBN: 91-87036-00-2

Mercedes-Benz 300SL by Dennis Adler
ISBN: 0-87938-8820X

Mercedes-Benz Roadsters 230,250,280,350,450 SL & SLC by LJK Setright
ISBN0-85045-325-9

Mercedes-Benz Production Models Book 1946-1990 by W. Robert Nitske
ISBN 0-87938-190-6

Shop Amazon.com for Mercedes-Benz Books

___________________________________

Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com

Please post your comments below.

While the intriguing SLS ‘E’ Cell is essentially a silent automobile, its fluorescent “AMG lumilectric magno” paint and clever technology compel us to take notice.

Zero emission SLS ‘E’ Cell
Silent, Socially responsible Supercar

The days of bellowing, shrieking supercars may be numbered if the newest exercise under AMG’s master “AMG Performance 2015″ plan finds an audience. Recognizing the growing expectation that high performance should not be synonymous with high fuel consumption and increasingly unfriendly exhaust emissions, Mercedes’ performance division has been tweaking their generally conventional drivetrain technology. (See June’s AMG 300SEL meets Eco-Friendly S63 article) Their latest project, the E Cell SLS, eschews a conventional drivetrain altogether – there isn’t a hint of an internal combustion engine in sight under that “fluorescent AMG lumilectric magno” bonnet.

Silent, zero emissions SLS features modular 400v battery whose segments sit in the front of the firewall, in the center tunnel and behind the seats. The battery contains 324 lithium-ion polymer cells and maximum output is 392kW (about 526hp).

With a compact electric motor positioned at each wheel, the E-Cell SLS gains four wheel drive grip and a new independent multi-link front suspension with pushrod damper units. Optional on the visceral, bellowing combustion engine SLS, massive ceramic composite brakes are a must for the slick E-Cell as its powertrain provides zero engine braking characteristics.

New LED headlamps flank a wider grille opening for additional cooling efficiency. The more pronounced front apron incorporates an automatically extendable splitter that operates in concert with the rear spoiler.

AMG claims this new ‘technology vehicle’ exhibits similar handling dynamics and agility as the 571hp V-8 variant. While no curb weight was provided, this claim indicates overall weight, weight distribution and unsprung weight must be fairly close to the petrol based production car.

Clever packaging of new high output battery modules and management software preserves weight distribution of V-8 SLS.

How does it drive? View the video below for German Touring Car (and F1) ace David Coulthard’s bemused observations.

Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com
Photography from Mercedes-Benz

What do you think of an all electric Supercar? Please post your comments below.

The 2010 Monterey Auctions will offer a sumptuous selection of cars carrying the Silver Star's Badge.

Auction Action Monterey 2010
Cars to watch in August

The major auction houses are frantically assembling their lots for the year’s premier week of collector car sales, Monterey 2010. Mercedes-Benz is well represented among the major 4 houses with RM offering 10 Mercedes lots whose prices will range from $40k to $1.3m.

The market always looks to Monterey for third quarter pricing guidance and MercedesHeritage.com will be covering all the developments. We’ll have “eyes on” evaluations of most of the cars for a perspective on actual sales results once the hammer falls on each car. Be sure to read our comprehensive coverage in the August Newsletter. Meanwhile, here’s a look at most of the Mercedes offered.

Images and descriptions provided by the respective auction house.

RM Auctions

Lot #377: 1969 280SL. Purchased by the current owners in San Jose in 1990, it was used as a family car and enjoyed for a few years on the occasional weekend drive. It was put into dry storage a few years later and stayed there until 2009 when it was taken out and received several mechanical updates, including rebuilding of the fuel injection pump, fuel injectors, and fuel supply pump by Bosch of San Francisco. Additionally, the starter and the injection pump thermostat were rebuilt, and a new transmission filter kit was installed. All fluids, gaskets, seals and spark plugs were replaced along with the rear suspension trailing arm bushings. It also received a complete chassis lubrication, and the car was fitted with period Phoenix 14-inch tires with a ¾-inch whitewall.The sales estimate is $45k-$55k. Be sure to visit our SL Research Database to learn about this charming era of SLs before you bid.

Lot 379: This 1958 190 SL Roadster was carefully restored as originally delivered in a four-year process that was completed in May 2010. Bodywork included the removal and repair of all rusted body panels, followed by replacement of the original Glasurit Daimler Silver Grey paint with an identically matched PPG two-phase Metallic Silver finish. The car’s underside was refinished in an original 169 Grey. Atlanta’s R. Rabon furnished the red leather interior upholstery, as well as the new carpeting and convertible top, while Superior Chrome of Houston, Texas restored the grille, bumpers and brightwork. North Hollywood Speedometer restored all instruments, including the clock. This SL is also a no reserve lot with a catalogue estimate of $60k-$70k.

Lot #244: 1958 190SL. With an older, high quality, ground-up restoration by Robert Platz of Camden, New Jersey’s Precision Auto Works, this very fine example earned Grand National First Prize honors from the AACA in 1993. Finished in factory correct light green (“Perlmutter Gruen”), the 190SL continues to present beautifully throughout, including its dark green leather upholstery and engine bay, which are correct and clean in presentation. Features include an AM/FM pushbutton radio, translucent sun visors, matched luggage and a tool roll, as well as VDO instrumentation and a VDO electric clock. Catalogue estimate of $80k-$100k.

Lot #224: 1960 220SE Convertible. This beautifully restored 220SE Cabriolet has been driven very sparingly and remains in near perfect, virtual show-quality condition throughout. Virtually devoid of cosmetic imperfections, the car presents very nicely with a show-quality undercarriage, a beautifully trimmed interior and a properly detailed engine bay. Other items include a stainless-steel exhaust system, a desirable Becker Mexico radio, a properly fitted convertible top and a set of period-style wide whitewall tires. Estimate: $150k-$200k

Lot #313: 1952 300 Cabriolet D. This example was properly restored in Missouri by its current owner approximately twenty years ago. Receipts are available upon request providing evidence of the work completed. The restoration has endured the years very well, and the vehicle, though driven a bit, has very nice chrome and a nicely detailed engine bay. The original sales brochure is included with the car. It is equipped with Bosch driving lights and rides on Firestone whitewall tires. Overall, this is a nice example of a rare and seldom seen convertible that offers the exclusivity of a coachbuilt car and the quality of a classic Mercedes-Benz. Estimate; $60k-$90k

Lot #374: 1961 300 SL. This wonderful example from 1961 was purchased new in Newport, California and spent most of the intervening years in Coronado, California. Approximately 10 years ago, the current enthusiast-owner acquired it from Paul Russell in Boston, Massachusetts. Since it was already a beautifully running and driving car, the 300 SL was purchased with the intention to be driven and enjoyed first and then restored later. Accordingly, it was shipped to the new owner’s home in Florida, and soon after, it was serviced, had the belts and hoses changed, and was entered into the New England 1200 classic rally, as well as driven from Florida to New England and back – a total of 3,800 miles. It performed flawlessly. Next, the 300 SL was driven in the Florida 1000 classic rally, running through Northern Florida and Southern Georgia, again performing as it should and accumulating another 1,750 miles. Estimate: $500k-$575k

Lot #320: 1955 300SL. This handsome 300SL, sporting red paint with tan leather interior, has been regularly used in driving events and is fully sorted mechanically. The odometer reads just 77,000 miles, which are believed to be original. Factory original fitted luggage is also included, and the color matches the interior perfectly, further providing evidence that the interior (which has a lovely patina) is most likely original. Inside, you’ll find a Becker Le Mans radio and, in the trunk, the original jack and a complete tool roll (reproduction). All exterior body panels are straight and true, and the undercarriage is equipped with belly pans. This is an exceedingly nice driver quality 300SL that would be welcome at competition and driving events wherever its owner might choose to participate. Estimate $450k-$550k

Lot #319: 1957 300SL Roadster. This striking red roadster with tan leather interior and tan German canvas top was regularly used by its owner in driving events. It has a solid, rust-free body with very nice paint and chrome. In addition, it shows evidence of having been well cared-for and regularly maintained. The trunk is lined with the correct square-weave material, and the jack and complete tool kit are included, both of which appear to be in their original bags. The 300SL today remains one of the greatest production automobiles ever produced and will be forever recognized for sheer performance, heritage, engineering and overall excellence in an automobile. This car is no exception and one that any enthusiast would be proud to own. Estimate: $400k-$450k

Lot #371: 1936 540k Special Cabriolet. The original owner of s/n 130913, William A. Burden, took delivery in Paris, although Mercedes-Benz factory records indicate the car was shipped to New York. There are several possible explanations, but the most likely of these is that the car was ordered through the New York agency but then diverted to Paris at Burden’s request. Mr. Burden was the patriarch of an established and very wealthy East Coast family with the grandest homes in New York City and relationships to other established families, the Vanderbilts included. In a letter written in 1969 by Burden to the car’s second owner, Herbert Jaffe of Woodbury, New York, Burden relates that he “drove it abroad for several summers, then brought it to the United States.” He goes on to describe the other Mercedes-Benz models he had owned before buying the 540K, including a Model K, Model S, SS, SSK, and 770! Even more interesting is Burden’s explanation of the car’s striking styling. His intention was to “produce something that would give an effect similar to the racing Mercedes of that period,” but as one can see from the car, the results were somewhat different. Nonetheless, the Mercedes-Benz is truly remarkable. With its skirted rear fenders and fully disappearing top, it is very sleek looking, while the car’s unique and graceful radiator shell and twin rear spares give the body a French-influenced European flair. The prior owner acquired the car from Roy Jaffe in 2005 before it joined a large private collection in 2007. Today, it continues to benefit from the comprehensive professional restoration that was commissioned by Mr. Jaffe and completed by LaVine Restorations of Nappanee, Indiana. Mechanically, the restoration included a comprehensive rebuild of the original Roots-type supercharger, and in addition, the chassis, suspension, steering and braking systems were restored with all parts either reconditioned or replaced. Estimate: $1.1m-$1.3m

Lot #364: 1911 Mercedes 38/70 hp Seven Passenger Touring. The Mercedes then became part of the Otis Chandler collection in California, before being acquired by the late Mr. John O’Quinn at the Chandler auction in 2006. Without question one of the most outstanding aspects of this Mercedes is the simple fact that it remains one of the most powerful, mechanically impressive of all chain drive Brass Era Touring cars. The T-Head engine delivers over 70 horsepower, making it one of the largest motors of its time, not to mention rare, and in 1911 few cars could compare with the combination of power, speed and sophistication that this Mercedes would have offered. Col. Colt’s Mercedes remains outstanding in all aspects. The paint, wood and brass are all in excellent condition, and the buttoned black leather upholstery is nearly perfect. The wheels and whitewall tires are superb. The recipient of AACA Senior National First honors, the AACA Cup for an outstanding restoration of a pre-1921 vehicle, the Mayor’s Trophy at the Louis Vuitton Concours in New York City and the coveted Ansel Adams Trophy at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this mighty Mercedes remains the perfect contestant for the world’s most prestigious shows. Estimate: $500k-$600k

Gooding & Company

1928 S Boat tail Speedster, ex Zeppo Marx. Coachwork by Murphy and largely unrestored. A magnificent piece of Hollywood lore and one of a handful of Murphy (Los Angeles) bodied Mercedes of the era.

1955 300SL Gullwing, Silver/Red, Rudge wheels. Estimate $650k-$750k

1961 300SL Roadster, No Reserve. Estimate $600k-$700k.

1943 770 W Pullman. This is a rare sight at auction. Likely one of the last 770s constructed, this handsome and imperial sedan is estimated to sell between $1.5m and $2.0m.

Bonhams(Incomplete Auction list)

1930 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SS 7.1 liter Sports Tourer Chassis no. 36257 Engine no. 77636. Estimate on request

Russo and Steele

Lot #7006 1971 3.5 Cabriolet. Featured here is a stunning example of a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5. Recently professionally restored in the correct factory ‘mittelblau’ metallic over Saddle Roser leather with acres of burl-walnut trim and a contrasting Haartz cloth convertible top, the results are nothing short of stunning, understated opulence combined with the power, handling and ride comfort this generation of Mercedes-Benz automobiles are known for. As all 802 examples that reached the United States were equipped, this car features factory-installed Behr air-conditioning, a Becker Europa stereo radio, dash-mounted clock, power-windows, vacuum-operated power locks and much more.

Lot #7061. This immaculate 1961 190SL sports a completely restored engine and all underhood components by a master Mercedes mechanic. The vendor has detailed paperwork and invoices for all work performed on the vehicle. All exterior chrome was redone. The car's body is in excellent condition and was also restored. A brand-new genuine leather top kit conveys with the car as does an unrestored accessory hard top. Inside, the interior, dash and carpet are complete. Over $20,000 of documented work has been put in to this beautiful vehicle's restoration with needed parts purchased from Mercedes-Benz.

1965 220SE Cabriolet. Owned by Cinema Cars. Imagine cruising the strip with the top down in this car. You will be sure to get front row parking at any of the casinos. Set up the movie poster next to it and let everyone take photos. If you haven't seen the movie "THE HANGOVER" it is one of the best comedies of this past year. This car comes with an authentic signed movie poster off all the main actors. Every time you take this car somewhere people take notice. It is a lot of fun even without the lion in the back! Note: the body damage shown has been repaired!

Links:
RM Auctions
Gooding & Company
Bonhams
Russo and Steele

A "Top 10" smart buy for 2010: the venerable 107 series SLs, particularly the early small bumper non-smog US '72/'73 editions. This is a spotless 1972 US 350SL 4.5. Most are hobbling and rather worn out so it's wise to pay more for a superb example.

Octane Magazine’s “Smart Buys” for 2010
R107 series SLs gaining respect

Octane Magazine, Europe’s premier collector car magazine recently published its “Smart Buys” for 2010 list. The list was intended to alert astute buyers of currently undervalued classics. Number one position was occupied by Ferrari’s 550 Maranello (no quibbling on this choice from your editor as I owned one few years back – an absolutely brilliant car.) The list went on and covered among others, Aston Martin’s V8 Virage (I vastly enjoyed my 1992 5-spd), Porsche’s early 911 Turbos (yup, had a 15k mile bone stock 1976 in the ’90s), but squeaking in at number 10 was the R107 SL. Hooray!

Bookends for the R107 series in the US; an arctic white 1989 560SL fronts a medium blue 350SL 4.5. We recommend either the first 2 years (1972/3) or last 4 years (1986/89) as the most interesting of the US series.

Including the often overlooked 1971-1989 SLs in this privileged group is long overdue. We’ve been touting this era of SL’s virtues for some years, particularly the early small bumper US cars and the 560SLs that finished the era in the US. These cars have caught the eye of Laurence Sayers Gillan of Barons auctions in UK: “Pagoda SLs have gone through the roof, but the next generation SLs bear a family kinship at very affordable prices.” I’ll second that. Pagodas are charmers but can be unnerving at speed and have become very expensive.

Brawny end-of-series 560SL incorporates all that was learned during unusually long 107 production period. Europe's 500SL mirrored our US 560SLs performance albeit without obtrusive 5mph bumpers.

A well prepared early Euro 350SL 4-speed will outperform a 280SL Pagoda all day and do it in a more refined and relaxed manner. The facts were presented in my article “Looking for the next collectible SL.” Gillan likes the Euro 300SL for its low cost of operation and capable handling. However, Euro 1985-1989 300Sls are virtually non-existent in the US. I’ve owned only one and did feel it was a relaxed, agile cruiser.

Euro only 300SLs are a rare sight in the US. 188 hp E class engine lacks the muscle of the 500/560 variants.

What an interesting development; the old 107 SL taking its place among Europe’s exotica as the most affordable “Smart Buy” of the bunch. Don’t rush out and buy the first shiny 350/350/560SL you see. Do your home work. Most of the cars offered for sale in the US are horrible old cars with massive reconditioning costs looming. Do your homework and have a look at the massive section devoted to evaluating the 107 cars in our SL Research Database. You won’t regret it.

Recommended Reading:
Mercedes-Benz Roadsters, LJK Setright ISBN 0-85045-325-9
Mercedes-Benz V8s, F. Wilson McComb ISBN 0 85045 383 6
The Mercedes-Benz since 1945, Vol 3: The 1970s, James Taylor
ISBN 0 900549 97 1

Shop Amazon for Mercedes-Benz Books>

Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com
Photography from MercedesHeritage.com

Please post your comments below.

One of the most original 190SLs in the United States - one owner and showing only 16,600 miles from new.

Tom Martin of Rock Hill, North Carolina offers this time warp 1961 190SL. Virtually untouched since it left the factory, the car serves as a reference for 190SL originality. It’s not inexpensive but would reward a buyer who values originality over a restored example.

Click this link for more information and to contact Tom for more details.

K&K provides extensive 190SL parts support.

Bud's Benz provides service/restoration support for any SL.

Kicherer's interpretation of the SLS is wrapped in matte black foil and sports 20" RS-1 alloy wheels. Aside from the tail pipe tips, there is zero brightwork on the Supersport.

Kicherer Supersport Black Editon

German high performance tuner Kicherer is the latest firm to join the soon to be crowded ring of specialists tinkering with the new SLS AMG Gullwing. Their SLS Supersport Black Edition package has just been released and features the usual fare of extra power (+50hp), revised wheels and tires (20″ RS-1 alloys) and cosmetic tweaks.

Kicherer places their stamp on the original SLS’s design by adding a carbon fiber splitter under the nose, a rear carbon fiber diffuser and revised side grilles. Suspension revisions include a fully adjustable sport suspension with an adjustable leveling function.

Removing all the brightwork from the SLS's already bland tail design doesn't help the overall impact of the car. Aftermarket wheels look, well...like aftermarket wheels.

Here's a standard SLS posing on Monterey Bay. Is the Kicherer edition a better looking car?

Improving the Breed?
Probably not…

What’s our take on this modified SLS? We recommend you skip it altogether. If you’re after a bespoke new SLS, you can either wait for the rumored REAL Black Series from AMG or order a new standard SLS and have it delivered to AMG’s Performance Studio. AMG’s wizards will create the SLS of your dreams with no warranty issues and you’ll have the comfort of knowing that the only hands turning wrenches on your $200k SLS are those that designed and built the car.

Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com
Photography from Mercedes-Benz and Kicherer

Please post your comments below.