Mercedes-Benz W113
Encyclopedia
- See Mercedes-Benz SL-ClassMercedes-Benz SL-ClassThe Mercedes-Benz SL is a grand tourer manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The designation SL derives from the German Sport Leicht, or Sport Lightweight — and was first applied to the 300SL 'Gullwing' named also after its gullwing or upward-opening doors.The term SL-Class refers to the...
for a complete overview of all SL-Class models.
The Mercedes-Benz W 113 roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
s, designed by Paul Bracq
Paul Bracq
Paul Bracq is an automotive designer noted for his work at Citroën, Peugeot, and Mercedes-Benz.Bracq's career began in the design studio of Philippe Charbonneaux, where he served as Charbonneaux' assistant in 1953 and 1954...
, were produced from 1963 through 1971. Their distinctive "pagoda" hardtop roof, designed by Béla Barényi
Bela Barenyi
Béla Barényi was a Hungarian-Austrian engineer, regarded as the father of passive safety in automobiles. He was born in Hirtenberg near Vienna during the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
, gave them their contemporary nickname. The W 113 SL
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a grand tourer manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The designation SL derives from the German Sport Leicht, or Sport Lightweight — and was first applied to the 300SL 'Gullwing' named also after its gullwing or upward-opening doors.The term SL-Class refers to the...
replaced both the legendary 300 SL (W 198
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
) and the 190 SL (W121 BII
Mercedes-Benz 190SL
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a two door grand touring convertible with a removable hardtop that was produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963...
), and it was in turn replaced by the R107
Mercedes-Benz R107
The Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 automobiles were produced from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the Mercedes, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL and SLC model names. The R107 replaced the W113 SL-Class in 1972 and was replaced by the R129...
SL.
All models feature an inline-six
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. All are rear-wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. While the SLs are relatively heavy compared to other similar roadsters, weight was reduced in part by the use of aluminum panels for the trunk lid, front hood, tonneau cover and door skins.
These SLs were typically sold with a soft top and an optional removable hard top, the so-called "Coupe/Roadster" configuration. A 2+2 was introduced with the 250 SL "California Coupe", which had a rear bench seat instead of the soft-top.
History
By 1955, Mercedes-Benz Technical Director Prof. Fritz NallingerFritz Nallinger
Dr Professor Fritz Nallinger was a German automobile engineer and executive.Nallinger joined Daimler Benz AG in 1922...
and his team held no illusions regarding the 190 SL
Mercedes-Benz 190SL
The Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a two door grand touring convertible with a removable hardtop that was produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963...
's lack of performance, while the high price tag of the legendary 300 SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
supercar
Supercar
Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
kept it elusive for all but the most affluent buyers. Thus Mercedes-Benz started evolving the 190 SL on a new platform, model code W 127, with a fuel-injected 2.2 liter M180
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
inline-six engine, internally denoted as 220 SL. Encouraged by positive test results, Nallinger proposed that the 220 SL be placed in the Mercedes-Benz program, with production commencing in July 1957.
However, while technical difficulties kept postponing the production start of the W 127, the emerging new S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
W 112
Mercedes-Benz W112
The Mercedes-Benz W112 was a flagship model in Mercedes-Benz's line-up during the early 1960s. The car, produced in four modifications: coupé, cabriolet and sedans, was identical to the standard Mercedes-Benz W111 Fintail car, but was fitted with the M189 big-block six-cylinder engine, as well as...
platform introduced novel body manufacturing technology altogether. So in 1960, Nallinger eventually proposed to develop a completely new 220 SL design, based on technology from the W 112. This led to the W 113 platform, with an improved fuel-injected 2.3 liter M127
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
inline-six engine and the distinctive "pagoda" hardtop roof, which was badged as 230 SL.
The 230 SL made its remarkable debut at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show in March 1963, where Nallinger introduced it as follows: "It was our aim to create a very safe and fast sports car with high performance, which despite its sports characteristics, provides a very high degree of traveling comfort."
230 SL (1963-1967)
Production of the 2.3 liter 230 SL commenced in June 1963 and ended on 5 January 1967. Its chassis was based on the W 111Mercedes-Benz W111
The Mercedes-Benz W111 was a chassis code given to its top-range vehicles, including 4-door sedans, produced from 1959 to 1968, and 2-door coupes and cabriolets from 1961 to 1971. The W111, was initially attributed only to 6-cylinder cars with 2.2 litre engines. The luxury version with big-block 3...
sedan platform, with a reduced wheelbase by 11.8", recirculating ball steering
Steering
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
(with optional power steering), double wishbone front suspension
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
and an independent single-joint swing rear-axle
Swing axle
A swing axle is a simple type of independent suspension first used in early aircraft , such as the Sopwith and Fokker, usually with rubber bungee and no damping....
with compensating spring. The dual-circuit brake system had front disc brakes and power-assisted rear drum brakes. The 230 SL was offered with a 4-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission, which was popular for US models. The comparatively short and wide chassis, combined with an excellent suspension, powerful brakes and radial tires gave the 230 SL superb handling for its time. Of the 19,831 230 SLs produced, less than a quarter were sold in the US.
The 2308 cc M127.II
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
inline-six engine with 150 PS and 196 newton metre torque was based on the venerable M180 inline-six with four main bearings and mechanical Bosch
Bosch
Bosch is a popular surname in Catalan and Dutch; it means forest. It may refer to:Buildings:*Huis ten Bosch, an official palace of the Dutch Royal Family in The Hague, Netherlands*Bosch Palace, the official residence of the U.S...
multi-port fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
. Mercedes-Benz made a number of modifications to boost its power, most importantly increasing displacement from 2197 cc, and using a fuel injection pump with six plungers instead of two, which allowed placing the nozzles in the cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
and 'shooting' the fuel through the intake manifold
Inlet manifold
In automotive engineering, an inlet manifold or intake manifold is the part of an engine that supplies the fuel/air mixture to the cylinders...
and open valves directly into the combustion chamber
Combustion chamber
A combustion chamber is the part of an engine in which fuel is burned.-Internal combustion engine:The hot gases produced by the combustion occupy a far greater volume than the original fuel, thus creating an increase in pressure within the limited volume of the chamber...
s. An optional oil-water heat exchanger was also available.
Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut
Rudolf Uhlenhaut
Rudolf Uhlenhaut , was an Anglo-German engineer and executive for Mercedes-Benz...
, who was as competent behind the wheel as any racing driver, demonstrated the capabilities of the 230 SL on a tight short race track near Montreux in 1963, where he put up a best lap time of 47.5 seconds vs. 47.3 seconds by Mike Parkes
Mike Parkes
Michael Johnson Parkes was an English racing driver.He participated in 7 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 18, 1959. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 14 championship points. He also secured one pole position...
on his 3 liter V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
Ferrari 250 GT.
A brief chronology of the most notable changes made to the 230 SL:
- September 1964: Spare tire well removed; tire mounted horizontally.
- November 1964: Optional color/thermal glass.
- August 1965: Hazard lights for US models.
- March 1966: Three-point seat belts available.
- May 1966: Optional (rare) ZF 5-speed manual transmission, now highly desirable.
250 SL (1966-1968)
The 2.5 liter 250 SL was introduced at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. Production commenced in December 1966 and ended in January 1968. The short one-year production run makes the 250 SL the rarest of the W 113 series cars. The 250 SL retained the stiffer suspension and sportier feel of the early SLs, but provided significantly improved agility with a new engine and rear disk brakes. Range also improved with increased fuel tank capacity from 65 l (17.2 US gal) to 82 l (21.7 US gal), and resiliency improved with a new cooling water tank ('round top') with increased capacity from 10.8 l (2.9 US gal) to 12.9 l (3.4 US gal). Like its predecessor, the 250 SL was offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission, a 4-speed manual transmission, and the desirable ZF 5-speed manual transmission. For the first time, an optional limited slip differential was also available. Of the 5,196 250 SLs produced, more than a third were sold in the US.The main change was the use of the 2496 cc M129.II
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
engine with 6 mm (0.236220472440945 in) increased stroke and seven main bearings instead of four. The claimed maximum power remained unchanged at 150 PS, but torque improved from 145 lbft to 159 lbft. In practice, the 230 SL engines had rarely produced more than 143 PS, and the wider power band of the 250 SL resulted in noticeably improved performance.
The 250 SL also marked the introduction of a 2+2 body style, the so-called "California Coupe", which had only the removable hardtop and no soft-top: a small drop-down bench seat replaced the soft-top well between passenger compartment and trunk. Retrofitting the soft-top above the rear seat requires considerable effort and expense. The lack of a soft-top relegated open "California Coupes" to a formidable nice weather ride, so many of them are very well preserved today. While these 2+2 models are rare, their somewhat limited usability makes them not particularly sought after today.
In August 1967, a number of additional changes were incorporated to accommodate stricter safety regulations and US emission laws. The safety improvements included a collapsible steering wheel and padded wheel hub, concave control knobs, elastic black rubber heater levers (instead of colored translucent plastic), and softer, rounded dash top padding. Door handles, locks, and window cranks were modernized and less protruding, the door pockets were elastic, the rear-view mirror frame was chrome instead of black plastic, and the side view mirrors became more angular. Essentially, the 1967 250 SL retained the more classic 'chrome' interior appearance of the 230 SL, whereas the 1968 250 SL featured the modernized 'safety' interior of the 280 SL.
US models acquired mandatory side reflectors on the fenders, three-point safety-belts, an illuminated gearbox for the automatic, and emission control equipment.
280 SL (1967-1971)
The 2.8 liter 280 SL was introduced in December 1967 and continued in production through 23 February 1971, when the W 113 was replaced by its successor, the entirely new and substantially heavier 350 SL (R107). Over the years, the W 113 evolved from a sports carSports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
into a comfortable grand tourer
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
, and US models were by then usually equipped with an automatic transmission and air condition. Manual transmission cars came with either a 4-speed, or the desirable ZF 5-speed. In Europe, manual transmission cars without air condition were still predominant. Of the 23,885 280 SLs produced, more than half were sold in the US.
The main change was the use of the 2778 cc M130
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
engine with 170 PS maximum power and 180 lbft maximum torque, which finally gave the W 113 adequate power. The performance improvement was achieved by increasing bore by 4.5 mm (0.177165354330709 in), which stretched the limits of the M180
Mercedes-Benz M130 engine
The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
block, and required pairwise cylinder casts without cooling water passages. This mandated an oil-cooler, which was fitted vertically next to the radiator. The M130 marked the final evolution of the venerable SOHC M180 inline-six, before it was superseded by the entirely new DOHC M110
Mercedes-Benz M110 engine
The M110 engine family is a DOHC design with 2 valves per cylinder straight-6 automobile engine made by Mercedes-Benz in the 1970s and 1980s.The M110.92x and .93x engines are carburetor engines, with Solex or Pierburg carburetor....
inline-six introduced with 1974 European 280 SL (R107) models.
A brief chronology of the most notable changes made to the 280SL:
- January 1968: One piece wheel-covers (like the W 108Mercedes-Benz W108The Mercedes-Benz W108 and W109 were luxury cars built by Mercedes-Benz from 1965 through 1972. The line was an update of the predecessor W111 and W112 fintail sedans. The cars were successful in West Germany and in export markets that included including North America and Southeast Asia...
sedans). - October 1968: US models with sealed beam headlights without fog lights.
- February 1969: New tail lights with amber turn signals.
- July 1969: US models with transistorized ignition and improved emission control.
- August 1969: Heated rear window for hardtop, hazard lights for all models, one unified key for all locks, US models with illuminated side reflectors.
- November 1970: Plastic cooling water header tank (instead of metal). New door locks, cylinder can now be depressed while door is locked.
North American models
US models have a number of subtle differences, the most obvious one being the distinctive 'sealed beam' bulb headlamps required in the US versus the 'fishbowl' headlamps for the rest of the world. 1970 US models also acquired amber turn-signal lenses on the rear lights, later than in many other countries.Other differences of the North American models include imperial gauges, chrome bumper guards, side reflectors (illuminated from 1970), lower rear-axle ratios for faster acceleration yet lower top speeds, and no 'single-side' parking lights. US market 280 SL engines required emission control modifications that included 'softer' valve timings, a reduced compression ratio and a modified injection pump, which reduced power from 170 PS to 160 PS. In the US, automatic transmission, air condition and white wall tires were much more popular than in Europe.
European cars were popular as US gray-market imports: those vehicles were brought to the US some years after their original delivery in Europe. Early European imports had aftermarket hazard lights and safety belts fitted, US safety requirements that were adopted in Europe only in later production years.
Timeline
The model timeline and production numbers are:| Chassis | Engine | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | Total | US | |||
| 230 SL | W113.042 | 2.3L M127.II Mercedes-Benz M130 engine The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new... I6 |
1,465 | 6,911 | 6,325 | 4,945 | 185 | 19,831 | 4,752 | ||||||
| 250 SL | W113.043 | 2.5L M129.II Mercedes-Benz M130 engine The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new... I6 |
17 | 5,177 | 2 | 5,196 | 1,761 | ||||||||
| 280 SL | W113.044 | 2.8L M130 Mercedes-Benz M130 engine The Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new... I6 |
143 | 6,930 | 8,047 | 7,935 | 830 | 23,885 | 12,927 | ||||||
| 48,912 | 19,440 | ||||||||||||||
Motorsports
- In 1963, Eugen Böhringer won the 6,600-kilometer Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally (Belgium to Bulgaria) on a race-modified 1963 230 SL. This vehicle is now in the permanent collection of the Mercedes-Benz MuseumMercedes-Benz MuseumThe Mercedes-Benz Museum is an automotive museum housed in Stuttgart, Germany. Stuttgart is home to the Mercedes-Benz brand and the international headquarters of Daimler AG. The current building, which stands directly outside the main gate of the Daimler factory in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, was...
in StuttgartStuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
Untertürkheim, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. - In 1964, Mercedes-Benz entered four race-modified 230 SLs into the Spa-Sofia-Liège Ralley. These cars had special 2.6 liter engines with pairwise cylinder casts, a layout that was later adopted for the M130Mercedes-Benz M130 engineThe Mercedes Benz M130 Engine was the last and largest of the ‘mid-sized’ Single Over Head Camshaft straight-6 cylinder engines produced by Mercedes Benz. The ‘mid-sized six’ started life as the 2.2 litre M180 which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September 1951 alongside the new...
engine of the 280 SL. Due to considerable mechanical bad luck, Eugen Böhringer finished only third this time, after Rauno AaltonenRauno AaltonenRauno August Aaltonen , also known as "The Rally Professor", is a Finnish former professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship throughout the 1970s. Before WRC was established Aaltonen competed in the European Rally Championship. He won the championship in 1965, with Tony...
on Austin-Healey 3000Austin-Healey 3000The Austin-Healey 3000 is a British sports car built from 1959 to 1967, and is the best known of the "big" Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors, and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC Abingdon works....
and Erik CarlssonErik CarlssonErik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
on Saab. - In 1965, Dieter GlemserDieter GlemserDieter Glemser is a former touring car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.He stated his career in the early 1960s in rallying with a Porsche 356 andIn 1963 he won the Rally Poland with a Mercedes-Benz 220SE....
entered the Acropolis Rally on a light-weight 230 SL similar to the Spa-Sofia-Liège cars. His modified 2.3 liter engine produced 152 PS, further evidence that 230 SL production engines rarely met their power specification. Unfortunately, Dieter Glemser was given wrong directions by the police, which cost him his comfortable lead and instead put him into third place.
Magazines
In March 2008, the W 113 was on the Daily Telegraph list of the "The 100 most beautiful cars" of all time. In January 2011, David Gandy of Vogue.comVogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
placed it on his list of "15 favorite cars", and in July 2011, GQ listed it among its "Ten cars that made Mercedes-Benz."
Top Gear
On the British automotive show Top Gear (Season 3, Episode 8) the 280 SL is thought of highly, notably being described by its host Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
as one of the cars from the 1960s that has stood the test of time, being "from a time when Mercedes was still building its cars properly."
Special versions
In 1963, PininfarinaPininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
asked the Mercedes-Benz board to produce its own custom-bodied version of the 230 SL. While the original design by Paul Bracq is regarded as a masterpiece today, it was more controversial at the time of its introduction. Pininfarina's creation retained the grille and headlamps of the original, but he turned the car into a fixed-head coupe, raked the grille more sharply, sculpted the wings, and made the sides more bulbous and thus wider, while making the engine hood narrower and shorter. The rear was reminiscent of the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, but without taking away the distinctive personality of the 230 SL. The result was appealing but not convincing enough to go into production and thus remained a one-off, subsequently acquired by German press baron Axel Springer
Axel Springer
Axel Springer , was a German journalist and the founder and owner of the Axel Springer AG publishing company.-Early life:...
.
In 1965, Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut fitted a 250 SL with the massive 6.3 liter 250 PS M100
Mercedes-Benz M100 engine
The Mercedes-Benz M100 Engine was introduced in the 1963 Mercedes-Benz 600 with 6.3 litres, and later also used in the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 from 1968 onwards, and even larger, in the 1970s Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9....
V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine from the Mercedes-Benz 600
Mercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600 is a large luxury automobile offered in several variants worldwide. Introduced in September 1963, it had very few competitors, these being Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadillac Fleetwood 75, the stretched Lehmann-Peterson Lincoln, and the Crown Imperial Ghia...
. This engine conversion gave the car, denoted as W 113/12, impressive power, but made it very front-heavy, so that this direction was abandoned. The car was eventually destroyed, the usual procedure for test vehicles at the time.
In 1968, Mercedes fitted a 280 SL with a 206 PS M50F Wankel engine
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...
, denoted as R 113 W 33-29. With a top-speed of 205.1 km/h (127.4 mph), an 0-60 acceleration of 8.7 seconds, and almost inaudible compared to regular SLs, it provided quite a surprise encounter for their owners in southern Germany at the time.
Technical data
$ 7,506−7907, later 6,185−6,587 || align="center" | DM 22,800$ 6,485−6,897 || align="center" | DM 24,300
$ 6,485−6,897, later 7,469−7,909
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
|}
Famous owners
- Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
- David CoulthardDavid CoulthardDavid Marshall Coulthard, MBE, , sometimes known as DC, is a British former Formula One racing driver from Scotland.Coulthard, who was born in Dumfries and raised nearby in Twynholm, made his Formula One debut in 1994 and won 13 Grands Prix in a career spanning 15 seasons...
owns a midnight blue (904G) 1971 280 SL - Tony CurtisTony CurtisTony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
- John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
owned a dark blue (332G) 1965 230 SL, which was for sale for $495,000 in 2011 - John TravoltaJohn TravoltaJohn Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
owns a havana brown (408G) 1970 280 SL, which was stolen in September 2011 - Kate MossKate MossKate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
owns a metallic blue (387H) 280 SL - Peter UstinovPeter UstinovPeter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
- Sophia LorenSophia LorenSophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
- Stirling MossStirling MossSir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
In popular culture
- In the 2008 German film The Baader Meinhof Complex, a white 1963 230 SL is parked in the driveway of Martina GedeckMartina GedeckMartina Gedeck is a German actress. She came to broader, international attention due to her roles in films such as Mostly Martha, The Lives of Others, and The Baader Meinhof Complex...
character's house. - In the 2008 film Frost/NixonFrost/Nixon (film)Frost/Nixon is a 2008 historical drama film based on the 2006 play by Peter Morgan which dramatizes the Frost/Nixon interviews of 1977. The film was directed by Ron Howard and produced for Universal Pictures by Howard, Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working...
Michael SheenMichael SheenMichael Christopher Sheen, OBE , is a Welsh stage and screen actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991...
's character drives a grey blue 280 SL convertible in the closing scenes. - In the 2002 film Life or Something Like ItLife or Something Like ItLife or Something Like It is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Stephen Herek. The film focuses on television reporter Lanie Kerrigan and her quest to find meaning in her life. The original music score was composed by David Newman...
Angelina JolieAngelina JolieAngelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
's character drives a silver 1969 280 SL with red interior and alloy rims. - In the 1997 German film Knockin' on Heaven's DoorKnockin' on Heaven's Door (film)Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a 1997 German criminal comedy, by Thomas Jahn, starring Til Schweiger, Moritz Bleibtreu and Rutger Hauer. Its name derives from the Bob Dylan song which is also on the film's soundtrack.- Story :...
Til SchweigerTil SchweigerTilman Valentin "Til" Schweiger is a German actor, director, and producer.He is one of Germany’s most successful filmmakers. Since 1968, when the FFA started counting, no other German actor has drawn more people to the cinemas. He runs his own production company, Barefoot Films, in Berlin.-Early...
's and Jan Josef LiefersJan Josef LiefersJan Josef Liefers, is a German actor and musician. He was born on August 8, 1964 in Dresden.-Life:Liefers is the son of director Karlheinz Liefers and actress Brigitte Liefers-Wähner. After his apprenticeship he studied at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch in Berlin...
's terminally ill characters steal a horizon blue 230 SL to see the ocean for the first and last time. - In the 1994 melodram IntersectionIntersection (film)Intersection is a 1994 film, directed by Mark Rydell and starring Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, and Lolita Davidovich.A remake of the French film Les choses de la vie by Claude Sautet, the story — set in Vancouver, British Columbia — concerns an architect who, as his classic Mercedes 280SL roadster...
Richard GereRichard GereRichard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
's character flashes through key memories of his life during a fatal accident in his silver 280 SL. - In the 1980 British gangster epos The Long Good FridayThe Long Good FridayThe Long Good Friday is a British gangster film starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren. It was completed in 1979 but, because of release delays, it is generally credited as a 1980 film...
Bryan MarshallBryan MarshallBryan Marshall is an English actor, with a number of major credits in film and television to his name.Marshall was born in Clapham, London...
's character drives a signal red 280 SL. - In the 1975 film ShampooShampoo (film)Shampoo is a 1975 satirical film written by Robert Towne and directed by Hal Ashby. It stars Warren Beatty, Julie Christie and Goldie Hawn, with Lee Grant, Jack Warden, Tony Bill and in an early film appearance, Carrie Fisher....
starring Warren BeattyWarren BeattyWarren Beatty born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has received a total of fourteen Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Director in 1982. He has also won four Golden Globe Awards including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.-Early life and...
, Julie ChristieJulie ChristieJulie Frances Christie is a British actress. Born in British India to English parents, at the age of six Christie moved to England, where she attended boarding school....
's character drives a bicolor (white with black hardtop/hubcaps) 230 SL. - In the 1974 thriller Gold starring Roger MooreRoger MooreSir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
, Goldie HawnGoldie HawnGoldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
's character drives a white 230 SL. - In the 1967 melodram Two for the Road starring Audrey HepburnAudrey HepburnAudrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
, Albert FinneyAlbert FinneyAlbert Finney is an English actor. He achieved prominence in films in the early 1960s, and has maintained a successful career in theatre, film and television....
's character drives a white 1965 230 SL. In reality, this was Stanley DonenStanley DonenStanley Donen ; is an American film director and choreographer whose most celebrated works are Singin' in the Rain and On the Town, both of which he co-directed with Gene Kelly. His other noteworthy films include Royal Wedding, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Face, Indiscreet, Damn...
's (the director) personal car. - In the 1967 French musical The Young Girls of Rochefort starring Catherine DeneuveCatherine DeneuveCatherine Deneuve is a French actress. She gained recognition for her portrayal of aloof and mysterious beauties in films such as Repulsion and Belle de jour . Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that...
and Gene KellyGene KellyEugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
, George ChakirisGeorge ChakirisGeorge Chakiris is an American-Greek dancer, singer and actor.-Early life:Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Steven and Zoe Chakiris, immigrants from Greece. Chakiris studied at the American School of Dance....
' character owns and drives a white 230 SL. - In the 1966 thriller ArabesqueArabesque (film)Arabesque is a 1966 thriller starring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. The movie is based on Gordon Cotler's novel The Cypher and directed by Stanley Donen.-Plot:Professor David Pollock is an expert in ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University...
starring Gregory PeckGregory PeckEldred Gregory Peck was an American actor.One of 20th Century Fox's most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s, Peck continued to play important roles well into the 1980s. His notable performances include that of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an...
, Sophia LorenSophia LorenSophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
's character drives a red 1965 230 SL.