Vehicle Description
As much as everyone loved the R107 SLs, when the time came to
upgrade, Mercedes-Benz nailed it. Cars like this 1991 Mercedes-Benz
300SL were better in every respect, with this car packing a 3.0
liter inline-6 and a rare 5-speed manual gearbox, not to mention a
massive array of slick technical advancements that dazzled the
automotive world back in the early '90s.
If you're going to go storming down the Autobahn, do it in a silver
Mercedes-Benz SL. This car doesn't just have presence, it's
intimidating as hell when it looms large in your rear-view mirror.
That's due in large part to the wide grille and massive 3-pointed
star, but from any angle, this car looks like performance and
money. While it's not a small car, it does have the sheetmetal
stretched tight over the mechanicals, and few cars have ever been
as densely packed with technological wizardry as this SL. The
silver paint still shows quite well and it's more evidence that you
definitely got what you paid for in 1991. There are some signs of
use and age, but a professional buff would bring it back to
greatness and nobody's going to know how affordable this car really
is. The lower cladding not only helps protect the bodywork, but
gives the car a long, low, lean look that totally works with the
SL's image. Out back, fluted taillight lenses recall a
Mercedes-Benz design trademark that dates back to the early '70s,
and a car with this pedigree needs no rear spoiler to make a
statement. Even more than 25 years later, this sucker looks
impressive.
While the R107s were quaint and beloved for their relative
simplicity, the all-new R129 was packed with technology and safety.
Mercedes built on their already stellar reputation for rock solid,
ultra-safe cars, and it shows to great effect in the SL. The gray
leather buckets are in excellent shape and haven't been cooked by
the sun, and also offer integrated seat belts. The car is a little
less basic than the R107, offering soft surfaces, real wood trim,
and comfort features ranging from automatic climate control to
power seats, windows, and locks, to a powerful AM/FM/cassette
stereo that sounds fantastic top up or top down. And speaking of
the top, it's a multi-layered affair that raises and stows itself
with the touch of a button, using a series of gymnastics that you
could probably charge admission to watch. The top on this one is
original and in good condition, and the car includes a matching
silver hardtop that gives the SL a clean, purposeful look.
The heart of the machine is a 3.0 liter DOHC inline-6 that pumps
out 228 horsepower and a seamless flow of torque that makes it feel
like the car could accelerate forever. It also has a brisk
6-cylinder warble that recalls great SLs of the past (which were
all powered by sixes), and you'll never get tired of a quick
downshift in the 5-speed manual gearbox, which really makes the
most of the engine's power. Regardless of which gear you're in,
throttle response is crisp and with the manual gearbox, the car
feels much more elemental and connected to the road. Brakes are
incredibly powerful and the suspension never puts a wheel wrong,
especially with the relatively lightweight engine in the nose.
Handsome 16-inch alloys were standard and it wears 225/55/16 Kumho
radials all around.
Still a top choice among enthusiasts who appreciate quality and
performance, this 300SL still feels like the flagship German
machine it was in 1991. Call today!