Description
This must be one of the earliest UK-supplied R107 SLs out there, first registered on the eighth of October 1971, after production started in April. It has all the delightful features of the earliest cars including the single, small mirror, no headrests, early steering wheel and instrumentation font.
It's finished in its original colours of Grey Blue metallic (906) with blue MB Tex trim. The 3. 5-litre V8 engine drives through an automatic gearbox, inside there’s a Blaupunkt stereo, manual windows and steel wheels clad with colour-matched stainless steel wheel trims.
This SL has all its original (early style) books and manuals, which is lovely to see, including its service book plus a history file of paperwork detailing expenditure over the years.
Recently we have carried out an overhaul of the injection system and replaced the rear brakes.
With only 55k miles covered in its 54 years it’s a very nice and remarkably original example. So few of these early R107s seem to survive in nice condition, so it is great to see such a well-preserved example.
The car presents extremely well – the paintwork is very nice, the brightwork in good order and the interior is in excellent condition and it seems entirely original. Structurally the car appears in very good order and is well protected. The original hard top in good condition comes with the car. The hood betrays the cars age a little – it’s quite serviceable but is starting to show its age in places.
When launched the R107 represented absolute modernity and ably replaced the much loved and highly successful ‘Pagoda’. It was faster, roomier and more luxurious, and took the SL into the 70s with a more GT focus. As we now know, it was phenomenally successful and, like the Pagoda, became one of the most coveted symbols of success. We can only imagine the stir this particular car would have caused as it first hit the roads in late 1971.
