That SL will never stop looking classy. You could turn up at a Hollywod Red-Carpet event and nobody would care that it cost just 9 Grand. Merc at their very best.
Still very very common to see these in the US. People drive them like any other car, street park them almost year round, out on rainy days. And i've hardly ever seen one with significant rust which is nearly unbelievable in the north east
My dad drove a Pagode till '72 when he sold that and bought a 350SL. I literally grew up in that car, my Mom drove me to Kindergarden and later to school back and forth, did a Spain trip for summer vacation when I was about twelve and when I was 19 my dad invited my to a trip to Tirol in Austria. I drove throughout that trip as my dad was already very ill. We did 7 passes in 1 day in on our way from Austria to Meran and back for a day trip, had a flat whell at midnight and almost didnt make it to the gas station, our 3rd fill up that day (!), when we came back into Innsbruck. I loved and hated that car. I never liked it's appearance vs. the Pagode but looking from the inside out is a beauty of it's own, the V8 sound was gorgeous and it had some power ( sorry Dad ) for a 19 year old one. It could burn quite some gas if you pushed it, LoL. I will never forget that car, part of my life. One thing I have to note, my dad said it had bad camshafts and they had to be replaced twice and the folding mechanism was a fiddling of it's own. We sold it when dad died as no one in our family wanted to have a car with 15-17L/100km. Never regretted selling it tho I do love my memories about it. That engine had one of the best V8 sounds I have ever heard. Apropos sports car, it drifted quite well through corners when it had to ( sorry again Dad ).
After years of dreaming I purchased a 1986 560SL and I have been loving every minute with it. Harry nailed it, timeless elegance, feels modern - just a dream to drive. I paid ~$21k and put $4k into it to ensure it would start, go and stop. The car was purchased in Pacifica, CA and was passed down 4 times in the same family before I came along. I named her QueenE after the luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth. They will have to pry the keys from my cold, dead fingers!!
I have fond memories of my 500 SL. It was immaculate. Exterior was palomino white and the imitation leatherette was camel sandalwood. The car was solid as a tank and when power was commanded it flew!. There were a few electrical glitches that were annoying (radio, fan speed and rear defroster were always shorting out when there was moisture in the air). Mercedes knew how to build solid luxury tanks with each model displaying their own style and identity. Today's Mercedes are just plastic and BLAH! I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. Fondly, J. Duran, Jr from Santa Fe, New Mexico
The days when Mercedes had real quality mixed with practicality and a certain amount of utilitarian features for incredible durability. My Dad had a new SL in the 80's, what I remember about it was that being such a heavy car it didn't feel like it accelerated quickly until you looked at the speedometer needle whipping round the dial. Fantastic long distance drive.
The first time I ever saw this car was on the show hart to hart. I always looked at it as a car to dream for. Especially with the car phone. I love this guy Harry. There is no comparison between him and all the other young bloggers on TH-cam. Seriously. His words are chock full of info. Interesting info. No nonsense that you get from people talking about there own personal issues and being bullied as kids. Harry is the real deal. Someone to truly admire.
Hi! great video, informative too. I have just purchased a very similar but newer R107 Sl 350 from 1980. I was wondering if you are 100% sure about the "S" standing for 'sport'? I am under the impression that it stand for 'slope', which makes it more suitable for going down hill. The 'L' stands for 'low', making it more suitable for uphill. Please correct me if i am wrong!!!!
One of these will be a retirement present to myself for hanging in there and keeping it together. Either a 450, 500, 560 SL...personal luxury at it's best. It's not how fast you arrive, it's how you get there.
The 'Ribbing' on the side of the car (under the rubbing strip) is designed to 'collect' road dirt and keep the upper door and door handle clean! The same method is applied to the tail lamps of all late 60, 70 and 80's Merc's - a safty feature to keep the lamps visible!
I owned the American version of the 1971 SL: the badge said 350 but we got the 4.5 liter version of that wonderful V8 under the hood. The extra torque allowed the transmission to upshift sooner. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I got to run the SL hard along the coast, through the redwoods, and across the Bay at high speeds. The 130 mph was maximum, but with the top down that was sufficient. This was the stiffest convertible as to body structure that I have ever tested from the era. The chassis was unflappably at speed or on rough roads. I saw one spin out at speed in the rain on the Bayshore freeway and smack into a concrete wall backwards at about 40 mph. The lady driver just opened the door and stepped out unhurt. Any other convertible would have deformed enough to jam the doors shut. I sold mine at 160,000 miles, all original and still running well. As Harry said, not the most sporting, but extremely elegant, practical, and well made. One of my all time favorite automobiles to own.
I'm working my way through these older videos while isolating after a relatively mild dose of Covid. I love the non-shouty tyre-spinning style, with real life driving, perfect. And this old Mercedes, what a great piece of engineering - super interesting vid.
I recall motoring journalists in the seventies and eighties complaining about German cars being way overpriced in comparison to their competition, however while most of this competition has disappeared, many Bmw's and Mercs of this era are still going strong .Very enjoyable video.
I love the R107 SL. It's one of my favourite cars of all time. Especially when you put the hard top on them... Gorgeous! It was designed back when Mercedes Benz were a truly special entity. Latter day Mercs just don't have the same thing about them. And, old Mercs were buildt like the proverbial tank, weren't they. Later... well, that's another story, isn't it...
Thanks Harry. Love your taste in cars, the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside and like lots of others, your super laid-back, laconic style. Ta very much.
Icons of the era. We ran a '73 small bumper 450SL, drove it 130k daily, all seasons. Like others, and Harry said, these are bombproof. Needs infrequent chain service and just engine&trans oil changes. There was a front-subframe campaign so be sure that is inspected. Early cars are most attractive; the mid-eighties 560SL has a 'B" on the gated shifter...floor it there...it's no doubt for blast-off!
Diablo GT and/or GTR too if you've the opportunity ...... on the opposite side of the scales to a citroen .... or perhaps already to quickly became a collectors
Dear +Harry's garage , that's a very nice car and a very nice review. I think the 70's SL is much much more beautiful than the SL you keep in Riviera.. Would be great to see a review of a XKR / XK8, but the early ones, the replacements of your XJS ... Cheers .
Love this car. I have a 1985 380 SL and you described the R107 to a tee. She has expensive tastes when it comes to repairs and parts, but as for gas mileage, she's better that the Ford I drove for years! I'm always getting compliments and thumbs up from strangers when I'm out and about. A truly remarkable automobile..
When German cars were bombproof and lasted forever, along with the Swedish 80s Volvos. My hs buddy still has his dad's 280DL, with over 300K miles as it still runs perfectly.
Today's Mercedes are all electronic bells and whistles, but have nothing like the durability and utility angle these older Mercs had, where there was a mix of luxury, cutting edge technology and the concept in its design that it should last forever.
These cars are great touring cars. Bulletproof, fast enough, comfortable, pretty to look at, and very safe. Harry forgot to mention the windshield/screen is a roll bar.
Thank you Harry for your thorough investigations into classics and thank you for doing it in a sober way, so one really learn something about the car, its specifications and use.
About the shifting issue: the shifting pressure is adjustable! A shop should be able to adjust this for little money. Too hard shifts will put strain on flex disk and rear diff, too soft shifts will result in heat build up in the transmission. Just in case you read this, Mr Metcalfe. Great video, great car!
Good call on the wheels Harry, these original steel wheels with hub caps always made the R107 look classier than the alloy units. Perfect shade of blue too!
I did not know that history that they actually were that expensive from new, but what an elegant classic especially with the hardtop. I love your reviews and specialy the roadtrips on classic cars both newer and older vintage. Kind Regards
I was lucky enough to drive a 1989 560 SL with the top down through the city on a hot summer night. Surprisingly free from rattles or body flex, great acceleration and sound from the smooth engine, an unflappable automatic transmission, understated yet elegant interior. Probably wouldn't excite on a back road but as an urban cruising experience, totally memorable.
I've driven and worked on a lot of these old Mercedes SL's. Built like a panza! That said they are made of steel and do rot like any other steel car. I struggled to find one last time I was looking for a classic as my daily driver. All of the lower price bracket cars I was personally looking at had rot starting or badly repaired. I ended up with a Rover P6 3500 instead as they are cheap as chips which makes nice examples plentiful in comparison with lower price bracket Mercedes SL's. Chalk and cheese though. Thanks for the video.
This is the most legendary car of my 70’s and 80’s generation .... it’s up to now one of the most iconic vehicles ever made , this was the #1 status symbol of rich and fabulous of 2 decades , I’ve just seen a 560SL in immaculately condition yesterday driving by this grandma it was insanely like showroom condition I sat there in front of it for over 1 1/2 hours just to hear that engine running.
I'm an SLC guy. I just love the longer line and that it rides nearly as well as my old Turbo R and eats up mountain roads so well for an old girl. We have Grandkids and the proper back seats are a blessing.
The holding on to the gears is a classic sign that the gearbox will need rebuilding. Those gearboxes wore out quite quickly. I believe it is the brake bands in the box that wear. You were lucky if you could get 50K miles out of one. My father had several Merc autos in the 1970s and they all had the same problem. One only lasted 20k miles before it had to be replaced so it would change at the correct speed. They never failed, they just wouldn't change gear when they were supposed to change. Lovely example Harry. 👍
Thank you for a nice review. While the US did get the 560SL and the 450SL, emissions regulations lowered compression ratio which resulted in later 450SL's having 160hp and 560SL's making 227hp. By contrast the European 500SL made 240hp and was quite a lively little car. Please keep them coming.
Again a great video, on the steering wheel size: This was actually a safety feature, in case a failure of the power steering it would still allow u to drive the car safely to the hard shoulder.
Good on you Harry. Stumbled on your channel last year and I'm thoroughly enjoying your videos. Here in the states we can't find a lot of the lovelies in your garage, but I can always dream. Smooth sailing, good Sir Harry, and keep up the fine videos. Thanks you for your efforts!
excellent! I had a 450 slc then a 380. I still love the slc 107. 1st 1 cost £1700 only 6 years ago. They are out of my reach now and getting to be a rare sight
Fabulously informative video Harry. Thanks. I've livrd near a classic car showroom for several years and the 70s/ 80s SLs have always been their steadiest sellers. However, chatying to them recently I commented on how they didn't seem to have had any in stock lately, and I was told they're having increasing difficulty getting hold of them to sell. Demand- and prices- are on the up perhaps. Two videos in a month! You spoil us! Love the channel. All the very best, Harry.
Lovely. I had a really nice 1973 350SLC a few years ago. Top tip for the plastic rear screen - if it looks a bit wrinkled, just pour some very hot water over it (not quite boiling) and it tightens up.
Yes...You can dent the trunk panels of a old Mercedes-Benz if you drive it with loose cargo inside the trunk. I found that the hard way! Very nice car and video, thank you for sharing with us!
A remedy to get rid of "hanging" gears on old Benz autoboxes (got it from a Benz dealer gearbox mechanic), is to ad a little extra gear oil, so when it's up to working temp. the oil stick should indicate a couple of milimeters above the top mark. It has been working well for ages on my car.
I really liked this video. I own a 560SL, 1986 (pre-own by my dad) and I really like it. Me too, I am not allowed to sell it. It's a really nice car to drive, and it still looks amazing. Still turns a lot of heads.
Just bought a 1977 450SL that is the splitting image of Harry's 350 . Left hand drive of course being in the states. Funny thing is that I watched this video before I even found this car. It just happened to be the best Mercedes of this vintage in my price range. The colors of this model could be very strange at the time if not downright awful. Great pick Harry!
Dear Harry, let me just say that you make the best car videos on web. I really enjoy your love for the cars and the knowledge that you are trying to pass to us. Thank you and please keep on doing just that. Cheers!
Great Review - as always. Many thanks. Great images. Really good description of the R107. In its day, it was the top-thing. Seeing one parked in Knightsbridge or Chelsea in the 70's - it was the elegant top machine. I'm a car enthusiast too, and I love these (preferably a 1982 500SL with the magnificent free-revving all-alloy V8), because they drive, and handle so nicely (I know this, as I owned one for quite a time). And the 500SL's had a perfect, high-geared 4-speed auto gearbox, that unlike Harry's characterful early car, changed up through the gears very quickly and easily when cruising. And as you say, in modern traffic, you can drive any R107 about today, like an up-to-date car. Very Great Review.
What a fantastic car and video. A friend of mine has just bought a 1980 model in white. I've yet to see it in the flesh but the photos look very good. I'm assuming from your narrative that his would be a 3 speed? I'm so glad I discovered Harry's Garage, only sorry that I'm rather late to the party....Really enjoying all the drives and reviews from a down to earth, knowledgeable point of view.
You're a wonderful Man to give that car such Love. Again thanks for a very thorough review. Thanks to you and your review I just went ahead and bought an 1979 450SL I wasn't sure I was sure about it.
Great video and you can see the effort and time you've put in! Thank you! The SL R107 is one of my favourite cars, it is truly timeless and a proper cruiser!
Great review - thanks. I think the R107, W123 and W116 models were the high point of Mercedes engineering and build quality. I respect them rather than get excited about them but they were ahead of their time and still usable as daily drivers 40 years on which is amazing.
These are awesome cars, I had a really rough one, hood was in tatters, body was terrible full of pudding and covered up with a cheap paint job, the leather was cracked and the rear suspension was hanging on to the rest of the car more by luck than any actual metal. I loved that thing though, always promised myself I'd have a nice one one day but prices stay out of my reach, if you can afford one of these go buy it, even if you only have one summer with it just for the experience.
Sorry, "S" is not for 'sport' 😌 But the shifting issue might well be a vacuum problem (there's a small box on the side of the transmission that can have a leak (most often its rubber cap is bad or gone and causes a leak which is a $1 item) and then if all is well this thing can be adjusted to change the shift 'harshness'. There's also a connection from the throttle to the transmission which can be adjusted for proper shifting points. I would think the SL Shop would have taken care of that... I have an 87 560SL and it has a 4 speed AT. However, it will always start in second unless I shift manually. Mine had a bad vacuum box and the little cap made a world of difference. Great video, thanks for sharing!!
Correct, the “S” is not for sport, but for Slope, like driving downhill in mountains in Barvaria ;-) But it does changes at higher revs in “S”, making it sportlike.
Voxted24 not exactly. It does stand for “Steigung” - or “slope” as you correctly identified. However, it also takes out the top gear (in a 4-speed AT it will only go to 3rd; in a 3-speed AT it will only go to 2nd). But it does rev up more before shifting into that highest gear so if that makes it sportier without the final gear, I guess call it “Sport.” But you can also consider them like 2/1 (as opposed to S/L) as on the later 3/2/B shifter and work through the gears manually. That’s probably the sportier approach 😌
The 3 speed auto transmission is a gem. I had a '79 450SL for 14 years (recently sold) and the combo of the lovely torque and seldom changing gear was wonderful. It just cruised comfortably at any speed, including long distance highways. Highly recommended.
I had a silver 1973 450SL that i bough for only 6k in 1998. It was a really nice cruiser that i used to take from the UK to France every now and then. The MB tex was indeed indestructible. Still think about it now.
This 350 SL is one of the first pre series, you can see it at the steering wheel, the horn switches have this little crome around it . This steering wheel was introduced in the C111 Experimental Car with Wankel Engine in 1970 developped under the lead of Rudolf Uhlenhaut. The technical Chief Racing Head for all the Mercedes Silver Arrows developped between 1935 and 1955. He did also use the prototypes from 350 SL as his personal test cars. And he had a very close look on security aspects, like steering column, dashboard, brakes and so on.
This is an old video because that SL is worth probably 60K now What a lovely video thanks Harry you have such good taste and its nice we can see how it should be done
Excellent video Harry but was hooked by firstly a drive in a 230 SL Pagoda , then a 280 SL. Slow and ponderous by today’s standards but such pretty cars.
Another cracking vid. That's one of the joys of HG; it manages to engage you even if the subject matter doesn't immediately seem thrilling and it's making me appreciate cars I wouldn't normally look at. Keep up the good work, Harry.
Harry will always be the best. Such cool presentation like your mate at the pub. His kids are so lucky having a dad like him. Nice work again Harry! He will not fit in well at Top Gear as too car orientated, sadly.
yes 3.59 mins in and I am salivating freely. I always adored these ...... and the predecessor.... MY Grnadmother lived in the Godalming/ home counties areas during the '70's so we got glimpses of these and "how the other half lived" when we travelled down.
I have a 1980 450 with 169k miles and I had no clue it had abs. My brakes seem to lock up very easily especially on wet roads. Wonderful car though and I daily drive it even though I probably shouldn’t. Engine is a bit saggy in terms of driving but it runs great and really does the job well. Great video!
My word, I've got an MX5, and seeing this roof process I'm now in awe of my little car! Thoroughly interesting as always Harry - and a hello from the next valley over, always like to see my old local roads being driven about on!
In 1983, my girlfriend's father at the time bought her a brand new 1983 380 SL for her High School graduation. I mostly drove the car and let me tell you Harry, here in New Jersey USA, as a 19 year old... I caught a lot of heat from many jealous people around my age yelling things at me like "Daddy's Car?" or "Go back to Princeton, Asshole". The car was amazing though. Well worth all the slack I got...
Thanks Harry. This was built when the engineers reigned supreme at Mercedes Benz. Accountants were kept in their office and told to pay the bills and not to touch the cars. I understand the reason a large steering wheel was retained was to ensure the car could be adequately steered in case of power steering failure. Its size also allowed for a "sneeze factor" on the autobahns where they knew their cars, capable of high speeds, would be run hard.
This or XJS convertible would be my open-top car of choice. Strange how long it took Jaguar to come up with answer to this SL. And as always, thanks for another perfect vid, Harry!
The coupe Jag came in 1975. It’s only 4 years later. If you’re referring to the fact a drophead Jag didn’t come until 1988, that’s because of the USA. The yanks were considering banning convertibles in the ‘70s, British convertibles sold mostly state-side, so it wouldn’t have been worth British manufacturers making a convertible if America banned them. As a result many British cars were designed to be hardtop only. The XJs was never intended to be a convertible. This is why the Triumph Stag is the way it is.
the bank volt sound when the doors close is a testament to the overall build quality of vintage Mercedes which I love dearly Mercedes is apart of my life as a kid in high school and even now
That SL will never stop looking classy. You could turn up at a Hollywod Red-Carpet event and nobody would care that it cost just 9 Grand. Merc at their very best.
Doug Demuro hates them 😐
Because he has no class
Number 27 also hates them
@@pauldoree3967 And that's why he's not Number 1
@@1954telecaster :facepalm: because Doug Demuro is a dumbass
the boot opening and closing sound is so iconic
Still very very common to see these in the US. People drive them like any other car, street park them almost year round, out on rainy days. And i've hardly ever seen one with significant rust which is nearly unbelievable in the north east
My dad drove a Pagode till '72 when he sold that and bought a 350SL. I literally grew up in that car, my Mom drove me to Kindergarden and later to school back and forth, did a Spain trip for summer vacation when I was about twelve and when I was 19 my dad invited my to a trip to Tirol in Austria. I drove throughout that trip as my dad was already very ill. We did 7 passes in 1 day in on our way from Austria to Meran and back for a day trip, had a flat whell at midnight and almost didnt make it to the gas station, our 3rd fill up that day (!), when we came back into Innsbruck. I loved and hated that car. I never liked it's appearance vs. the Pagode but looking from the inside out is a beauty of it's own, the V8 sound was gorgeous and it had some power ( sorry Dad ) for a 19 year old one. It could burn quite some gas if you pushed it, LoL. I will never forget that car, part of my life. One thing I have to note, my dad said it had bad camshafts and they had to be replaced twice and the folding mechanism was a fiddling of it's own. We sold it when dad died as no one in our family wanted to have a car with 15-17L/100km. Never regretted selling it tho I do love my memories about it. That engine had one of the best V8 sounds I have ever heard. Apropos sports car, it drifted quite well through corners when it had to ( sorry again Dad ).
Definitely the most articulate presenter currently in automotive video journalism. He could convince Jeremy Clarkson to buy a 911...
Harry is not in the same league as Clarkson. Jeremy Clarkson is a fool. A clown.
@@one_eleven agreed. Harry is a gentleman.
... or a Marina. Lol.
After years of dreaming I purchased a 1986 560SL and I have been loving every minute with it. Harry nailed it, timeless elegance, feels modern - just a dream to drive. I paid ~$21k and put $4k into it to ensure it would start, go and stop. The car was purchased in Pacifica, CA and was passed down 4 times in the same family before I came along. I named her QueenE after the luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth. They will have to pry the keys from my cold, dead fingers!!
I have fond memories of my 500 SL. It was immaculate. Exterior was palomino white and the imitation leatherette was camel sandalwood. The car was solid as a tank and when power was commanded it flew!. There were a few electrical glitches that were annoying (radio, fan speed and rear defroster were always shorting out when there was moisture in the air).
Mercedes knew how to build solid luxury tanks with each model displaying their own style and identity. Today's Mercedes are just plastic and BLAH!
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. Fondly, J. Duran, Jr from Santa Fe, New Mexico
The days when Mercedes had real quality mixed with practicality and a certain amount of utilitarian features for incredible durability. My Dad had a new SL in the 80's, what I remember about it was that being such a heavy car it didn't feel like it accelerated quickly until you looked at the speedometer needle whipping round the dial. Fantastic long distance drive.
The first time I ever saw this car was on the show hart to hart. I always looked at it as a car to dream for. Especially with the car phone. I love this guy Harry. There is no comparison between him and all the other young bloggers on TH-cam. Seriously. His words are chock full of info. Interesting info. No nonsense that you get from people talking about there own personal issues and being bullied as kids. Harry is the real deal. Someone to truly admire.
I have a 1984 380SL and it is definitely a joy to drive and watch other people stare at it as well. My favorite car.
Thank you for your great videos, Mr. Metcalfe. They are a joy to watch.
My father still has his 1981 SLC I grew up with and I make it a rule to drive it every time I visit them. Love that car.
I could sit here and listen to harry talk about cars all day - his knowledge is pure gold
Suuupppppppeeerrr Car The SL 👍❗️
after watching this i bought a 1984 280SL always wanted one and ypou convinced me Harry
Have one as well
Harry: The sound of that engine, as you pull away- is simply bliss!
Got to love these classics. Harry you have great taste
Just bought SL 450 R107 in Red colour, can’t wait to start restoring it to previous glory
Hi! great video, informative too. I have just purchased a very similar but newer R107 Sl 350 from 1980. I was wondering if you are 100% sure about the "S" standing for 'sport'? I am under the impression that it stand for 'slope', which makes it more suitable for going down hill. The 'L' stands for 'low', making it more suitable for uphill. Please correct me if i am wrong!!!!
I’ve watched this video three times now. Just love this car and your description. Hope to mug my own R107 this spring
One of these will be a retirement present to myself for hanging in there and keeping it together. Either a 450, 500, 560 SL...personal luxury at it's best.
It's not how fast you arrive, it's how you get there.
But 350sl good more than 450sl and 380 sl
The 'Ribbing' on the side of the car (under the rubbing strip) is designed to 'collect' road dirt and keep the upper door and door handle clean! The same method is applied to the tail lamps of all late 60, 70 and 80's Merc's - a safty feature to keep the lamps visible!
I owned the American version of the 1971 SL: the badge said 350 but we got the 4.5 liter version of that wonderful V8 under the hood. The extra torque allowed the transmission to upshift sooner. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I got to run the SL hard along the coast, through the redwoods, and across the Bay at high speeds. The 130 mph was maximum, but with the top down that was sufficient. This was the stiffest convertible as to body structure that I have ever tested from the era. The chassis was unflappably at speed or on rough roads. I saw one spin out at speed in the rain on the Bayshore freeway and smack into a concrete wall backwards at about 40 mph. The lady driver just opened the door and stepped out unhurt. Any other convertible would have deformed enough to jam the doors shut. I sold mine at 160,000 miles, all original and still running well. As Harry said, not the most sporting, but extremely elegant, practical, and well made. One of my all time favorite automobiles to own.
I'm working my way through these older videos while isolating after a relatively mild dose of Covid. I love the non-shouty tyre-spinning style, with real life driving, perfect. And this old Mercedes, what a great piece of engineering - super interesting vid.
I recall motoring journalists in the seventies and eighties complaining about German cars being way overpriced in comparison to their competition, however while most of this competition has disappeared, many Bmw's and Mercs of this era are still going strong .Very enjoyable video.
The old mechanical Mercedes cars just oozed quality. Unlike these new electronic gizmo loaded things...
ok boomer
Boom Boommmmmm
totally agree
Booma
Own a SLK 350 MK2. Fantastic car !
I love the R107 SL. It's one of my favourite cars of all time. Especially when you put the hard top on them... Gorgeous!
It was designed back when Mercedes Benz were a truly special entity. Latter day Mercs just don't have the same thing about them. And, old Mercs were buildt like the proverbial tank, weren't they. Later... well, that's another story, isn't it...
My ex Sally used to call it "the armchair", for me it was simply the best-engineered vehicle ever.
Sally says it all. Ok Sally salad
Thanks Harry. Love your taste in cars, the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside and like lots of others, your super laid-back, laconic style. Ta very much.
Cotswolds you plumb
Sheer class! I've always wanted one of these ever since I was a kid but could never afford one, you sure are lucky to own such a beauty.
350 sl,,I owned a 1973 model,,and adored it,,Mmmmm. Wish I’d kept it now though,,Also owned a 450 sl,,Both beautiful cars,,👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇬🇧
They are so beautiful. From a time when Mercedes knew about build quality.
Icons of the era.
We ran a '73 small bumper 450SL, drove it 130k daily, all seasons. Like others, and Harry said, these are bombproof. Needs infrequent chain service and just engine&trans oil changes. There was a front-subframe campaign so be sure that is inspected. Early cars are most attractive; the mid-eighties 560SL has a 'B" on the gated shifter...floor it there...it's no doubt for blast-off!
I would love to see Harry talking about the eccentricities of a Citroen DS...
Good idea...
Diablo GT and/or GTR too if you've the opportunity ...... on the opposite side of the scales to a citroen .... or perhaps already to quickly became a collectors
Dear +Harry's garage , that's a very nice car and a very nice review. I think the 70's SL is much much more beautiful than the SL you keep in Riviera..
Would be great to see a review of a XKR / XK8, but the early ones, the replacements of your XJS ...
Cheers .
Chapron convertible ;)
and many more
Harry is the best. To bad we have so short from him. Good stuff. Saw everything. Some few times.
Love this car. I have a 1985 380 SL and you described the R107 to a tee. She has expensive tastes when it comes to repairs and parts, but as for gas mileage, she's better that the Ford I drove for years! I'm always getting compliments and thumbs up from strangers when I'm out and about. A truly remarkable automobile..
I love your videos Harry! Your voice is so angelic, and had the ability to pacify a toddler.
When German cars were bombproof and lasted forever, along with the Swedish 80s Volvos. My hs buddy still has his dad's 280DL, with over 300K miles as it still runs perfectly.
Today's Mercedes are all electronic bells and whistles, but have nothing like the durability and utility angle these older Mercs had, where there was a mix of luxury, cutting edge technology and the concept in its design that it should last forever.
These cars are great touring cars. Bulletproof, fast enough, comfortable, pretty to look at, and very safe. Harry forgot to mention the windshield/screen is a roll bar.
Thank you Harry for your thorough investigations into classics and thank you for doing it in a sober way, so one really learn something about the car, its specifications and use.
About the shifting issue: the shifting pressure is adjustable! A shop should be able to adjust this for little money. Too hard shifts will put strain on flex disk and rear diff, too soft shifts will result in heat build up in the transmission. Just in case you read this, Mr Metcalfe. Great video, great car!
Good call on the wheels Harry, these original steel wheels with hub caps always made the R107 look classier than the alloy units. Perfect shade of blue too!
Being the lucky owner of a 380 SL I found this incredibly helpful and informative - Many thanks Harry
I did not know that history that they actually were that expensive from new, but what an elegant classic especially with the hardtop. I love your reviews and specialy the roadtrips on classic cars both newer and older vintage. Kind Regards
I was lucky enough to drive a 1989 560 SL with the top down through the city on a hot summer night.
Surprisingly free from rattles or body flex, great acceleration and sound from the smooth engine, an unflappable automatic transmission, understated yet elegant interior.
Probably wouldn't excite on a back road but as an urban cruising experience, totally memorable.
I've driven and worked on a lot of these old Mercedes SL's. Built like a panza! That said they are made of steel and do rot like any other steel car. I struggled to find one last time I was looking for a classic as my daily driver. All of the lower price bracket cars I was personally looking at had rot starting or badly repaired. I ended up with a Rover P6 3500 instead as they are cheap as chips which makes nice examples plentiful in comparison with lower price bracket Mercedes SL's. Chalk and cheese though. Thanks for the video.
This is the most legendary car of my 70’s and 80’s generation .... it’s up to now one of the most iconic vehicles ever made , this was the #1 status symbol of rich and fabulous of 2 decades , I’ve just seen a 560SL in immaculately condition yesterday driving by this grandma it was insanely like showroom condition I sat there in front of it for over 1 1/2 hours just to hear that engine running.
What an excellent quality review. Very enjoyable to watch!
The perfect way to review a car. Informative and relaxing to watch.
Best looking Merc period! And with the old school alloys,the ones used on just about all models in the 80`s,they are absolutly stunning.Still!
Doesn't matter what car Harry is talking about, his reviews are always enjoyable
I'm an SLC guy. I just love the longer line and that it rides nearly as well as my old Turbo R and eats up mountain roads so well for an old girl. We have Grandkids and the proper back seats are a blessing.
The holding on to the gears is a classic sign that the gearbox will need rebuilding. Those gearboxes wore out quite quickly. I believe it is the brake bands in the box that wear. You were lucky if you could get 50K miles out of one. My father had several Merc autos in the 1970s and they all had the same problem. One only lasted 20k miles before it had to be replaced so it would change at the correct speed. They never failed, they just wouldn't change gear when they were supposed to change. Lovely example Harry. 👍
Loved these since I was a child. Effortlessly cool, bombproof build. Would love one in my garage. Great video Harry.
Such a marvelous piece of engineering. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for a nice review. While the US did get the 560SL and the 450SL, emissions regulations lowered compression ratio which resulted in later 450SL's having 160hp and 560SL's making 227hp. By contrast the European 500SL made 240hp and was quite a lively little car. Please keep them coming.
Best report on an SL I have ever seen. Very well done Sir.
Again a great video, on the steering wheel size: This was actually a safety feature, in case a failure of the power steering it would still allow u to drive the car safely to the hard shoulder.
Good on you Harry. Stumbled on your channel last year and I'm thoroughly enjoying your videos. Here in the states we can't find a lot of the lovelies in your garage, but I can always dream. Smooth sailing, good Sir Harry, and keep up the fine videos. Thanks you for your efforts!
excellent! I had a 450 slc then a 380. I still love the slc 107. 1st 1 cost £1700 only 6 years ago. They are out of my reach now and getting to be a rare sight
Fabulously informative video Harry. Thanks.
I've livrd near a classic car showroom for several years and the 70s/ 80s SLs have always been their steadiest sellers. However, chatying to them recently I commented on how they didn't seem to have had any in stock lately, and I was told they're having increasing difficulty getting hold of them to sell.
Demand- and prices- are on the up perhaps.
Two videos in a month! You spoil us!
Love the channel. All the very best, Harry.
Lovely. I had a really nice 1973 350SLC a few years ago. Top tip for the plastic rear screen - if it looks a bit wrinkled, just pour some very hot water over it (not quite boiling) and it tightens up.
Yes...You can dent the trunk panels of a old Mercedes-Benz if you drive it with loose cargo inside the trunk. I found that the hard way!
Very nice car and video, thank you for sharing with us!
A remedy to get rid of "hanging" gears on old Benz autoboxes (got it from a Benz dealer gearbox mechanic), is to ad a little extra gear oil, so when it's up to working temp. the oil stick should indicate a couple of milimeters above the top mark. It has been working well for ages on my car.
Having a friend that owns one makes me very jealous. In red, RED!
I really liked this video. I own a 560SL, 1986 (pre-own by my dad) and I really like it. Me too, I am not allowed to sell it. It's a really nice car to drive, and it still looks amazing. Still turns a lot of heads.
Just bought a 1977 450SL that is the splitting image of Harry's 350 . Left hand drive of course being in the states. Funny thing is that I watched this video before I even found this car. It just happened to be the best Mercedes of this vintage in my price range. The colors of this model could be very strange at the time if not downright awful. Great pick Harry!
What a stunning car. Has aged so well and still looks fantastic.
Dear Harry, let me just say that you make the best car videos on web. I really enjoy your love for the cars and the knowledge that you are trying to pass to us. Thank you and please keep on doing just that. Cheers!
Great Review - as always. Many thanks. Great images. Really good description of the R107. In its day, it was the top-thing. Seeing one parked in Knightsbridge or Chelsea in the 70's - it was the elegant top machine. I'm a car enthusiast too, and I love these (preferably a 1982 500SL with the magnificent free-revving all-alloy V8), because they drive, and handle so nicely (I know this, as I owned one for quite a time). And the 500SL's had a perfect, high-geared 4-speed auto gearbox, that unlike Harry's characterful early car, changed up through the gears very quickly and easily when cruising. And as you say, in modern traffic, you can drive any R107 about today, like an up-to-date car. Very Great Review.
What a fantastic car and video. A friend of mine has just bought a 1980 model in white. I've yet to see it in the flesh but the photos look very good. I'm assuming from your narrative that his would be a 3 speed? I'm so glad I discovered Harry's Garage, only sorry that I'm rather late to the party....Really enjoying all the drives and reviews from a down to earth, knowledgeable point of view.
You're a wonderful Man to give that car such Love. Again thanks for a very thorough review.
Thanks to you and your review I just went ahead and bought an 1979 450SL I wasn't sure I was sure about it.
Great video and you can see the effort and time you've put in! Thank you! The SL R107 is one of my favourite cars, it is truly timeless and a proper cruiser!
Another fantastic video! Love the different range of cars you cover because no one else does it.
Great review - thanks. I think the R107, W123 and W116 models were the high point of Mercedes engineering and build quality. I respect them rather than get excited about them but they were ahead of their time and still usable as daily drivers 40 years on which is amazing.
These are awesome cars, I had a really rough one, hood was in tatters, body was terrible full of pudding and covered up with a cheap paint job, the leather was cracked and the rear suspension was hanging on to the rest of the car more by luck than any actual metal.
I loved that thing though, always promised myself I'd have a nice one one day but prices stay out of my reach, if you can afford one of these go buy it, even if you only have one summer with it just for the experience.
I’ve loved the SL since I was a kid! I was 6 in 1971
Sorry, "S" is not for 'sport' 😌
But the shifting issue might well be a vacuum problem (there's a small box on the side of the transmission that can have a leak (most often its rubber cap is bad or gone and causes a leak which is a $1 item) and then if all is well this thing can be adjusted to change the shift 'harshness'. There's also a connection from the throttle to the transmission which can be adjusted for proper shifting points. I would think the SL Shop would have taken care of that...
I have an 87 560SL and it has a 4 speed AT. However, it will always start in second unless I shift manually. Mine had a bad vacuum box and the little cap made a world of difference.
Great video, thanks for sharing!!
Yes it's an old car, there is this delusion that mercs don't need maintanance. Do you think a fluid flush will do anything?
Correct, the “S” is not for sport, but for Slope, like driving downhill in mountains in Barvaria ;-)
But it does changes at higher revs in “S”, making it sportlike.
Voxted24 not exactly. It does stand for “Steigung” - or “slope” as you correctly identified. However, it also takes out the top gear (in a 4-speed AT it will only go to 3rd; in a 3-speed AT it will only go to 2nd). But it does rev up more before shifting into that highest gear so if that makes it sportier without the final gear, I guess call it “Sport.” But you can also consider them like 2/1 (as opposed to S/L) as on the later 3/2/B shifter and work through the gears manually. That’s probably the sportier approach 😌
The 3 speed auto transmission is a gem. I had a '79 450SL for 14 years (recently sold) and the combo of the lovely torque and seldom changing gear was wonderful. It just cruised comfortably at any speed, including long distance highways.
Highly recommended.
I had a silver 1973 450SL that i bough for only 6k in 1998. It was a really nice cruiser that i used to take from the UK to France every now and then. The MB tex was indeed indestructible. Still think about it now.
This 350 SL is one of the first pre series, you can see it at the steering wheel, the horn switches have this little crome around it . This steering wheel was introduced in the C111 Experimental Car with Wankel Engine in 1970 developped under the lead of Rudolf Uhlenhaut. The technical Chief Racing Head for all the Mercedes Silver Arrows developped between 1935 and 1955. He did also use the prototypes from 350 SL as his personal test cars. And he had a very close look on security aspects, like steering column, dashboard, brakes and so on.
staggering for 71, real class
Beautiful car, my favourite SL's are the late 1980's ones 🥰
This is an old video because that SL is worth probably 60K now
What a lovely video thanks Harry you have such good taste and its nice we can see how it should be done
Absolutely fantastic car ... I wish I could get a second hand one.
That looks really classy Harry, the numberplate suits it also. Warming up to these R107's.
Always a great pleasure Mr. Metcalfe. Thank you.
Excellent video Harry but was hooked by firstly a drive in a 230 SL Pagoda , then a 280 SL. Slow and ponderous by today’s standards but such pretty cars.
The interior shocked me, I never knew they looked so modern even in 71!
Another cracking vid. That's one of the joys of HG; it manages to engage you even if the subject matter doesn't immediately seem thrilling and it's making me appreciate cars I wouldn't normally look at. Keep up the good work, Harry.
Harry will always be the best. Such cool presentation like your mate at the pub. His kids are so lucky having a dad like him. Nice work again Harry!
He will not fit in well at Top Gear as too car orientated, sadly.
yes 3.59 mins in and I am salivating freely. I always adored these ...... and the predecessor....
MY Grnadmother lived in the Godalming/ home counties areas during the '70's so we got glimpses of these and "how the other half lived" when we travelled down.
I have a 1980 450 with 169k miles and I had no clue it had abs. My brakes seem to lock up very easily especially on wet roads. Wonderful car though and I daily drive it even though I probably shouldn’t. Engine is a bit saggy in terms of driving but it runs great and really does the job well. Great video!
My word, I've got an MX5, and seeing this roof process I'm now in awe of my little car! Thoroughly interesting as always Harry - and a hello from the next valley over, always like to see my old local roads being driven about on!
In 1983, my girlfriend's father at the time bought her a brand new 1983 380 SL for her High School graduation. I mostly drove the car and let me tell you Harry, here in New Jersey USA, as a 19 year old... I caught a lot of heat from many jealous people around my age yelling things at me like "Daddy's Car?" or "Go back to Princeton, Asshole". The car was amazing though. Well worth all the slack I got...
Thanks Harry. This was built when the engineers reigned supreme at Mercedes Benz. Accountants were kept in their office and told to pay the bills and not to touch the cars. I understand the reason a large steering wheel was retained was to ensure the car could be adequately steered in case of power steering failure. Its size also allowed for a "sneeze factor" on the autobahns where they knew their cars, capable of high speeds, would be run hard.
Pleased to say that I owned my r107 for 10 years and loved every second.
beautiful car! one of my all time favourites
Fell in love with this car ever since I saw it on Hart to Hart. I think there's a job going at top gear btw. Please apply!!!!, you'd be bloody great!
Freeway down
I had a 280 , i loved it . Oh and the seats , "genuine leatherette" as Arther Dayley used to say .
This or XJS convertible would be my open-top car of choice. Strange how long it took Jaguar to come up with answer to this SL. And as always, thanks for another perfect vid, Harry!
The coupe Jag came in 1975. It’s only 4 years later. If you’re referring to the fact a drophead Jag didn’t come until 1988, that’s because of the USA. The yanks were considering banning convertibles in the ‘70s, British convertibles sold mostly state-side, so it wouldn’t have been worth British manufacturers making a convertible if America banned them. As a result many British cars were designed to be hardtop only. The XJs was never intended to be a convertible. This is why the Triumph Stag is the way it is.
the bank volt sound when the doors close is a testament to the overall build quality of vintage Mercedes which I love dearly Mercedes is apart of my life as a kid in high school and even now