Owning a classic car can be a daunting experience. You may find yourself asking, who do I take my car to? Can I trust them? Do they possess the knowledge to deal with the car? Are they too expensive? Are they recognised as a reputable Mercedes specialist? Will the work protect the value of my car?
All these questions are hard to determine answers to when researching on the internet, and often, word of mouth tends to be the biggest influence for classic Mercedes owners. It can also be tempting to assume that modern dealers still retain the knowledge and understanding of classic Mercedes, but this can often lead to disappointment due to several factors ranging from technical knowledge, access to Parts and their sheer desire to support classic owners.
So, what should you look for in a Mercedes Specialist?
1. AWARDS:
As restorers of a variety of classic Mercedes models, we’ve gained international acclaim for the preservation and improvement of 190SLs, W113 Pagodas and R107 SLs. Innate to all our restoration work is our desire to offer customers the car they’ve always dreamed of owning – a car that they can use for trips and tours with confidence in its mechanical and monetary value.
This commitment to the legacy of classic Mercedes SLs has been endorsed by Mercedes-Benz themselves, who selected a SLSHOP restored Signal Red R107 300SL to be displayed in the foyer of Mercedes-Benz World to commemorate 50 years of the model.t
Our very own Mercedes specialist, Bruce Greetham, also received a concours award for his complete R107 500SL restoration, and more recently David Sutherland, editor of Classic Mercedes Magazine, announced to the international community, ‘’I’ve driven possibly the best Pagoda I’ve ever come across by Mercedes specialist, SLSHOP.’’
2. AN INSIGHTFUL AND OPEN TEAM:
Owners who have ventured over to SLSHOP will recall the bustling atmosphere and expanse of smiles displayed by all members of the different departments. SLSHOP now stands at 50 employees, with each office, workstation, and vehicle space full and bursting at the seams.
Take a wander around our Workshops and you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the famous faces who have created the award-winning machines known around the world.
Rob: Restoration specialist and keeper of the most intricate structural details of the R107 SL – his years of fabrication experience working with SLs means he possesses the most specific measurements not available to most other workshops. Rob’s keen eye can suss out a compromised Bulkhead or skewed panel in seconds, with his mantra being that any fabrication work he carries out must be ‘as new’.
Jack: Like Simon, Jack has been instrumental in growing SLSHOP’s Parts Store. Over the years, he has migrated across a variety of roles to improve our customer service, expand our product range, and ensure our presence online accommodates each customer’s needs. Jack manages the Heritage product line, combing the world for the rarest of Heritage parts to keep our Workshops restoring cars and to support owners around the world. Ask him a product code and whether it fits a specific car, and you won’t be disappointed.
Mark: Starting his career as a technician in the north-east, Mark has worked for OEMs including Alfa Romeo and Volkswagen, as well as managed a large fleet of rapid response vehicles and front-line ambulances in the public sector. Mark now manages our R107 restoration and servicing work, utilising his technical
Paul: Paul is an essential member of our Specialist Workshop with a unique and rich history in the automotive industry. Paul worked on the R107 SL early in his career, learning his craft from the experts at Mercedes-Benz in the late 1980s. Paul watched the R107 SL transition into the technology focused R129 SL, giving him intricate knowledge not found at any other classic Mercedes-Benz specialist or main dealer.and managerial skills to support customers with their individual ownership goals.
These are just four of the pivotal people behind SLSHOP’s success, and these are the types of individuals that you should look for at a Mercedes specialist.
3. ACCESS TO THE NUMBER ONE MERCEDES SPECIALIST:
As the UK’s largest classic Mercedes specialist, we work with owners from all corners of the country; with a high proportion of international owners shipping their car to us for remedial work. To keep up with the demand from owners looking to use their car for holidays, weekend trips and daily outings, we aim to book you in well ahead of your scheduled drive.
Our transporter is always out on the road, heading north, east, west, and south to collect and deliver cars. This service prevents you from needing to take the time out of your working day or weekend. We’ll inspect your car and provide you with imagery and a comprehensive report before any work is carried out on your car.
4. ESSENTIAL PARTS FROM A MERCEDES SPECIALIST:
Not only do we stock some of the most sought-after parts in the world, but SLSHOP is the sole supplier of a variety of components that are not available elsewhere. These parts are essential to keeping several classic Mercedes models on the road. Without SLSHOP’s efforts, many owners around the world would be unable to continue enjoying the fruits of their investment.
By choosing SLSHOP, you can be assured that every part replaced on your vehicle is equal to or as close to those used when the car rolled off of the production line. This level of quality ensures that you and your car can safely and comfortably continue enjoying owning a Mercedes-Benz.
5. A HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE
Your relationship with SLSHOP doesn’t just stop the day your car leaves our premises. We want you to be a part of our ever-growing community of owners – a space where you can ignite new friendships, plan, and embark on new adventures, and learn about your vehicle.
We see our leading role as a Mercedes specialist as that of a guide and support structure, allowing you to take part in different driving events around the country and beyond; with the knowledge that you can pick up the phone and seek support if necessary.
Discover our existing events and tours to find out exactly what it means to be a member of our community.
6. COMPLETE CARE
Owners who bring their car to SLSHOP will uncover exactly why choosing a Mercedes Specialist is important and worthwhile. For those that want long-term support, we offer CARE: a certified servicing investment plan that alleviates the pressures of owning a classic Mercedes. Owners who join CARE invest £55.00 each month towards their vehicle investment pot, while our team schedules future servicing and maintenance work according to your plans.
Owners benefit from subsidised parts, labour, and transport costs, as well as discounted classic car insurance premiums. This is an investment plan not available anywhere else in the industry and can only be found with a Mercedes specialist like SLSHOP. One of the many benefits of the scheme is a complete service book stamped by industry leaders, giving your car provenance should you decide to sell it in the future.
7. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION:
‘’No better place to take your SL. Incomparable level of service, knowledge and understanding on R107s and well worth my 100-mile round trip to get my car seen by the experts. And special thanks to Mark for his specific support and communication on my car.’’
Adam Nethersole
”The level of service I’ve received is second to none and the technical information provided by them is invaluable. Even when I factor in the five-hour time difference, their response times are generally faster than I get from local companies…Pricing is extremely competitive and the parts inventory SLSHOP has is probably the best anywhere.”
Paul Leitner-Wise
‘’The SL Shop are the gold standard for classic car ownership. I bought my SL 11 years ago from them and their service is impeccable. They take the anxiety out of owning a classic car and their total integrity, immense expertise and responsiveness make classic car ownership a pleasure.’’
Nick de Leon
Still need convincing? Watch our Proud Owners Series and discover exactly why we are the number one Mercedes specialist.
HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY
Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts
Owning a classic car can be a daunting experience. You may find yourself asking, who do I take my car to? Can I trust them? Do they possess the knowledge to deal with the car? Are they too expensive? Are they recognised as a reputable Mercedes specialist? Will the work protect the value of my car?
All these questions are hard to determine answers to when researching on the internet, and often, word of mouth tends to be the biggest influence for classic Mercedes owners. It can also be tempting to assume that modern dealers still retain the knowledge and understanding of classic Mercedes, but this can often lead to disappointment due to several factors ranging from technical knowledge, access to Parts and their sheer desire to support classic owners.
So, what should you look for in a Mercedes Specialist?
1. AWARDS:
As restorers of a variety of classic Mercedes models, we’ve gained international acclaim for the preservation and improvement of 190SLs, W113 Pagodas and R107 SLs. Innate to all our restoration work is our desire to offer customers the car they’ve always dreamed of owning – a car that they can use for trips and tours with confidence in its mechanical and monetary value.
This commitment to the legacy of classic Mercedes SLs has been endorsed by Mercedes-Benz themselves, who selected a SLSHOP restored Signal Red R107 300SL to be displayed in the foyer of Mercedes-Benz World to commemorate 50 years of the model.t
Our very own Mercedes specialist, Bruce Greetham, also received a concours award for his complete R107 500SL restoration, and more recently David Sutherland, editor of Classic Mercedes Magazine, announced to the international community, ‘’I’ve driven possibly the best Pagoda I’ve ever come across by Mercedes specialist, SLSHOP.’’
2. AN INSIGHTFUL AND OPEN TEAM:
Owners who have ventured over to SLSHOP will recall the bustling atmosphere and expanse of smiles displayed by all members of the different departments. SLSHOP now stands at 50 employees, with each office, workstation, and vehicle space full and bursting at the seams.
Take a wander around our Workshops and you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the famous faces who have created the award-winning machines known around the world.
Rob: Restoration specialist and keeper of the most intricate structural details of the R107 SL – his years of fabrication experience working with SLs means he possesses the most specific measurements not available to most other workshops. Rob’s keen eye can suss out a compromised Bulkhead or skewed panel in seconds, with his mantra being that any fabrication work he carries out must be ‘as new’.
Jack: Like Simon, Jack has been instrumental in growing SLSHOP’s Parts Store. Over the years, he has migrated across a variety of roles to improve our customer service, expand our product range, and ensure our presence online accommodates each customer’s needs. Jack manages the Heritage product line, combing the world for the rarest of Heritage parts to keep our Workshops restoring cars and to support owners around the world. Ask him a product code and whether it fits a specific car, and you won’t be disappointed.
Mark: Starting his career as a technician in the north-east, Mark has worked for OEMs including Alfa Romeo and Volkswagen, as well as managed a large fleet of rapid response vehicles and front-line ambulances in the public sector. Mark now manages our R107 restoration and servicing work, utilising his technical
Paul: Paul is an essential member of our Specialist Workshop with a unique and rich history in the automotive industry. Paul worked on the R107 SL early in his career, learning his craft from the experts at Mercedes-Benz in the late 1980s. Paul watched the R107 SL transition into the technology focused R129 SL, giving him intricate knowledge not found at any other classic Mercedes-Benz specialist or main dealer.and managerial skills to support customers with their individual ownership goals.
These are just four of the pivotal people behind SLSHOP’s success, and these are the types of individuals that you should look for at a Mercedes specialist.
3. ACCESS TO THE NUMBER ONE MERCEDES SPECIALIST:
As the UK’s largest classic Mercedes specialist, we work with owners from all corners of the country; with a high proportion of international owners shipping their car to us for remedial work. To keep up with the demand from owners looking to use their car for holidays, weekend trips and daily outings, we aim to book you in well ahead of your scheduled drive.
Our transporter is always out on the road, heading north, east, west, and south to collect and deliver cars. This service prevents you from needing to take the time out of your working day or weekend. We’ll inspect your car and provide you with imagery and a comprehensive report before any work is carried out on your car.
4. ESSENTIAL PARTS FROM A MERCEDES SPECIALIST:
Not only do we stock some of the most sought-after parts in the world, but SLSHOP is the sole supplier of a variety of components that are not available elsewhere. These parts are essential to keeping several classic Mercedes models on the road. Without SLSHOP’s efforts, many owners around the world would be unable to continue enjoying the fruits of their investment.
By choosing SLSHOP, you can be assured that every part replaced on your vehicle is equal to or as close to those used when the car rolled off of the production line. This level of quality ensures that you and your car can safely and comfortably continue enjoying owning a Mercedes-Benz.
5. A HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE
Your relationship with SLSHOP doesn’t just stop the day your car leaves our premises. We want you to be a part of our ever-growing community of owners – a space where you can ignite new friendships, plan, and embark on new adventures, and learn about your vehicle.
We see our leading role as a Mercedes specialist as that of a guide and support structure, allowing you to take part in different driving events around the country and beyond; with the knowledge that you can pick up the phone and seek support if necessary.
Discover our existing events and tours to find out exactly what it means to be a member of our community.
6. COMPLETE CARE
Owners who bring their car to SLSHOP will uncover exactly why choosing a Mercedes Specialist is important and worthwhile. For those that want long-term support, we offer CARE: a certified servicing investment plan that alleviates the pressures of owning a classic Mercedes. Owners who join CARE invest £55.00 each month towards their vehicle investment pot, while our team schedules future servicing and maintenance work according to your plans.
Owners benefit from subsidised parts, labour, and transport costs, as well as discounted classic car insurance premiums. This is an investment plan not available anywhere else in the industry and can only be found with a Mercedes specialist like SLSHOP. One of the many benefits of the scheme is a complete service book stamped by industry leaders, giving your car provenance should you decide to sell it in the future.
7. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION:
‘’No better place to take your SL. Incomparable level of service, knowledge and understanding on R107s and well worth my 100-mile round trip to get my car seen by the experts. And special thanks to Mark for his specific support and communication on my car.’’
Adam Nethersole
”The level of service I’ve received is second to none and the technical information provided by them is invaluable. Even when I factor in the five-hour time difference, their response times are generally faster than I get from local companies…Pricing is extremely competitive and the parts inventory SLSHOP has is probably the best anywhere.”
Paul Leitner-Wise
‘’The SL Shop are the gold standard for classic car ownership. I bought my SL 11 years ago from them and their service is impeccable. They take the anxiety out of owning a classic car and their total integrity, immense expertise and responsiveness make classic car ownership a pleasure.’’
Nick de Leon
Still need convincing? Watch our Proud Owners Series and discover exactly why we are the number one Mercedes specialist.
HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY
Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts
More from Journal
CARE
THE ULTIMATE CERTIFIED SERVICING INVESTMENT PLAN
Your ownership journey matters to us, which is why we have created a simple certified servicing investment plan, tailored to your individual needs and aspirations.
Start investing today and our dedicated CARE team will work with you to increase the value and enjoyment you receive from your vehicle.
STAY IN TUNE WITH SLSHOP MOMENTS
As part of SLSHOP’s community of enthusiasts, you’ll be the first to hear about events and tours, key product offers, exciting stories from owners around the world and of course… our latest additions to the showroom. So, be the first to know and you might just sneak a car on your driveway or take your car’s condition to new heights with our exclusive replacement parts.
Or, visit SLSHOP Journal