500SL SportLine destined for Cyprus

The latest 500SL SportLine on the block.  

‘’The difference between the standard suspension setup and SportLine is night and day. My new 500SL feels like a modern Mercedes – it is fast into corners and absent of the body roll and nose diving you find with the standard R107 setup.’’    

THE BRIEF: ‘’Give me a 500SL that drives with the precise, engaging and sportiness of a modern car but retains the period looks, comfort and character of the original.’’   

THE TWIST: The owner is the custodian and racer of an array of modern and classic vehicles, including everything from e-types to Ferraris…  

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. 

THE STARTING POINT: 

The 500SL in question arrived in our Showroom at the end of 2021, selected for its well documented main dealer service history and high-specification. With almost every single option selected, this 500SL was the perfect starting point for a SportLine commission that had to be akin to a modern car in both driving and comfort traits. The improvements made by our SportLine department would ensure the integrity of these options, keeping all modern conveniences in place for the owner.   

Finished in Signal Red (568) with Beige Leather (275), the opportunity to carry out a colour change was presented, allowing the new owner to pick from a wide range of period correct or alternative Mercedes-Benz colourways. With this on the cards, the table was set for a completely bespoke SportLine build that would result in a one-of-a-kind 500SL destined for the sun-kissed streets of Cyprus. This was a partial SportLine build as the engine and transmission have been largely un-touched.  

THE BUILD: 

In structurally fine fettle, the 500SL was stripped down to a rolling shell with the engine and interior concealed and protected before the bodywork could be re-painted. The new owner opted for Medium Blue Metallic (396) – a colourway only available with the R107’s predecessor, the W113 Pagoda. The perfect colour choice for the vehicle’s destination, Medium Blue Metallic (396) is rich in hue and reminiscent of the milky blue bays of the pacific islands. The closest colour you will see is Diamond Blue (355).  

Following the colour change, the 500SL underwent complete overhaul of the suspension setup, with uprated anti-roll bars, aluminium rear trailing arms and anti-squat links, adjustable progressive springs and uprated bushes. This setup was rigorously tested and tuned to give the 500SL the feel of a modern car, allowing for more direct and precise cornering. Where an original R107 feels as if the distance between the body and the wheels gets longer when cornering, SportLine keeps the stance firm to the floor and allows you to sync yourself to the corner and hit the apex with ease.  

To improve braking, we’ve fitted vented discs to both the front and rear of the car, allowing for sharper braking to bring that V8 lump to a hault more efficiently. The engine now breathes more easily with a custom stainless-steel exhaust developed by SLSHOP specifically for SportLine. Where the original exhaust has a twin pipe running from the manifold to the tips, SportLine exhaust features a single pipe from the centre box to the tips; with an improved stainless steel manifold. The sound is glorious but not overwhelming, allowing the engine to sing and catch its breath more easily, also adding a few more horses to the stable.  

INSIDE:

The interior has been left in its period format, with the only change to the beautiful, preserved leather interior being the steering wheel. The owner elected for the steering wheel to be re-trimmed in Alcantara with blue cross-stitching to match the exterior colourway. Minor changes to add even more individuality to this 500SL when out in the real world.   

We asked the owner of our latest 500SL SportLine to summarise how his new R107 feels, he reported:  

‘’The difference between the standard suspension setup and SportLine is night and day. My new 500SL feels like a modern Mercedes – it is fast into corners and absent of the body roll and nose diving you find with the standard R107 setup.’’    

With this SportLine now off to the Cyprus, we’re delighted with the outcome and hope that one day the vehicle will return for us to carry out our SportLine magic on the engine and gearbox. Either way, this 500SL will look stupendous on Cypriot roads and we hope it spends another 34 years on the road effortlessly eating up the miles.