Prior to the R107 generation Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, your thirst for a V8 couldn’t be quenched. Your only options in prior generations 300SL and W113 Pagoda were inline-six powerplants in various guise. Don’t get me wrong, they were very sweet engines, especially that in the Gullwing, but V8s they were not. However, it looks like there was someone who wasn’t going to accept that. Leave it to the sneaky Germans to pull this one off.
Last week I took at a look at a Mercedes-Benz E350 in a very interesting color that drew an above average reaction in the comment section. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the shade, but some enjoyed it and at the end of the day, I’m just glad they still offer some crazy colors. Today, I wanted to take a look at another Mercedes-Benz in a maybe not so popular color, but a lot easier to sallow.
This 1987 560SL is finished in Ivory, and that name pretty much nails it. It is an off-white, eggshell, beige, kind of color. Exciting? No. Understandable on a luxury convertible in 1987? Very much so.
Sometimes the grass is greener on the side. I’ll make that argument sometimes for car selection for certain European makes, but usually it’s for wild models with extra power or crazy options. Today’s car, a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL280, is the opposite of those scenarios. It is about a basic as it comes. It’s got a rock solid M104 inline-6, manual climate control, and the real kicker? A five-speed manual transmission. How about we throw in some Monoblocks and finished it off in Almandine Red Metallic just to make it even better?
Color is a big piece of the pie when it comes to buying a car. Sometimes it is the only piece. Today is one of those one-piece pies. This 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 up for sale in Arizona is finished in Pearl Beige Metallic, and what a color it is. To me, pearl + beige + metallic = gold. This is the first time I’ve seen a modern Mercedes-Benz in Pearl Beige Metallic and by the looks of it, I’m probably not the only one.
I’m certainly not a huge fan of the R107, and when it comes to beautiful and classic Mercedes-Benz models, it’s hardtop sibling – the C107 – probably isn’t on the top of anyone’s list. But it is an interesting car, and it has some unique history – including competing in the World Rally Championship before Audi redefined the category:
The Big, Bad, Automatic Benz That Took on the WRC – the C107
These C107s occupy an interesting spot in the marketplace; generally ignored, they offer a lot of classic Benz attributes without breaking the bank. And recently one popped up on Bring a Trailer with some neat modifications that really had me intrigued. So when a similar European-specification 280SLC popped up, I thought it was worth a look.
These ultra-low mileage cars that come out of the woodwork every so often can either can one of two ways. On one hand, they are stashed away with care and caution. Regular exercise, maintenance, and cleaning when necessary. On the other side, basically none of that. Just throw it in the corner under a cover and let it sit. Then bring it out and say it is perfect. That might be true in a loose definition, but not when it comes to really caring for the car. Today’s car, a 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL600 for 427 miles, maybe is on the latter of those scenarios.
Ever feel like you are having car déjà vu? If you are like me, it happens from time to time. A car that you recognize, but maybe can’t place it or isn’t sure if it was the same model. When I saw this car, a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC, it took me about 30 seconds to remember the story on it. However, the story does not get any better.
It feels like the W211 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG is flying under the radar a little. Well, at least for now. Maybe it’s their subtle looks or lack of screaming exhaust note, but then again, that was the entire point when this car was new. Keep in mind, this was right when the horsepower wars started between Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, which ultimately prompted V10s in both the E60 M5 and C6 S6. Looking back now, the E60 M5 is basically considered radioactive in terms of reliability, and people seem not to want to sign up for an aging Lamborghini-esque V10 that requires carbon cleaning and new intake flaps every so often. That leaves the E55, the car with a big supercharger on it, as the most reasonable example to own out of the three. I think we set the bar pretty low here.
The Mercedes-Benz C216 chassis isn’t exactly aging well. This design was certainly considered modern at the time of it’s launch in late 2006, but now almost 15 years later, it is a bit uninspiring. Yes, the AMG cars look a little better, but this is a giant blob of a car in my opinion. Inside the cabin, you had a small glimpse into the future. It has a nearly full digital display that could be configured in a number of ways. This was impressive in 2006 and just now the technology is trickling down the regular cars of the world. Still, the party tricks are few and far between on this chassis and the repair bills have the potential to be many.
Today, I happen to come across a 2009 CL550 up for sale in Arizona that has an extraordinary amount of miles, and as a result, an over a $100,000 discount off the sticker price. Would you?
After that last Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, I thought I’d get back on the right track with another SLS that is much more special. This 2012 up for sale in Germany starts out tame enough in Obsidian Black Metallic, but when you open those doors you get hit with a color combo that I’ve never seen before and didn’t even think was possible. It is worth the click.
