Mercedes-Benz 560 SL – The Perfect Sunset Cruiser

THE WORLD OF CLASSICS HAD BECOME PERSONAL

The very first car always means something special to a true petrolhead. Regardless if the vehicle is meant as a daily driver or a weekend classic, it makes its owner proud and is usually kept in their memories for ever. The story is quite similar in my instance, albeit it is not a story of just sunshine and rainbows. It is rather a plot twist tale with heaps of lessons learnt. Where shall we start?

Interestingly, my story with one of the most famous German roadsters began with… an Alfa Romeo. I always wanted an Alfa. Quite a few of my automotive friends drove them and they were dressed in the finesse lines drafted by Bertone or Pininfarina. If you are looking into roadsters, Alfa Romeo Spider is one of the natural choices and I decided I want one. I even checked out two Spiders Aerodinamica before… I was told off Alfas for their low reliability, potential to rust through and many other inaccurate characteristics. Classic car culture in Poland, huh?!

As majority is always right (or is it?) I have gone for the only possible choice praised by others – Mercedes-Benz SL R107. It took a while to find the right one, after I cooked down my preference of the many available engines to either the 280SL coupled with a manual gearbox or the American 560SL with an automatic. The choice fell on the latter and I remember my travels to get it. Took a red-eye flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw, boarded a train to Bialystok and there it was – a 1987 560 SL in Signal Red.

I wish now came the story about how I drove it back home, through winding country roads but… the car was not yet registered, unfortunately. A friend of mine packed it onto a transporter and headed back to my hometown. Sad as I was for not being able to make that memorable route, I sure was proud to look back through the window and see my first classic being transported home. My classic automotive journey has just begun. For real!

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MODEL

We are talking Mercedes, so let us slow down from the personal story and get some cold data in order. The SL line by Mercedes is doubtlessly one of the most famous ones. Derived from Sport Leicht, it has drawn connections with fast roadsters and coupes ever since the world welcomed the 300SL on the roads. This particular type known as R107 (and C107) was produced for 18 years after it has replaced another legend – the W113 Pagoda. Such a long production time made it the second longest single series produced by the manufacturer from Stuttgart, right behind the G-wagon. Consequently it also winded up the count to an impressive 237’287 SL and 62’888 SLC built.

Photo courtessy of e|Mercedes-Benz

No wonder the R107 was a hit. It arose from underneath the pen of the late Josef Gallitzendoerfer and Friedrich Geiger, the latter responsible for e.g. Mercedes-Benz 540K and the aforementioned 300SL Gullwing. The roadster featured a very proportional body which was then unfortunately elongated by 360mm for the coupe variation. One simply cannot mistake an SLC for an SL with a hardtop. It is also simple to distinguish between American and European versions by looking at the headlamps and later the 5-miles-bumpers.

The production timespan resulted in an impressive number of car configurations. There were two inline six engines and a staggering six of V8! These had been thoughtfully paired with either three or four speed automatic or alternatively – four or five speed manuals. The most powerful versions were successful not only on the streets, but also in rallies. A five-litre 450 SLC joined the line in 1977 to provide homologation grounds for the 1978 World Rally Championship. This car truly looked like a rally legend and performed accordingly!

Photo courtessy of e|Mercedes-Benz

CRUISING RATHER THAN RACING

All right, back to the emotional bits! My ownership of the the 560 SL has spanned good six years already and throughout this time I had driven the car for around 5650 kilometres only. Unfortunately, having it parked way away from where I live did not help! At the same time I managed to expose the red arrow to different tests and conditions, from relatively long travels to summer city cruising and from regularity rallies to sports stages. From all that I managed to paint what I consider quite a complete picture of this German legend.

Despite the promising Sport Light abbreviation the roadster from Stuttgart is not your typical sporty spider. Don’t get me wrong! It is fast and… well, not the heaviest out there. However, in its stock configuration it is not the most agile car as the soft suspension places it rather in a cruiser category. In sharp corners the body swings like a boat on wheels and a sport slalom is a feat! Very high torque of 389Nm is ready to spin those rear wheels efficiently and if you wished, you will be searching for grip both at standstill and in corners no matter whether wet or bone-dry.

The V8 engine sounds rather mildly overall but growls pleasantly at lower revs. It is not your typical American bass, but is very tasteful and characteristic. Eight naturally aspirated cylinders pull the roadster easily and even at higher autobahn speeds it is comfortably quiet inside. Key traits of a grand tourer, aren’t they? Equally joyful, if not more, is travelling with the soft top down. Whether you are out through some country roads or in the centre of a big city the surroundings spill into the cabin and the wind blows your hair in all directions. Grab a hat, silk scarf or invest in a wind shot!

THE ONE AND ONLY ‘LONG DISTANCE’ TRIP

Sad as I am, I have driven the car mostly in Warsaw and around with only one longer trip to Czestochowa for a rally. Even though it was in 2017, I still remember this adventure well. I set off after work on Friday and headed down south. The first hundred kilometres I travelled through an express road to then stray onto the side roads. Still getting to know the car at the time I was wary about every knock and squeak and to be honest, I had not felt the satisfaction I should have…

After a warmly welcome from the people I had only known from Instagram, I checked into the hotel and headed for the pre-rally barbecue at the venue. The next day a few dozen cars headed onto an interesting route depicted through a well-done road book. Teams needed to spot certain landmarks and partake in all the many quizzes along the way. Highlights for me? Picturesque venues to photograph one’s car at – it was not called Photo Rally for nothing! Amongst others they included the only desert in Poland, various industrial buildings and landscapes with castle ruins. Touring with a befriended Fiat 500 team we mistook only one turn and…

As a result the final ten kilometres to the finish line we covered through gravel forest roads with holes so deep, we have all worried about the oil sumps, suspension and exhaust. After finally making it in complete darkness, we ate a well deserved dinner and gone to the awards ceremony. Unfortunately, none to pick for Team Mercedes. Next day was a rainy return to Warsaw and I cautiously took the highway route. Finding a couple of leaks at the soft-top gaskets on the way, my first rally was complete!

A STEEP LEARNING CURVE – NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MODEL

Looking back, these six years together with my Mercedes taught me a lot. The road we have driven was winding and had many twists and turns, but at its end I have re-discovered myself in the world of classics. Now from hands-on experience I can spread some personal words of wisdom. First of all – buy what you like, not what others suggest. Of course, take the friendly advise from experts around but do not let that drive you astray from your automotive dreams.

Secondly, after you pulled the purchase trigger remember not to be too precious about the car itself. It could have costed you a substantial amount of money, agreed, but cars are meant to be driven. You cannot enjoy a classic in a garage or showroom as much as you do on the road. It makes the journey exhilarating, too, not only the destination. So take it out there! Drive it to work on a sunny day, do not postpone that road trip because it is raining and do not be afraid to take the country road because of some possible potholes. You might just have have the best drive of your life. After all, if anything happens – cars can be fixed!

Thirdly and most importantly – share your passion. Go to that cars and coffee meet-up and get to know new like-minded people. Spread the joy of classic motoring around and let other enjoy your machine, too! That curious kid will likely not scratch your paint, but the car may as well spark a new passion in him or her that will last for years! Trust me, those enthusiasts’ smiles are contagious!

Lastly, I appreciated the small fixes I could do on my SL, but quickly came to terms with the fact I will not be able to repair nor play with any of the engine parts. The construction of the brilliant M117 engine is complex and furthermore, the engine bay is well congested. There is hardly any room for a very beginner here and therefore my technical skills improved only theoretically, whilst a good befriended workshop came in handy for complicated jobs. Diving deep into the maintenance of your classic – both theoretical and practical – helps to understand the foundation on how the machine works. It can be well reassuring during longer trips, as you may just know what failed (if) and how to go about fixing it.

GREAT ROADSTER DESERVING ITS FAME

It was earlier this month when I said goodbye to my 560 SL. It found its new home in what seems to be an interestingly themed collection and I hope it will also be actively driven. My last trip took place earlier this year during Easter, covering what neared 500 kilometres in central Poland. Hardtop was on and I could surely feel the grand touring trait of the flagship roadster when I enthusiastically navigated through the many countryside villages.

For the last time I felt the very same emotions I had when we were on our first spin together. The steering was precise, the suspension a bit lazy and the engine distinguished and powerful. 560 SL is a very particular type of a roadster that will not fit all, but no one can deny its class and living legacy. I took one last fast corner, going slightly sideways on a fine sand and understood it is time to let go. Godspeed buddy… for now!