Story of your 107

[AGT]

I have followed the 107 topic and thought it might be fun to start a new thread for our 107s.

I attach (hopefully) two pictures of my 107 - one with its friend Yvette.

My 107 is a European 420SL from early 1989 in the best (controversial) colour combination of signal red with cream leather. The 420 is a V8 which I think was only sold in Europe and in the UK is considered less desirable than either the 300 or the 500.

I have owned my 420 for coming up on 15 years. She has led a very sheltered life although sometimes has to fill in daily driver duties in the summer months.

A very different car from my Pagoda but also a great pleasure to bowl along in the sunshine, roof down and V8 burbling.

Regards
Andrew

1966 230SL
1989 420SL
1976 Citroen 2CV

[stickandrudderman]

As someone who was trained by Mercedes in the 1980s as a technician, it is possible that I know more about the 107 than I do the 113!
I've gone from doing PDIs (pre-delivery inspections) to full restorations!
Sadly, the days when I could buy them for £500 are long gone!

[zak]

Nice 107 Andrew. The 420 engine was in many US 126's back in the 80's and even some 124's too. I thought it was a great engine.
I am curious why your 420SL is less desirable then those with 300 and 500 engines ?

I also go both ways with my '67 250 SL and my '83 280 SL ( euro bumpers and lights) and love them both for what they are.
Panzerwagon is an apt nickname for the 107s. They are a heavyweight cruiser, great at high speeds but no where as nimble as the 113s and whale-loke on the turns at speed.
Also back in 1990 I bought an '85 380 SL and drove that thing for 5 years every day in every kind of weather and it never once let me down.
I would never even consider doing that with the 113. But I must say that I have driven my 250 SL for 25 years on weekend pleasure cruises and it never left me stranded.

My wife and kids all drive the 107 and borrow it all the time in summer, but I would never lend my 107 to any of them without me being in the car with them.
Last summer I kept the top down on the 107 all summer long and the hard top on the 113 and drive it like a coupe.

I am glad to have both.

best,

jz 

 

[AGT]

Zak

I didn't set out to buy any particular 107 model although I favoured a V8 as at the time I bought my 107 I was running a CL500 which was my first ever V8 and was just lovely to drive. Sadly, that CL500 had the Mercedes millennium rust bug.

My 107 was being sold by a guy who was a designer for Ford UK. In addition to the 107 he had a perfect early model Ford Capri and was restoring a Ford Consul. He had turned over every stone searching for the 107 and then his circumstances had changed and I was almost embarrassed to buy the 107 off him. He seemed content that the car was going to a good home.

Mercedes only produced around 2,000 420SLs. The problem with the 420 is that it gets overlooked because it falls between the lighter and cheaper to maintain 280/300SLs but without having the performance advantage and grunt of the 500SL. I certainly know about the expense of running the V8 as my 107s valves needed replaced a few years ago (at a disappointing 60,000 miles) and it was "are you sitting down" expensive just for the parts. All is forgiven now. This winter's project has been replacing the drive shafts and as our roads are dry and clean at the moment I am going to pick the car up tomorrow.

My only criticism of the 107 is its seats which make me ache after a few hours at the wheel. One of our MB Club members in Scotland fitted seats out of a Saab into his 107 and although it looked a little odd that sorted the comfort problem.

Any pictures of your 280SL?

Best regards
Andrew

[Jack Jones]

When I was looking for a 107 chassis car, my main focus was a Euro spec model with a 5 speed manual so this meant either a 280SL or a 300SL. I ended up with a 107 280SL and love the car, especially knowing that parts are easier to come by and my comfort level is better especially on longer trips. 

[cabrioletturbo]

+1 Jack. Finding any w107 with manual transmission let alone with 5sp is not an easy task. After a few years of looking, I landed a 1984 280SL, much like your car, Jack. Along the way I picked up a 1986 300SL for a good measure. Can't say that I am dissatisfied with either.

Pictured 300SL. Awaiting some AMG upgrades and euro lights this spring.

[Jack Jones]

Well, if are showing pictures!

[UJJ]

Beautiful car Jack

[ja17]

Started out as a stock "all Euro spec" W107 450SLC. High compression, no emissions, lower variable rate springs all four corners, 4 speed manual transmission, lighter manual windows, no AC, aluminum hood, small lighter bumpers and 17 inch wheels and wide sticky tires. I replaced the rear diff with a 3.55 ratio was 2.89. Lightened exhaust (center muffler deleted). It smokes the tires, but fuel economy is not the best!

[AGT]

Joe

I was about to compliment Jack on his lovely looking car and then your SLC Rally moved the game on yet again.

What a magnificent looking beast! That looks great fun to drive. Does the fixed roof make the SLC a better base for uprating than the convertible? While I would not insult a Benz by accusing it of scuttle shake my car does have a bit of a shimmy on broken roads. And it is really roly into the bends. If I cornered my 107 as hard as in your picture, the door handles would be scraping on the road.

Regards
Andrew

P.S. Lovely looking car Jack.

[ja17]

Thanks Andrew,
No cowl shake at all with the solid top. In addition the full roll cage stiffens the chassis. I have a five speed standard to put in it someday. During the rally in Australia we would red line at 125mph with the four speed. A Ford GT40 blew by us doing 160mph!

[zak]

I love the look of the euro bumpers.
I hate the look of the big garbage can rear muffler. I wish I could get rid of it and get a flatter one that doesn't show so much, but is not  louder .
Also, I can't seem to find a pair of chrome tips for the muffler end like Pagodas have.
I know the 107 muffler tips curve downward, but I seem to recall after market tips for 107s that extend straight out for show and fool the eye  but actually have an underside exhaust outlet that fits the down curved tips. Anyone recall them?

jz

[Aaron h]

I love the look of the euro bumpers.
I hate the look of the big garbage can rear muffler. I wish I could get rid of it and get a flatter one that doesn't show so much, but is not  louder .
Also, I can't seem to find a pair of chrome tips for the muffler end like Pagodas have.
I know the 107 muffler tips curve downward, but I seem to recall after market tips for 107s that extend straight out for show and fool the eye  but actually have an underside exhaust outlet that fits the down curved tips. Anyone recall them?

jz

JZ, From about 1980 forward the chrome exhaust tips were no longer used.  However, for the early models from 1972-1979 they were available, and weren't aftermarket.  You could get two versions.  You could get the deflected ones you make mention of (to prevent soiling of the tail light/corner of the car), and you could get ones that were straight outlet, which all came with from the factory up to 1979.  Neither chrome tip will fit on the curved tail pipes.  You'd have to cut the curve off in order to fit them, and by the time you did that the chrome tips would be so far tucked under the bumper they wouldn't really be visible.  Though, on the early models that did use the chrome tips there is a footnote that says the tail pipes had to be shortened by 75mm when the deflected tips were subsequently installed. 

There may have been some aftermarket tip that would fit over the later curved tips, but I've never seen any or heard of their existence. 

The straight through chrome tip is part number 123-492-06-14.  Still readily available.  Retail is $85.00, wholesale is $68.00
The deflected chrome tip is part number 116-492-05-14.   Also still readily available.  Retail is $31.00, wholesale is $26.00