Euro R107 280SL

[jharkin]

i'm thinking about finding a euro r107 280sl. Timeless Motor Classics has several listed . Has anyone purchased from them, or have any experience with them?

[ja17]

Hello John,

These 6 cylinder W107 cars were quite popular in the rest of the world.  In the USA they are scarce since they were not offered here.

A lot of W107 enthusiasts prefer the lighter and more limber six cylinder 280SL to the heavy and sluggish emission laiden 450SL of the era.

Since no W107 280SLs were offered in the US new, examples which made it here afterward are "euro spec." mostly.  This means a lot more power, lighter and better fuel economy. If your lucky these cars may still have the pretty small chrome bumpers instead of the massive USA safety bumpers.

A typical W107 280SL may have many desirable features;  no or less emisssion devices, high compression engine (more power), small original chrome bumpers, stick shift, euro headligts (better lighting).

On the other side of the coin, they often show up with; roll up windows, non leather interiors, and  no AC. Although the M110 six cylinder engine in these is lighter than the V-8 in the 450SL, it is still heavy and complicated with its dual overhead cam arrangement.

[thelews]

My buddy recently sold this exact car.  I'm no fan of 107's, but this was one nice car!  Really drove beautifully and I liked the stick.

http://www.memory-motors.com/Show_Car.php?CAR_ID=49

He's in the process of attempting to acquire a 1973 (I believe) 450 SL.  Small bumper, very original, about 80K miles in excellent condition and unusual and vintage color combo, light coffee, cork interior, brown top.  Car drives great and everything works perfectly, ice cold A/C.  My understanding is the first two years , '72-'73 are the only collectible 107's and all the rest are used cars.

[hauser]

Alex Dearborn has an early 107 for sale.  http://www.dearbornauto.com/showroom/3/index.shtml

[Dash808]

http://www.dearbornauto.com/showroom/3/index.shtml

"161,000 documented miles..." and photo'd in front of a cemetery, lol.

[hauser]

Yea the cemetery in the background isn't the ideal backdrop. 

[thelews]

The cemetery, I believe is right across the street from the business.

[cascadia]

My buddy recently sold this exact car.  I'm no fan of 107's, but this was one nice car!  Really drove beautifully and I liked the stick.

http://www.memory-motors.com/Show_Car.php?CAR_ID=49

I sold this car to Bob at Memory Motors in Dec. 07, that was one I would have liked to keep.
BTW John, I've been looking at your flickr page quite a bit as I prep engine bay components for the 230 I'm restoring, thanks!

[thelews]

I sold this car to Bob at Memory Motors in Dec. 07, that was one I would have liked to keep.
BTW John, I've been looking at your flickr page quite a bit as I prep engine bay components for the 230 I'm restoring, thanks!

That 107 was a very nice car.

Let me know if I can be of any other help with your assembly via pictures.

Bob, my friend you sold the 107 to, did pick up the 450 SL.  Very original, very nice and drives beautifully with everything working including A/C.  Unique and vintage color combo of Autumn Haze exterior, Bamboo leather interior and Brown convertible top.  It's in nice condition than the Euro 280 SL.  It will be listed on his site www.memory-motors.com soon.  Going through some detailing and minor mechanical repairs and belt and fluid changes.

[RagtopSL]

I take issue with the statement that any U.S. spec R107 produced after 1973 is just a used car. Number one most of our cars were purchased used. The purpose of our Hobie is purchasing cars we like and their preservation for future generations. Value should not be the governing factor in the purchase of a collector car; if you think your car is an investment there are better places to put your money ( in today's economy under your mattress ). In my humble opinion the only SL with any kind of ROI potential is the 300SL coupe and roadster produced from 1954 to 1963. I drive a U.S. spec 1978 450SL with 10,500 original and documented miles, collecting this car has been like automotive anthropology for me. My car may not have a high dollar value but as an original unrestored preserved SL I will put it up against any similar automobile. I am disabled and do not get to drive my SL as much as I would like but when I get behind the wheel it takes me to another time, when I look at her in the garage I see the beauty of her lines and the craftsmanship of her components.

RagtopSL

[thelews]

Don't get too upset with the statement, it was from a collector's point of view.  With almost a quarter million of 107s produced, only the small bumper '72/'73 are considered collectible by those in the industry.  The flip side is, for a relatively small amount of money, buyers can find very nice 107s that they can drive and enjoy, unlike earlier models.

Yes, the 300 SL is definitely an "investment" and appears in almost any serious collection.  The 190 SL has moved up on the tails of the 300 and the 113 is also coming along, but may take awhile longer to reach its full potential.

[RickM]

To add to this thread, I'd argue that the 107 500SL is more sought after in the US than the early 450 SL (rebadged 350 SL).

IMO, any 107 demands quite a bit of attention. What got my goat was the over-the-top, unnecessarily complex climate control systems. Two words; vacuum actuators...what a nightmare to replace.

[Benz Dr.]

Gee Rick, that's something we can both agree on. The climate control system with the servo in the engine bay might be worse of all of them.

I sort of rate the 107 like this as far as value or collector staus is concerned:

Any very low mileage car 20,000 miles and under.
450SLC 5.0
500SL
560SL
early 350SL
late 380SL
early 380SL
1975 450SL with cats on the exhaust manifolds
350SLC
450SLC
280SLC
380SLC

Euro versions have an interest in North America but don't always sell well. Some parts can be harder to get and the dealers won't look at you sometimes - not that you'd go there anyway.