SLShop: Keeping The Mercedes-Benz SL Dream Alive
Mercedes-Benz has competed in motorsports since the early 1900s before the legendary Silver Arrows dominated the Grand Prix scene from 1923 to 1939. But when WWII hit, the company ceased racing.
After the war, the brand looked to return to motorsport, and Mercedes-Benz team manager Alfred Neubauer spotted three Jaguar XK120s while attending a Le Mans race. The Jaguar's design resonated with Neubauer, and it was clear that if Mercedes were to re-enter Le Mans, this was the car to beat.
Shortly after, the Mercedes-Benz '300 Super Light', later shortened to SL, was commissioned and testing began at the Nürburgring, Germany.
Rudy Uhlenhaut, head of Mercedes passenger cars in the 1950s, constructed a lightweight (50kg) tubular shell from magnesium and aluminum. A 3.0-liter straight-six engine from an Adenauer Mercedes was soon dropped in and power was upped to 170bhp.
Mercedes-Benz SL
It scored a double victory at the 24hrs Le Mans, came second and fourth in the Mille Miglia, and bagged quadruple wins at the Nürburgring Anniversary Sports Car GP.
A suggestion by Mercedes' USA importer Max Hoffman for a road-going guise was soon approved and the 300 SL Gullwing (W198) arrived in 1954. It needs no introduction and is arguably one of the prettiest cars ever made.
Classic Mercedes-Benz SLs are rare on British and American roads now, but one company helps keep the SL dream alive: SLShop.
Sam Bailey, SLShop founder, has been around cars from a young age: 'My father was a mechanic; he did his apprenticeship with Mercedes Cruikshank in Bristol and worked on Pagoda 108s and 111s. They've always been a part of my life.'
In 2006, SLShop was born alongside Bailey's father and one other. It started with buying and selling, which involved prepping the cars for customers. This soon led to workshop expansion to maintain and service other people's cars before full restorations.
The SLShop workshop
SLShop is now claimed to be the world's largest Mercedes-Benz SL specialist with over 81 completed ground-up restorations and circa 3,000 classic SLs sold.
'We've become a one-stop shop. Likewise, we can find and fit rare parts and diagnose issues.' Bailey adds. Beyond restoration and sales, SLShop also offers storage, transportation and detailing.
The 50,000 sq ft premises in Warwickshire, U.K., house 140 cars on average with over 40 team members keeping classic Mercedes-Benz SLs alive. SLShop plans to expand its engineering department by relocating its detailing and trim shop to a nearby building and will include a rust protection section.
The Mercedes-Benz SL specialist relied on third parties for engine, gearbox, fuel pump, and differential rebuilds, but recently increased skill sets allow these to be done in-house.
Mercedes-Benz SL
'This means we can control quality, and ensure components meet manufacturer standards. For example, we are now the last company in the U.K. that can rebuild a 1960s Bosch fuel pump. There are many garage queens out there, but life is short—put miles on it. It's easy to get caught up in nostalgia because of value, missing the car's point. These machines are memory makers."
As emission laws increase, many car lovers keep an antidote classic stored in a garage while owning an EV or PHEV. 'On our full rebuilds, we often get clients requesting further customization. It's often people that want their petrol fix; those who perhaps daily drive an efficient family car.'
Mercedes-Benz SL
While SLShop offers different color combinations via sustainable materials, it can also shoehorn larger more powerful modern Mercedes engines into classic SLs, meaning little is off limits.
'We did have a request to widen the track of an SL, but this involved cutting the car down the middle and adding 6 inches. They didn't want to flare the arches and change the line of the car. But that proved a step too far.'
SLShop's reborn program revives tired W121, W113, and R107 Mercedes-Benz SLs to former glory. Each car includes a history file, a certificate of authenticity and collectability, a 24-month warranty and concierge servicing.
They also have a wide variety of stunning Mercedes-Benz SLs for sale.
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