Historical past of Mercedes Benz: The 230SL Pagoda

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The Mercedes Benz 230SL and its successors 250SL and 280SL (1963 – 1971)

As a primary within the historical past of Mercedes Benz the automobile was proven to the press two weeks earlier than it was formally launched on March 14th 1963 on the Geneva Vehicle Present. This manner it was ensured that their stories had been out at or earlier than the official launch date of the automobile. This Benz was eagerly awaited and no person knew, whether or not it will comply with the mighty 300SL or the favored 190SL. It didn’t comply with both of them. When Prof. Fritz Nallinger, chief engineer and member of the chief board, unveiled the brand new Mercedes Benz 230SL, internally referred to as W 113, it created some form of a shock. As Erich Waxenberger, proficient engineer underneath Rudolf Uhlenhaut as soon as remarked, the automobile appeared as if a tree had fallen on prime of it. The roof was, effectively…uncommon. However not solely the roof created some stir, it was additionally the automobile’s efficiency. All people had anticipated a successor to the legendary 300SL.

Daimler-Benz in fact was agency in its method to the brand new SL’s position. It was neither a 300SL nor a 190SL. It was a high-performance touring sports activities automobile with superior dealing with traits that might transport two passengers plus their baggage in type, consolation and most of all security. It was a Mercedes Benz very a lot by itself. In an effort to show the sports-aspect, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, all the time out there for a fast blast round a race course, pushed the 230SL round a 1.5 km spherical circuit close to Montreux within the presence of the press. It was most spectacular that the British Grand Prix driver Mike Parkes was not in a position to drive a lot quicker. His automobile wasn’t the SL although, his automobile was a Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta!

Though lots of the automobile’s technical options weren’t new in any respect, it was the mix and their enhancements that made this Benz particular. The operating gear had recirculating ball steering and a dual-circuit brake system. Girling disc brakes had been fitted to the entrance axle, whereas vacuum assisted Alfin drums had been fitted to the rear. For the primary time within the historical past of Mercedes Benz such a automobile could possibly be ordered with energy steering and most stunning for many European journalists: computerized transmission. A sports activities automobile and computerized transmission? Completely unimaginable! It wasn’t solely the press who thought that method, it was the identical with many of the European public. No marvel, only a few such automobiles had been bought in Europe. The People had been already a step forward, for them the mix sports activities automobile and computerized transmission made a whole lot of sense. And as Daimler-Benz considered promoting some 80 % of the automobile overseas, this further was actually useful. The Benz got here commonplace with a four-speed guide with 3.75:1 gear ratio. It was just like the one used within the 220SE however with a shorter first gear ratio of 4.42:1 as an alternative of three.64:1. It ought to guarantee quicker acceleration, however wasn’t universally appreciated, so in 1965 the guide transmission of the brand new 250S/SE was adopted.

In 1967, two years after the launch of the 250 sedan collection, the 230SL was changed by the 250SL. Its greater engine diminished the considerably lackluster efficiency at low revolutions. Sadly it suffered from reliability issues at excessive speeds, not one thing a sports activities automobile driver was too amused to listen to. Though this difficulty was rapidly handled, the automobile was additionally well-known for its comparatively excessive gasoline consumption. After just one yr, it was changed by the larger and smother 2.8 l engine. It supplied 170 hp at 5,750 rpm in comparison with the earlier 150 hp at 5,500 rpm, it additionally had barely extra torque and an improved gasoline economic system.

Whereas the 250SL Benz price at 22,800.- DM ($5,700.-) nearly the identical because the 230SL, the 280SL was 1,500.- DM ($375.-) costlier. Within the US the 280SL price round $7,500.-, relying on the extras. Clients did not thoughts although, they beloved the bundle and got here operating. In its 5 years the Mercedes Benz 280SL managed to promote 23,885 items, greater than half of them went to North America. The 230SL bought over the identical interval 19,813 items.

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Source by Bernd S Koehling