The Mercedes-Benz W 113 automobiles were produced from 1963 through 1971. They were sold as the "pagoda roof" SL Class. The W 113 replaced the W 198 SL-Class in 1963 and was replaced by the R107 SL-Class in 1972.
All models boast an inline six-cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. All are rear-wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. Most of these early SLs were sold with both the removable hard top and a soft top in the so-called "Coupe/Roadster" configuration, but there was also a "California Coupe" version available that came with the removable hardtop but no soft top. In these models, the soft top well (between the passenger compartment and trunk) is removed, and a drop-down bench seat is installed in its place. The rear seat is small and not very useful, so these 2+2 models are rare but not especially sought after today. While the SLs are relatively heavy compared to other similar roadsters, weight was reduced in part by the use of aluminum panels for the trunk lid, front hood, tonneau cover and door skins.
230-SL (July, 1963−January, 1967)
Production began in 1963 with the 2.3 liter 230-SL. These models were commonly 4-speed manual transmission cars, but a 4-speed automatic transmission was also available and popular for U.S. market cars. The 230-SL sported front disc / rear drum power-assisted brakes. They quickly gained popularity in the U.S. market, and this eventually led to more and more cars being built with automatic transmissions. 19,831 copies of the 230-SL were built, of which 11,726 cars were exported.
250 SL (December, 1966−January, 1968)
The 250 SL was basically a one-year model, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1967, although in North America many were sold in, and titled as, 1968 model year cars. This model is the rarest of the W 113 cars. The main changes were the use of a 249..
The W113 name-tag indicates a range of vehicles produced from 1963 to 1971 sold as the SL Pagodas. The name is derivative from the car's high and sleek roof that, if seen from the sides, looks as if it just hung over the rest of the car having been linked to the rest of the body only through the tonneau and a slim B-pillar that looks rather like a design element. These exotic coupes were also available with a soft-top and removable hard-top with the latter having also been dubbed as the "California Coupe". All models came equipped with an inline six-cylinder petrol unit, rear-wheel drive and a live rear axle.
All Mercedes SL-Class W113 models boast an in-line six cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. All are rear wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. Most of these early SLs were sold with both the removable hard top and a soft top, although "California Roadster" versions came with the removable hardtop but no soft top. In these models, the soft top well (between the passenger compartment and trunk) is removed, and a "kinder-seat" (childrens-seat) is installed in it’s place. The rear seat is small and not very useful, so these models are rather rare, and not especially popular with collectors today. While the Mercedes SLs are relatively heavy compared to other similar size sport roadsters, weight was reduced in part by the use of aluminum panels for the trunk lid, front hood, and door skins.
The first W113 SL, introduced at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, effectively replaced both the 190SL and 300SL. The all-new 230SL - the first to be offered with air conditioning and automatic transmission - had a six-cylinder 2.3-litre engine developing 170bhp and featured the Bosch fuel injection. Its structure was basically similar to that of the 190SL, though it was built on what was essentially a shorter, stiffer version of the 220-series saloon platform, with a steel body and aluminium doors, bonnet and bootlid, and the double-wishbone suspension with rear swing arms. Its most distinctive feature was its (optional) hard-top, however - its elegant shape with thin, upright pillars led it to be nicknamed the "pagoda roof".
The roof was slightly dipped in the centre, to give a little extra room for getting in and out, and to allow for large side windows without making the car top-heavy. The 230SL also incorporated front and rear crumple zones around a rigid passenger cell, safety technology Mercedeshad already introduced in its sal.
All models boast an inline six-cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. All are rear-wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. Most of these early SLs were sold with both the removable hard top and a soft top in the so-called "Coupe/Roadster" configuration, but there was also a "California Coupe" version available that came with the removable hardtop but no soft top. In these models, the soft top well (between the passenger compartment and trunk) is removed, and a drop-down bench seat is installed in its place. The rear seat is small and not very useful, so these 2+2 models are rare but not especially sought after today. While the SLs are relatively heavy compared to other similar roadsters, weight was reduced in part by the use of aluminum panels for the trunk lid, front hood, tonneau cover and door skins.
230-SL (July, 1963−January, 1967)
Production began in 1963 with the 2.3 liter 230-SL. These models were commonly 4-speed manual transmission cars, but a 4-speed automatic transmission was also available and popular for U.S. market cars. The 230-SL sported front disc / rear drum power-assisted brakes. They quickly gained popularity in the U.S. market, and this eventually led to more and more cars being built with automatic transmissions. 19,831 copies of the 230-SL were built, of which 11,726 cars were exported.
250 SL (December, 1966−January, 1968)
The 250 SL was basically a one-year model, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1967, although in North America many were sold in, and titled as, 1968 model year cars. This model is the rarest of the W 113 cars. The main changes were the use of a 249..
The W113 name-tag indicates a range of vehicles produced from 1963 to 1971 sold as the SL Pagodas. The name is derivative from the car's high and sleek roof that, if seen from the sides, looks as if it just hung over the rest of the car having been linked to the rest of the body only through the tonneau and a slim B-pillar that looks rather like a design element. These exotic coupes were also available with a soft-top and removable hard-top with the latter having also been dubbed as the "California Coupe". All models came equipped with an inline six-cylinder petrol unit, rear-wheel drive and a live rear axle.
All Mercedes SL-Class W113 models boast an in-line six cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection using a mechanical pump system adapted from the diesel motors. All are rear wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. Most of these early SLs were sold with both the removable hard top and a soft top, although "California Roadster" versions came with the removable hardtop but no soft top. In these models, the soft top well (between the passenger compartment and trunk) is removed, and a "kinder-seat" (childrens-seat) is installed in it’s place. The rear seat is small and not very useful, so these models are rather rare, and not especially popular with collectors today. While the Mercedes SLs are relatively heavy compared to other similar size sport roadsters, weight was reduced in part by the use of aluminum panels for the trunk lid, front hood, and door skins.
The first W113 SL, introduced at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, effectively replaced both the 190SL and 300SL. The all-new 230SL - the first to be offered with air conditioning and automatic transmission - had a six-cylinder 2.3-litre engine developing 170bhp and featured the Bosch fuel injection. Its structure was basically similar to that of the 190SL, though it was built on what was essentially a shorter, stiffer version of the 220-series saloon platform, with a steel body and aluminium doors, bonnet and bootlid, and the double-wishbone suspension with rear swing arms. Its most distinctive feature was its (optional) hard-top, however - its elegant shape with thin, upright pillars led it to be nicknamed the "pagoda roof".
The roof was slightly dipped in the centre, to give a little extra room for getting in and out, and to allow for large side windows without making the car top-heavy. The 230SL also incorporated front and rear crumple zones around a rigid passenger cell, safety technology Mercedeshad already introduced in its sal.