Two weeks ago, CC’s Joseph Dennis wrote about a Mercedes-Benz 380SL in a piece titled The Art of Aging Gracefully. Joe’s featured SL was battered, but still exuded the classiness that enabled Mercedes’ R107 convertibles to remain in production for nearly two decades. This SL, by contrast, defines graceful aging from another perspective. After all, the key to aging gracefully is remaining active – and how many 40+ year-old cars do we typically see hauling a pair of bicycles? This SL is still living the dream.
Taking two people on a pleasure ride is exactly what the SL was made for. And it was indeed a pleasure to see our featured car cruising down a highway on a warm weekend afternoon, providing freedom for its two occupants. Upon closer inspection, this in-motion SL had its share of nicks and paint blemishes, but of aging gracefully doesn’t mean aging perfectly.
Being active and agile well into an advanced age – we should all be so lucky as to age like this 450 SL. Happy trails!
Photographed in Falls Church, Virginia in August 2020.
As far as I’m concerned, the 70’s were Peak Benz, beautiful, luxurious, and well-engineered and manufactured.
Look at the auction sites, and virtually every Mercedes model of the era fetches top dollar. There’s also a good independent shop (or several) in most cities, and the manufacturer provides incredibly good parts support for vehicles so old.
Worn 124 are still cheap. 210 series E classes and A class are beater money in the UK as the build quality went thru the floor. Thank you Chrysler.
Wait, didn’t Mercedes buy (uh, I mean “merge” with) Chrysler in 1998, drain their bank accounts, then dump Chrysler to a venture capitalist company, and the fact that Mercedes’ quality took a nosedive is Chrysler’s fault? I think you may have that backwards. Any failings are due to MB’s own decisions.
The W210 started development a full decade (1988) before the Chrysler affair and was sold starting in 1995 (three years before) and the A-class was also released (first shown 1994, sold starting 1997) well before the deal with Chrysler.
50s for me. 300SL, Adenauer, Ponton, even the lowly 190SL were gorgeous works of art.
Nothing in their lineup in the 70s was all that interesting. Although the W107, when released in 1972 looks to me like a remarkably modern car for the time. No wonder it had such a long run.
For me the W116 is THE classic prestige Mercedes. Nothing since has the same sense of ‘rightness’.
+1.
I’ll always long for one.
Cruising down the road with two mountain bikes in a nicely worn-in Benz convertible from the Enviable Years of the brand. Looks like a pretty good day to be that guy.
I have never really warmed up to this model. It’s just too square, the proportions seem slightly off and it lacks the litheness and the effortless, mondaine chic of its predecessor.
The R107 looks heavier and aimed at an older buying public, just like most 70’s Benzes.
I have lusted after the R107 since I was a wee tyke and HAD to have one. Now in my 50s I have almost bought one a few times. I have a pristine R129 but I still itch for one.
Looks like it was spotted on I-66 just inside the Beltway.
Yep, that’s it! Just where I-66 and Rte. 267 split off, heading westbound.
I like how super-chill the driver looks. Right arm up on the passenger’s side seatback, a relaxed facial expression reflected in the side view mirror… Looks like it was a great summer day.