Mercedes-Benz SL history: W 113 Pagoda, R 107, R 129, R 230, R 231 and R 232

SL roadster history

After the 300 SL and 190 SL, the W 113 arrived at the 1963 Geneva show as the 230 SL. Its concave hardtop earned the "Pagoda" nickname. The 250 SL followed in 1967 and the 280 SL (2.8 liters, 170 hp) from late 1967; 48,912 W 113s were built in total, 23,885 of them 280 SLs.

The R 107 of 1971 was the first SL with a V8 and stayed in production for 18 years. In the US it launched as the 350 SL 4.5 and 450 SL; the 380 SL arrived for 1980 with longer US-spec bumpers (9.8 inches longer overall), and the 560 SL from 1985 was sold almost exclusively in the US (93.75%).

The R 129 (1989–2001) introduced the automatic pop-up roll bar and became the SL 600 V12; the R 230 (2001–2012) brought the folding steel Vario roof; the R 231 (2012–2020) an aluminum body; and the R 232 is developed by Mercedes-AMG.[1],[2],[3]

Years and production numbers

Key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The W 113 was the first SL offered with an automatic transmission and the first Mercedes passenger car with radial tires; its safety body had a rigid passenger cell and crumple zones.
• The 450 SL was export-only for North America until February 1973. From model year 1975, California emissions values applied to all US cars.
• The 560 SL's 5.6-liter V8 came from lengthening the 500 SL's stroke; with a standard catalytic converter it made 230 hp, 15 hp less than the European 500 SL.
• In 2006 the R 230 SL 500 got a 5.5-liter V8 and became the SL 550 in the US, because US rules then required displacement-based names to match the actual displacement.

Sources:[1],[4]

What changed, year by year

1. 1963–1971 W 113230 SL → 250 SL (1967, rear disc brakes) → 280 SL; "California" coupe with hardtop only, popular in the US.
2. 1971–1989 R 107350 SL/450 SL launch; 280 SL six-cylinder added July 1974; 380 SL from 1980; 560 SL from 1985 for North America, Japan and Australia.
3. 1989–2001 R 129Pop-up roll bar, integral seats; 600 SL V12 from 1992; new names (SL 500, SL 600) from 1993; SL 73 AMG in 1999.
4. 2001–2012 R 230Vario roof (16 seconds); SL 55 AMG, SL 65 AMG; 2008 facelift and SL 65 AMG Black Series.
5. 2012–2020 R 231Aluminum body shell 110 kg lighter than the R 230; SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG.
6. R 232Developed by Mercedes-AMG; sold as the AMG SL.

Sources:[1],[2]

What to check before you buy one

• On a W 113, check for rust in the floor, sills and around the hardtop seal, and confirm whether a "California" coupe has had a soft top retrofitted (a complex conversion).
• On an R 107, confirm the model: early 450 SLs, 380 SLs with US bumpers and the 560 SL all have different engines and values.
• On an R 129 or R 230, test the hydraulic roof (and on R 230s with Active Body Control, the suspension) through full cycles.
• Compare against the SL known-issues list for the generation you are considering.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Mercedes-Benz SL known issues page.

How to verify the factory options of any SL roadster

For SLs built from model year 1981 on, the factory data card by VIN lists paint, interior and every option code — useful for confirming a 560 SL, an AMG model or a special edition such as the SL 500 "US 500 Edition" (40 built).

SLs from model year 1981 on (late R 107 and every later generation) have 17-character VINs. The W 113 and 1971–1980 R 107 cars predate the standard; original records for those come from Mercedes-Benz Classic.[8],[9]