Mercedes-Benz W113

Mercedes-Benz W113
230 SL, 250 SL, 280 SL

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Also called	Mercedes Pagoda
Production	1963–1971 48,912 built
Assembly	Stuttgart Untertürkheim, Germany
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz W198 Mercedes-Benz W121 BII
Successor	Mercedes-Benz R107
Class	sports car, GT
Body style	2 door coupé, roadster
Layout	FR layout
Engine	2308 cc M127.II I6 2496 cc M129.II I6 2778 cc M130 I6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual (ZF)
Wheelbase	2,400 mm (94.5 in)
Length	4,285 mm (168.7 in)
Width	1,760 mm (69.3 in)
Height	1,305 mm (51.4 in)
Related	Mercedes-Benz W108 Mercedes-Benz W111 Mercedes-Benz W112
Designer	Paul Bracq Béla Barényi

See Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for a complete overview of all SL-Class models.

The Mercedes-Benz W 113 is a two-seat roadster/coupé, introduced at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, and produced from 1963 through 1971. The W 113 SL replaced both the legendary 300 SL (W 198) and the 190 SL (W121 BII). It was designed by Paul Bracq, and the distinctive, slightly concave shape of its optional hardtop, conceived by Béla Barényi, inspired its contemporary nickname "Pagoda." Of the 48,912 W 113 SLs produced, 19,440 were sold in the US.

All models feature an inline-six cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection. All are rear-wheel drive, but are also equipped with independent rear suspension, a feature that greatly improved road handling. 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.

These SLs were typically sold with a soft top and an optional removable hard top, the so-called "Coupe/Roadster" configuration. A 2+2 was introduced with the 250 SL "California Coupe," which had fold-down rear bench seat instead of the soft-top.

History

By 1955, Mercedes-Benz Technical Director Prof. Fritz Nallinger and his team held no illusions regarding the 190 SL's lack of performance, while the high price tag of the legendary 300 SL supercar kept it elusive for all but the most affluent buyers. Thus Mercedes-Benz started evolving the 190 SL on a new platform, model code W 127, with a fuel-injected 2.2 liter M180 inline-six engine, internally denoted as 220 SL. Encouraged by positive test results, Nallinger proposed that the 220 SL be placed in the Mercedes-Benz program, with production commencing in July 1957.

However, while technical difficulties kept postponing the production start of the W 127, the emerging new S-Class W 112 platform introduced novel body manufacturing technology altogether. So in 1960, Nallinger eventually proposed to develop a completely new 220 SL design, based on the W 111 sedan platform and technology from the W 112. This led to the W 113 platform, with an improved fuel-injected 2.3 liter M127 inline-six engine and the distinctive "pagoda" hardtop roof, designated as 230 SL.

The 230 SL made its remarkable debut at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show in March 1963, where Nallinger introduced it as follows: "It was our aim to create a very safe and fast sports car with high performance, which despite its sports characteristics, provides a very high degree of traveling comfort".

Models

230 SL (1963–1967)

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, US model

Production of the 2.3 liter 230 SL commenced in June 1963 and ended on 5 January 1967. Its chassis was based on the W 111 sedan platform, with a reduced wheelbase by 11.8", recirculating ball steering (with optional power steering), double wishbone front suspension and an independent single-joint swing rear-axle with compensating spring. The dual-circuit brake system had front disc brakes and power-assisted rear drum brakes. The 230 SL was offered with a 4-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission, which was popular for US models. A 5-speed ZF manual transmission was also available from May 1966. The comparatively short and wide chassis, combined with an excellent suspension, powerful brakes and radial tires gave the 230 SL superb handling for its time. Of the 19,831 230 SLs produced, less than a quarter were sold in the US.

The 2308 cc M127.II inline-six engine with 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp) and 196 N·m (145 lb·ft) torque was based on the venerable M180 inline-six with four main bearings and mechanical Bosch multi-port fuel injection. Mercedes-Benz made a number of modifications to boost its power, most importantly increasing displacement from 2197 cc, and using a fuel injection pump with six plungers instead of two, which allowed placing the nozzles in the cylinder head and 'shooting' the fuel through the intake manifold and open valves directly into the combustion chambers. An optional oil-water heat exchanger was also available.

Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who was as competent behind the wheel as any racing driver, demonstrated the capabilities of the 230 SL on a tight short race track near Montreux in 1963, where he put up a best lap time of 47.5 seconds vs. 47.3 seconds by Mike Parkes on his 3 liter V12 Ferrari 250 GT.

A brief chronology of the most notable changes made to the 230 SL:

• October 1963: First car with automatic transmission.
• September 1964: Spare tire well removed; tire mounted horizontally.
• November 1964: Optional color/thermal glass.
• August 1965: Hazard lights for US models.
• March 1966: Three-point seat belts available.
• May 1966: Optional ZF 5-speed manual transmission, rare and now very desirable.

250 SL (1966–1968)

1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL, late European model

The 2.5 liter 250 SL was introduced at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. Production commenced in December 1966 and ended in January 1968. The short one-year production run makes the 250 SL the rarest of the W 113 series cars. The 250 SL retained the stiffer suspension and sportier feel of the early SLs, but provided improved agility with a new engine and rear disk brakes. Range also improved with increased fuel tank capacity from 65 L (17.2 US gal) to 82 L (21.7 US gal), and resiliency improved with a new cooling water tank ('round top') with increased capacity from 10.8 L (2.9 US gal) to 12.9 L (3.4 US gal). Like its predecessor, the 250 SL was offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission, a 4-speed manual transmission, and the rare ZF 5-speed manual transmission. For the first time, an optional limited slip differential was also available. Of the 5,196 250 SLs produced, more than a third were sold in the US.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL interior

The main change was the use of the 2496 cc M129.II engine with 6 mm (0.2 in) increased stroke, 2 mm (0.1 in) increased valve ports, and seven main bearings instead of four. The nominal maximum power remained unchanged at 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp), but torque improved from 145 lb·ft (197 N·m) to 159 lb·ft (216 N·m). In practice, however, the 230 SL engines rarely produced more than 143 PS (105 kW; 141 hp), and the wider power band of the 250 SL resulted in noticeably improved performance.

California Coupe

The 250 SL also marked the introduction of a 2+2 body style, the so-called "California Coupe," which had only the removable hardtop and no soft-top: a small fold-down rear bench seat replaced the soft-top well between passenger compartment and trunk. The lack of a soft-top relegated open "California Coupes" to a formidable nice weather ride, so many of them are very well preserved today. Retrofitting the soft-top above the rear bench seat requires considerable effort and expense however. Thus while these 2+2 models are rare, their somewhat limited usability makes them not particularly sought after today.

1969–1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, European model

Midlife improvements

In August 1967, a number of additional changes were incorporated to accommodate stricter safety regulations and US emission laws. The safety improvements included a collapsible steering wheel and padded wheel hub, concave control knobs, elastic black rubber heater levers (instead of rigid colored translucent plastic), and softer, rounded dash top padding. Door handles, locks, and window cranks were modernized and less protruding, the door pockets were elastic, the rear-view mirror frame was chrome instead of black plastic, and the side view mirrors became more angular. Essentially, the 1967 250 SL retained the more classic 'chrome' interior appearance of the 230 SL, whereas the 1968 250 SL introduced the modernized 'safety' interior of the 280 SL.

US models acquired mandatory side reflectors on the fenders, three-point safety-belts, an illuminated gearbox for the automatic and emission control equipment, and the chrome horn ring was changed to matte finish.

280 SL (1967–1971)

The 2.8 liter 280 SL was introduced in December 1967 and continued in production through 23 February 1971, when the W 113 was replaced by its successor, the entirely new and substantially heavier 350 SL (R107). Over the years, the W 113 evolved from a sports car into a comfortable grand tourer, and US models were by then usually equipped with an automatic transmission and air condition. In Europe, manual transmission cars without air condition were still predominant. Manual transmission cars came with either a 4-speed, or, until May 1969, the ZF 5-speed. Only 850 W 113 SLs were ordered with the ZF 5-speed, which makes this a rare and highly sought-after option today. Of the 23,885 280 SLs produced, more than half were sold in the US.

The main change was the use of the 2778 cc M130 engine with 170 PS (130 kW; 170 hp) maximum power and 180 lb·ft (244 N·m) maximum torque, which finally gave the W 113 adequate power. The performance improvement was achieved by increasing bore by 4.5 mm (0.2 in), which stretched the limits of the M180 block, and required pairwise cylinder casts without cooling water passages. This mandated an oil-cooler, which was fitted vertically next to the radiator. The M130 marked the final evolution of the venerable SOHC M180 inline-six, before it was superseded by the entirely new DOHC M110 inline-six introduced with 1974 European 280 SL (R107) models.

A brief chronology of the most notable changes made to the 280SL:

• December 1967: One piece wheel-covers (like the W 108 sedans).
• October 1968: US 1969 model year with sealed beam headlights without fog lights.
• February 1969: New tail lights with amber turn signals.
• May 1969: Optional ZF 5-speed manual transmission is discontinued.
• July 1969: US models with transistorized ignition and improved emission control.
• August 1969: Heated rear window for hardtop, hazard lights for all models, single master key for all locks, US models with illuminated side reflectors.
• November 1970: Beige plastic cooling water header tank (instead of black metal). New door locks: cylinder can be depressed while door is locked.

North American models

1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, US model (050G white). The concave hardtop inspired the "pagoda" nickname.

North American models have a number of subtle differences, the most obvious one being the distinctive 'sealed beam' bulb headlamps required in the US versus the 'fishbowl' headlamps for the rest of the world. 1970 US models also acquired amber turn-signal lenses on the rear lights, later than in many other countries.

Other differences of the North American models include imperial gauges, chrome bumper guards, side reflectors (illuminated from 1970), lower rear-axle ratios for faster acceleration yet lower top speeds, and no 'single-side' parking lights. US market 280 SL engines required emission control modifications that included 'softer' valve timings, a reduced compression ratio and a modified injection pump, which reduced power from 170 PS (130 kW; 170 hp) to 160 PS (120 kW; 160 hp). In the US, automatic transmission, air condition and white wall tires were much more popular than elsewhere.

European cars were popular as US gray-market imports: those vehicles were brought to the US some years after their original delivery in Europe. Early European imports had aftermarket hazard lights and safety belts fitted, US safety requirements that were adopted in Europe only in later production years.

Special versions

Pininfarina Coupe

In 1963, Pininfarina asked the Mercedes-Benz board to produce its own custom-bodied version of the 230 SL. While the original design by Paul Bracq is regarded as a masterpiece today, it was more controversial at the time of its introduction. Pininfarina's Tom Tjaarda turned the roadster into a fixed-head coupe that vaguely resembled the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. He retained the grille and headlamps of the original, but raked the grille more sharply, sculpted the wings, and made the sides more bulbous and thus wider, while making the engine hood narrower and shorter. The rear was reminiscent of the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (also a Tjaarda design), but without taking away the distinctive personality of the 230 SL. Inside, Tjaarda left the dashboard unchanged, but the interior as a whole exudes the stamp of elegant Italian hand craftmanship. The result was appealing but not convincing enough to go into production and remained a one-off, subsequently acquired by German press baron Axel Springer.

W 113/12

In 1965, Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut fitted a 250 SL with the massive 6.3 liter 250 PS (180 kW; 250 hp) M100 V8 engine from the Mercedes-Benz 600. This engine conversion gave the car, denoted as W 113/12, impressive power, but made it very front-heavy, so that this direction was abandoned. The car was eventually destroyed, the usual procedure for test vehicles at the time.

R 113 W 33-29

In 1968, Mercedes fitted a 280 SL with a 206 PS (152 kW; 203 hp) M50F Wankel engine, denoted as R 113 W 33-29. With a top-speed of 205.1 km/h (127.4 mph), a 0-60 acceleration of 8.7 seconds, and almost inaudible compared to regular SLs, it provided quite a surprise encounter for their owners in southern Germany at the time.

Timeline

The model timeline and production numbers are:

Production numbers.

	Chassis	Engine		1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971		Total	US
230 SL	W113.042	2.3L M127.II I6		1,465	6,911	6,325	4,945	185						19,831	4,752
250 SL	W113.043	2.5L M129.II I6					17	5,177	2					5,196	1,761
280 SL	W113.044	2.8L M130 I6						143	6,930	8,047	7,935	830		23,885	12,927
														48,912	19,440

Accolades

Motorsports

Eugen Böhringer's 1963 230 SL in the Mercedes-Benz Museum (467H sandy beige).

Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally

In 1963, Eugen Böhringer won the 6,600-kilometer Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally (Belgium to Bulgaria) on a race-modified 1963 230 SL. This vehicle is now in the permanent collection of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart Untertürkheim, Germany.

In 1964, Mercedes-Benz entered four race-modified 230 SLs into the Spa-Sofia-Liège Ralley. These cars had special 2.6 liter engines with pairwise cylinder casts, a layout that was later adopted for the M130 engine of the 280 SL. Due to considerable mechanical bad luck, Eugen Böhringer finished only third this time, after Rauno Aaltonen on Austin-Healey 3000 and Erik Carlsson on Saab.

Acropolis Rally

In 1965, Dieter Glemser entered the Acropolis Rally on a light-weight 230 SL similar to the Spa-Sofia-Liège cars. His tuned 2.3 liter engine produced 152 PS (112 kW; 150 hp), lending further evidence to the fact that 230 SL production engines rarely met their power specification. Unfortunately, Glemser was given wrong directions by the police, costing him his comfortable lead and instead putting him into third place.

Magazines

• GQ listed the W 113 among the "Ten cars that made Mercedes-Benz" in July 2011.
• David Gandy of Vogue.com listed the W 113 as one of his "15 favorite cars" in January 2011.
• The Daily Telegraph put the W 113 on its list of "The 100 most beautiful cars" of all time in March 2008.

Top Gear

On the British automotive TV show Top Gear (Season 3, Episode 8) the 280 SL is thought of highly, notably being described by its host Jeremy Clarkson as one of the cars from the 1960s that has stood the test of time, being "from a time when Mercedes was still building its cars properly".

Technical data

Technical data Mercedes-Benz SL (W113) (Manufacturer's figures except where stated)

Mercedes-Benz	230 SL	250 SL	280 SL
Produced:	1963–1967	1966–1968	1967–1971
Chassis code:	W113.042	W113.043	W113.044
Engine:	6-cylinder-inline engine (four-stroke), front-mounted
Engine code:	M 127.II	M 129.II	M 130
Bore x Stroke:	82 mm (3.2 in) x 72.8 mm (2.9 in)	82 mm (3.2 in) x 78.8 mm (3.1 in)	86.5 mm (3.4 in) x 78.8 mm (3.1 in)
Displacement:	2308 cc	2496 cc	2778 cc
Max. Power @ rpm:	150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp) @ 5500	150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp) @ 5500	170 PS (130 kW; 170 hp) @ 5750
Max. Torque @ rpm:	196 N·m (145 lb·ft) @ 4200	216 N·m (159 lb·ft) @ 4200	240 N·m (180 lb·ft) @ 4500
Compression Ratio:	9.3: 1	9.5: 1	9.5: 1
Fuel feed:	Multi-port fuel injection, Bosch mechanical injection pump
Fuel tank capacity:	65 L (17.2 US gal; 14.3 imp gal)	82 L (21.7 US gal; 18.0 imp gal)
Valvetrain:	SOHC, single roller chain	SOHC, duplex chain
Cooling:	Water
Gearbox:	4-speed manual, 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual rear wheel drive, standard axle ratio 3.75:1 (on request 3.69:1 or 3.92:1)
Electrical system:	12 volt
Front suspension:	Double wishbones, coil springs, stabilising bar
Rear suspension::	Swing axle, radius arms, compensating spring, coil springs
Brakes:	Disc/Drum brakes (Ø 253 mm (10.0 in) front, 230 mm (9.1 in) rear), power assisted	Disc brakes all around (Ø 273 mm (10.7 in) front, 279 mm (11.0 in) rear), power assisted
Steering:	Recirculating ball steering, on request power-assisted
Body structure:	Sheet steel, monocoque (unibody) construction
Dry weight:	1,300 kg (2,900 lb) (hardtop + 49 kg (110 lb))	1,360 kg (3,000 lb) (hardtop + 49 kg (110 lb))
Loaded weight:	1,650 kg (3,600 lb)	1,715 kg (3,780 lb)
Track front/ rear:	1,485 mm (58.5 in) 1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Wheelbase:	2,400 mm (94 in)
Length:	4,285 mm (168.7 in)
Width:	1,760 mm (69 in)
Height:	1,305 mm (51.4 in)
Tyre/Tire sizes:	185 HR 14
Top speed:	200 km/h (120 mph)	195 km/h (121 mph)	200 km/h (124 mph)
Fuel Consumption (estimate):	15.0 litres per 100 kilometres (18.8 mpg-imp; 15.7 mpg-US)	16.0 litres per 100 kilometres (17.7 mpg-imp; 14.7 mpg-US)	16.5 litres per 100 kilometres (17.1 mpg-imp; 14.3 mpg-US)
Price Germany USA:	DM 22,200 $ 7,506−7907, later 6,185−6,587	DM 22,800 $ 6,485−6,897	DM 24,300 $ 6,485−6,897, later 7,469−7,909

Famous owners

• Charlton Heston
• David Coulthard owns a midnight blue (904G) 1971 280 SL
• Tony Curtis
• John Lennon owned a dark blue (332G) 1965 230 SL, which was for sale for $495,000 in 2011
• John Travolta owns a havana brown (408G) 1970 280 SL, which was stolen in September 2011
• Kate Moss owns a metallic blue (387H) 280 SL
• Peter Ustinov
• Sophia Loren
• Stirling Moss

In popular culture

• In the 2011 British espionage film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a dark early 280 SL is driven along the docks.
• In the 2008 German film The Baader Meinhof Complex, a white 230 SL is parked in the driveway of Martina Gedeck character's house.
• In the 2008 film Frost/Nixon Michael Sheen's character drives a grey blue 280 SL convertible in the closing scenes.
• In the 2002 film Life or Something Like It Angelina Jolie's character drives a silver 1969 280 SL with red interior and alloy rims.
• In the 1997 German film Knockin' on Heaven's Door Til Schweiger's and Jan Josef Liefers's terminally ill characters steal a horizon blue 230 SL to see the ocean for the first and last time.
• In the 1994 melodram Intersection Richard Gere's character flashes through key memories of his life during a fatal accident in his silver 280 SL.
• In the 1980 British gangster epos The Long Good Friday Bryan Marshall's character drives a signal red 280 SL.
• In the 1975 film Shampoo starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie's character drives a bicolor (white with black hardtop/hubcaps) 230 SL.
• In the 1974 thriller Gold starring Roger Moore, Goldie Hawn's character drives a white 230 SL.
• In the 1967 melodram Two for the Road starring Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney's character drives a white 1965 230 SL. In reality, this was Stanley Donen's (the director) personal car.
• In the 1967 French musical The Young Girls of Rochefort starring Catherine Deneuve and Gene Kelly, George Chakiris' character owns and drives a white 230 SL.
• In the 1966 thriller Arabesque starring Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren's character drives a red 1965 230 SL.

See also

• Mercedes-Benz SL-Class