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The 107 Series were the last of the handbuilt Mercedes from Stuttgart, renowned for their durability and strength, they have become increasingly sought after in recent years, with low mileage, well cared for examples fetching in excess of £40K. Launched in 1971, the 107 Series immediately became a best seller in European and US markets, with a design reminiscent in some respects of the earlier Pagoda SL. A range of models was offered during the 18 year life of the 107, with the new 5 litre being launched in 1980, which was enhanced over the next 5 years culminating in the last year of manufacture in 1989, with the 5.6 litre 560SL as listed here.
The 560SL carried a big, 5.6-liter V-8 under its long bonnet. The single-overhead-cam, fuel-injected engine produced 227 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 287 foot-pounds of torque at 3,500 rpm. Power was directed to the rear wheels by a four-speed automatic transmission. The 560SL could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 8 seconds, which was reasonably quick in its day. It had a top speed of about 140 mph. The SL employed disc brakes with ABS at all four corners, which was not yet common in the late 1980s. The car had a double-wishbone front suspension and a diagonal axle setup in the rear. A traditional recirculating-ball steering system was used, rather than the more-modern rack-and-pinion type.
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