Coys Auction - Spring Classics
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1

Thursday 12th March 2009
After the successful era of the 230, 250 and 280SL series it became apparent to Mercedes-Benz that a new model would be required. This was due not only to changing tastes and styles, but more importantly ever increasing safety and emission controls. With this in mind, the new model would have to be stronger, heavier and therefore require a larger engine.
Introduced in 1971, the result was the 350 SL and would soon be ranked among the world's best grand touring sports cars. With all independent suspension, via double wishbones/coil springs at the front and semi-trailing wishbones/coil springs at the rear, together with all-round gas-filled dampers, road holding, ride and handling were all of a high order. Power came from the 3,499cc single, overhead camshaft V8.
There remained a demand, however, for a model with a smaller capacity and s