The Mercedes-Benz SL generation R129 earned the nickname “The Iron” among Czech car enthusiasts for its characteristic shape. However, it is also interesting for other reasons. One remarkable specimen is currently for sale in the country.
The luxury roadster was presented to the world at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in the summer of the same year. Production then continued until 2001, according to available information, 213,089 units were produced.
The R129 offered several interesting features. For example, the designers and constructors focused heavily on aerodynamics, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.32, which was amazing for its time. Emphasis was also placed on safety, which is why the automaker came up with an innovation in the form of a protective arch behind the passengers’ heads. In the case of a significant tilt of the body – by more than 26 degrees – or in case of heavy overload, it rose to the required position within 0.3 seconds to protect the crew in the event of a rollover of the car.
The “two” roofs definitely belong among the attractions. The car was equipped not only with a classic canvas with electro-hydraulic lowering, but the manufacturer also added an aluminum fixed roof, the so-called hardtop, to each car. Owners could thus choose whether they would be hidden under a folding canvas roof or the mentioned hardtop in bad weather.
In July 1992, the manufacturer included the 600 SL version (in 1993 the name was changed to SL 600) with a fork-mounted twelve-cylinder engine. The naturally aspirated unit, designated M120, had a volume of 5987 cubic centimeters and provided a maximum output of 290 kW (394 hp) at 5200 rpm and a peak torque of 570 Nm at 3800 rpm.
The V12 was initially mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. For this new variant, Mercedes claimed the ability to accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h.
And we just found one very interesting twelve-cylinder roadster in a Czech advertisement. The Davo Car company has a car from 1993 on offer, allegedly from the first owner and, moreover, with a very modest mileage of 19,600 kilometers!
Equipment includes, for example, leather upholstery, automatic air conditioning, original audio, cruise control or heated seats. The car is also said to have a complete service history. And the price? An exceptionally well-preserved SL with a V12 is available for 1,999,999 CZK.
