90+ 300SL w/ 5 spd?

[TonyC]

Was reading the latest issue of 'Star' and someone mentioned trying to buy a 5spd ver of 92/93 300SLs . I did a quick search w/ a few internet car sales engines to no avail. Star doesn't know how many were sold w/ these 5 spd. Anybody on the list know? How much would one of these be worth right now? More than the typical 300SL? TIA!

Tony

Tony,

I don't have any answers to your questions. But I can testify that there is at least one in the US. About four years ago, I was shopping for a used MB diesel, and saw a five speed 300SL at a used MB dealer. I was amazed to see it. At the time I was in a situation that demanded a four door car, or I would have bought it.

I am a MB manual transmission fanatic myself. I expect that they are more rare than my manual transmission 300E. Given that there were many more 300E's than SL's sold, and given that few SL's in the US at any time have ever been manuals, I expect that there are probably less than 100 in the US, and maybe many less than that.

Good luck in finding one,

------------------
Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, manual, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[elau]

I know for fact that there is a manual 300SL running around in the Annapolis, MD area. I was at the dealer having oil change not long ago and happened to walked by a smoke silver 300SL. As usual I always go take a look at the inside to see what other people have that I don't. I noticed that it was a manual, and was rather surprised that manual was even an option for a SL for it was the first time I ever seen one. Since then I always look at other SL to see if they are manual just out of curiosity. As Larry points out, there probably less manual SL in this country, since most SL drivers probably opt for the auto tranny for convenience anyway (no offense to other SL owners). That was the last time I saw a manual in a late model SL by the way.

95 R129
98 ML320

elau,

In my opinion you are almost right. Except for this one or two years, you could not buy ANY late SL with a manual transmission. If MBUSA were not turning their back on us manual transmission drivers, there would be more of them on the road. There are plenty of them in Europe.

It took MBUSA 12 years to sell me another stick shift sedan. At least they finally decided to let us have that. They also are selling a good number of manual SLK's. Maybe they're getting the message...... Yeah right!

Good luck,

------------------
Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, manual, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

I have seen several stick 300SLs advertised for sale in The Boston Globe over the past few years, so they are definitely out there, although somewhat rare.
Colin

[hill]

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