Wanting An SL

[rmmagow]

I own a 58 220S and an 83 300D. My next MB is going to be an SL. I need to decide which flavor of older SL to concentrate my efforts on for the search. I'm sure this has been hashed out a lot here before. I'm mainly interested in the 280 thru 450 series I think. I want to be careful to avoid any particular years where MB was having difficulties with emission stuff (early 70's?). As I get closer to deciding which model to go after, I'll come back and agrevate the crap out of everybody with questions about how to figure out if I'm looking at a good car or not. It is very possible I'd go way old, say mid-late 60's. I would actually prefer a six cyl car in that I know how to care for them a bit. Anyway, hope to be an advise sharing member by next spring.

Thanks Much.

[maheath]

The 450SL had the catalytic converter in the engine compartment in both 1975 and 1976. I would avoid both of those years.

All U.S. model 107s were 8 cylinders. There are a couple of gray market models that have 6 cylinders, the 280SL and the 300SL, both inline 6's. All U.S. model 107s also have automatic transmission. You can find gray market ones with a manual transmission.

Based on what little I can glean from your post, the 107 model you might prefer would be the '72 350SL (which really has a 4.5L engine) or '73 450SL. Otherwise, I think you're looking at the 230/250/280SL in the 113 chassis ('63-'71). The 230SL has the M127 engine in it, which I'm guessing is the same engine in your 220S?