SL Pictures !! All Generation of SL models !!

[elau]

Look at SLK as what MB did in the '50s. When the 300SL captured the hearts of the automotive world, but only a few lucky souls could have afforded the gullwing and later the roadster. In order to satisfy the rest of the "less fortunate" car loving population, MB manufactured the 190SL. The 190SL was much slower, less expensive and thus sold more than the original version. SLK in essence the same marketing scheme MB used for the '90s. SL is an expensive car comes with a rich heritage, but not everybody wants to spend 90 big ones on a car. Hence comes the SLK, partly due to the pressure from cars like Miata, Boxster and Z3, and partly to satisfy consumers with a little roadster that everybody can afford. This is not my opinion, I read it in the History of the SL. Cannot remember who the writer was but you can find the book in Border.

Malc is correct. There is some confussion over the K in SLK. Some believe it stands for Kompressor, since the SLK has the supercharger. While other sources, point to the K meaning Kurz = Short.

[mcarboni]

Hello MercedesShop SL Forum Friends !

As you can see, this subject "SL PICTURES ALL GENERATION MODELS " are one of the most visited Site in SL Forum Discussion !!

With the all people opinion posted here, we can tell only one thing..!
We are always learning !!!

I am from Brazil, (sorry about my english) and we do not have any Forum Discussion here about Mercedes !! My dream is generate a Site in portuguese and English ( Maybe here In Brazil) to help many Mercedes Owners that can not speak or understand English and give all the structure like this wonderful Site !!

I have my 78 450 SLC since August-2001 and I've never see before, how many people help itself, posting opinions, instructions, questions and solutions !!

I thought that Mercedes Benz Car was the best than others cars, because the Engeneering used was the bes t the in the world, but its not only this !! This "Star" has a group of people inside and outside of industry, including this Site, that work to do all people in the world can realize a dream...... !!
Has a MERCEDES BENZ !!

Thanks to you all about the visit, and make this Wonderful Site, the best Forum in the world !!

[el presidente]

No confusion in what the K stands for....Malc is 100% correct that K stands for "Kurz" on the SLK.

My only recollection of when K stood for supercharging was on the "blown" versions of the 500, 540 and others that are pre-WWII (i.e. 540SSK, etc.)

Currently, the models affected are classed as

CL (CL class)
CLK (CL class - short)

SL (SL class)
SLK (SL class - short)

E.P.

[jjrodger]

No mention of the 300SLR here, I notice. Nor any consideration of the forthcoming Mercedes-McLaren SLR.

R denotes Renn or Racetrack.

This thread indicates how Mercedes' nomenclature has broken down. The letters C, D, E, K, L, R, S, T &c used to mean something. Now they have become model names. The SL has been neither sport nor light and certainly not both for 40 years; all cars and not just the E-Class have fuel injection; the C-Class is a saloon not a coupe; and the CLK is not at at all short.

In fact,it seems to me that the S and the SLK are the only models in the MB line up whose designations retain any honesty to their origins. The CLK's designation is completely perverse.

[elau]

OK. This is just a bit more information I have on the "K". MB uses the "K" badge to further indicate that the car is a kompressor powered gas engine. MB has long been studying how to make the air/gas mixture to work better within the chamber without using a turbo unit. They do not like, and have not figured a way to totally eliminate the inherited problems of turbo engine on gasoline cars (danger of fire, lubrication problem, etc). Instead, MB relies on using supercharger to add performance to its gasoline powered vehicles and they have been using a supercharger in their cars since the 20s. But an accident happened in 1955 LeMan race that one of its supercharged 300SLR was forced into the crowd and killed 80 spectators. The incident somehow affected the MB development team in pursuing the designing of powerful engines. Hence most production cars of the 60s, 70s and 80s are rather tame. Not until in the late 90s when the SLK became a production car, and MB felt that for the SLK to behave like a roadster it desperate needs a better engine. Since SLK is not part of the SL line, so they cannot use the same drive train and engine of the SL. They decided at that point, the SLK will come with an engine output boosted by a "Krompressor", the supercharger of the yester-years.

[jjrodger]

Originally posted by elau
OK. This is just a bit more information I have on the "K". MB uses the "K" badge to further indicate that the car is a kompressor powered gas engine.

No, no, no.

Does the SLK320 have a kompressor? Do the CLK320, 430, and 55 have kompressors? No.

The proper designation of the kompressor engined cars is as follows:

C200 Kompressor

E200 Kompressor

SLK200 Kompressor
SLK230 Kompressor

CLK230 Kompressor

C32 AMG V6 Kompressor
SLK32 AMG V6 Kompressor

These are often abbreviated thus: "SLK230k".
The C200k, E200k and CLK230k have the Kompressor moniker on their bootlids; the SLK and AMG cars have it on their wings (fenders).

You'll be telling me next that the "T" in 300TD stands for "turbo".

[mcarboni]

Hi, MS Friends !

I saw the JJRODJER sugestion posted, then, here is a New Pictures about SLīs Series including Fangio 300 SLR and Mercedes-McLaren SLR !!

I had to compact all this pictures, because the JPEG limit on Mercedes Shop to upload is 66560 bytes.

If anybody would like to receive any picture here, but in Original size, write to me ok ?

Enjoy !

[elau]

Just repeating and sharing what was in February issue of Mecerdes Enthusuast. There is a write up about the supercharger and the "K" designation.

[jbrasile]

Indeed all information and opinions expressed in this topic are valid. It would help to point out that the SL - Sport Leicht - designation was first used in the 300SL both the convertible and Gullwing and remained in all of Mercedes sportscar to this day. The 190SL was designed for those who could not afford a 300 and remains a sort of bargain due to its limited performance and lack of following.
113's are probably the most appropriate cars to receive the SL badge since they are light and a well sorted 280SL is a really nice sports roadster.
The 107 cars were sporty but not very light but were probably the cars that solidified the image of the SL as Mercedes premium sport model, I trully believe they were responsible for the prestige that today's convertible Mercs enjoy. Much like the 300SL of the fifties, the 450SL of the 70's was an icon among afluent people the world over and remains highly desirable in both SL and SLC form. The SLK in my opinion leaves a lot to be desired, that 4 cyl Kompressor engine is just not refined enough to be in a Mercedes. I drove a new C230K coupe and could not believe how rough the engine sounded and felt. At 41K and change it is hardly a bargain and just not part of such lineage.
Just some thoughts....
Thank you
JBrasile
1980 450SEL

[jjrodger]

I read in an article in the UK MB owner's club website that SL actually stands for Sehr Leicht, or very light. I had always thought it was for Sports Leicht. Any views?

[pentoman]

See that SL on the blue transporter? This is the pic I took of it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year:


and ever seen an SLC Rallye?


and this is some sort of SL I think


enjoy!

Russ

[el presidente]

Russ,

A good friend of mine went to Goodwood last year. Did you attend in June or September?

That SLR is to die for! I'm jealous!

Guess I'll have to "lobby" for some tickets/flight/hotel to Goodwood next year. Till then, I'll have to satisfy my cravings on this forum and the Speed Channel

Thanks for posting

[mcarboni]

Hello Pentoman !!
Your posted pictures are FANTASTIC !!

About your SLC Rallye question, did you know that a 1978 SLC was the winner in 1978 SouthAmerica Rallye, and taked the 2š and 4š place position ?? See the picture magazine posted here !

About you "some sort of SL" question, this is a SLC model . Look the rear right window Blind detail !

Its possible to see more pictures about Goodwood Festival of Speed in last year, on the Net ??? Where is this famous place ??
I am from Brazil, and its almost impossible for me, visit there, because the plane tickets here are expensive when going to Brazil outside !! The diference between īDolarīand īRealī money its so high !!

I will apreciate if you send to me information about this place or other MB festival place in the world !!

Thanks for your attention

[Deltacom]

Hi Marcos,

Goodwood is an international sporting venue in the Sussex countryside, in the UK, under private ownership of the Dukes of Richmond for 300 years.

Go to: http://www.goodwood.co.uk and you'll find everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask....

Regards