Steve Sorensen
The R107 SL is more than a used car. It is a financial IQ test.To the uninitiated, a $15,000 Mercedes-Benz SL looks like a bargain. To the expert, it looks like a grenade with the pin pulled.The Mercedes-Benz R107 (1971-1989) is the last of the 'Cost-No-Object Artifacts'-vehicles engineered by geniuses and built like bank vaults. But after 40 years, the line between a rising investment and a Financial Abyss is razor-thin.Whether you are hunting for your first 560SL or trying to save the 450SL in your garage, this book is a survival guide designed to save you thousands of dollars in 'tuition.'Inside, you will learn to navigate 'The Trap' and master the machine:The 'Walk-Away' Inspection: How to spot the Plenum Chamber Rot and Subframe Cracks that turn a classic car into scrap metal.The 'Time Bombs': Identify the Single-Row Timing Chain (380SL) and the 'Evil Servo' (Climate Control) before they detonate your bank account.The NLA Terror: How to survive the 'No Longer Available' parts crisis and source the specific rubber, switches, and relays that keep these cars alive.Artifact vs. Appliance: Why a 'Pool Noodle' repair ruins value, and how to restore your interior, roof, and fuel system to factory integrity.For the Buyer: Do not sign the check until you pass the 'Water Torture Test.' For the Owner: Stop throwing money at 'Appliance' repairs. Learn to curate the Artifact.The R107 is a legend. But it demands tribute. Read this book. Buy the right car. Save the Artifact.
