1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL

The immortal Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was followed by the 'budget-friendly' 190 SL, sacrificing lofty performance pedigree, luxury, and exclusivity in exchange for a lower price tag and more profitability. The next super-leicht model was introduced in March 1963 at the Geneva Motor Show and was dubbed the 230 SL. It received a revolutionary unibody construction with a central 'safety cell' and a body designed by Paul Bracq. It was modern, safe, and elegant with clean lines and a distinctive removable hardtop with a concave roof that earned it the nickname 'Pagoda.' The handling characteristics were superb and it offered a comfortable ride.

The Mercedes-Benz 250 SL is the second iteration of the W113 body style; the third and final iteration was the 280 SL with a slightly larger engine and improved steering. Displacement of the 2.3-liter inline-6 cylinder engine powering the 230SL was enlarged to 2.5-liters by November 1966, creating the one-year-only 250 SL. It was further improved with all round power-assisted disc brakes, the availability of a five-speed manual transmission with a 4.08:1 rear axle, and larger anti-roll bars. Of the 5,196 examples of the 250 SL produced, approximately 112 examples were factory-fitted with the five-speed transmission. (Between 1963 and 1971 - including the 230, 250, and 280 SL models - a total of 882 SL five-speeds were built out of the approximately 49,000 SLs produced during this period). Of the 5,196 examples of 250 SLs built, 1,761 were exported to the United States.

The Mercedes-Benz 250 SL wore the same bodyshell as its 230 SL predecessor, with minor improvements made to the interior. Even though it was powered by a larger engine, the car's top speed of around 120 mph remained the same, but significant improvements were achieved in flexibility and responsiveness.