All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Mercedes SL celebrates its 60th birthday

In 1963, Mercedes unveiled its new sports car, the 230 SL, with a chassis based on the W 111 sedan platform but with a 30 cm (11.8 in) shorter wheelbase. It was produced until 1971, in several series, and less than 50k cars left the production lines. Now this significant car in Mercedes history is celebrating its 60th birthday.

Ever since it appeared on the market, the Mercedes 230 SL has been considered one of the most important models in the history of the German manufacturer. In addition, it represented a turning point for Mercedes when it comes to safety. The bonnet, boot lid, door skins and tonneau cover were made of aluminum to reduce weight.

The 230 SL was designed by Friedrich Geiger and was characterized by the clean lines of the classic SL look and the large central star in the radiator grille. An option was a hardtop designed by Paul Barq, which gave it the nickname “Pagoda”. Thanks to the outstanding suspension, powerful brakes and radial tires, the 230 SL had superb handling for its time.

Over time, it was produced in several versions (230 SL, 250 SL, 280 SL), of which the most successful version of the W113 series was the 280 SL, which premiered in 1968. It was powered by a 2.8L 6-cylinder M130 engine with 168 hp (125 kW) and 180 lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque. It reached 62 mph (100 km/h) in 9 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).

This sports car also achieved notable results in races, one of which is the victory at the 5,000+ km Spa-Sofia-Liege in 1963. A year later they were third.

Gallery:

Mercedes SL celebrates its 60th birthday

Source: Mercedes-Benz

News

Acura NSX spent 15 years in the river

Recently, an incredible story was published on Facebook about a car that spent many years under water, and now it will get a second chance. It is an Acura NSX that looks like it came from an apocalyptic movie, and it was bought for $8,500. It could be an exciting project for a new owner.

The story goes that the car was allegedly stolen and under unknown circumstances ended up in the Yadkin River in North Carolina in the early 2000s. No one knew about it until 2019, when a search for missing persons was launched, and the car was accidentally spotted. It was pulled out of the river, and now awaits a better life.

The restoration of the car will be done by Helix Auto Works, Maryland, which has a very demanding task ahead of it. 15 years under water is not a short period of time, so the damage to the car is quite large. Still, Helix Auto Works hopes to bring the NSX back to life.

The company has set two goals, the first is to make the car road legal, but if they fail to do so, the only option left is to prepare it for use on the track.

What will happen in the end doesn’t even matter, because every car deserves a second chance.

Gallery:

Acura NSX spent 15 years in the river

Source: LSX Salvage / Facebook

Auctions, News

1967 Ford Mustang GT fastback

At the 1964 New York World’s Fair Ford revealed the first generation Ford Mustang which was offered as a two-door hardtop, convertible and “2+2” fastback enclosed the trunk space under a sweeping exterior line similar to the second series Corvette Sting Ray and European sports cars such as the Jaguar E-Type coupe. It was produced until 1973, when it was replaced by the second generation. One of them, a 1967 Ford Mustang GT fastback is up for auction.

This Ford Mustang GT fastback was modified by Classic Recreations of Flower Mound four years ago. The original 3.3 L V8 engine was removed and a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 was installed. The air intake pipe, a conical air filter, MTF long-tube headers, a Vapor Works fuel pump, and an 18-gallon fuel cell have been improved. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual transmission and a 9-inch rear axle with a limited-slip differential.

The car is finished in white, and after the complete restoration it really looks great. It is equipped with black rocker panel stripes, chrome bumpers, bullet-style mirrors, a black tail panel, quarter panel vents, a dual outlet exhaust that exits below the rear valance, vented hood, a boxed K-member, tubular front control arms, a Chassisworks G-link rear suspension, QA1 adjustable coilovers, and power steering. Braking is handled by Wilwood four-piston calipers over drilled and slotted rotors at all four corners. It is mounted on 17″ American Racing wheels wrapped in 225/45 front and 255/40 rear Nitto NT55 G2 tires.

Inside, the seats are upholstered in black leather that also covers the armrest. The steering wheel is also wrapped in black leather. Additional equipment includes a roll bar, air conditioning, a billet shifter handle, stainless steel trim accents, rubber floor mats, a Kenwood touchscreen infotainment system, and a Kicker 600CXA amplifier and speakers with passive crossovers. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 3,225 miles.

The car comes with manufacturer’s literature, an Elite Marti report, a window sticker copy, a Classic Recreations receipt, and a New Jersey title.

The auction ends on March 18 and the current highest bid is $67,500 USD.

Gallery:

1967 Ford Mustang GT fastback

Source: Bring a Trailer