How many enthusiasts choose a classic from the brand their father drove? Many people immediately think that the love for Mercedes is in the DNA, inherited from father to son. But Ronald is an exception. His passion for Mercedes-Benz did not originate from family tradition. Instead, his admiration began purely through the automotive concept of Mercedes, known for its quality, comfort and value retention. Over the years, this admiration grew into a love for the brand, so strong that in his shed (almost) the entire delivery program of Mercedes-Benz from that time can be found. Among them this beautiful Mercedes-Benz 450 SL from 1979.
Preference
Ronald: “I have a clear preference for certain types. Working on my cars is pure relaxation for me, a wonderful distraction from my daily work. My Mercedes-Benz 450 SL is an iconic roadster with a removable hardtop and a smoothly folding roof, so that I always have the choice of driving with it open or closed. The automatic transmission ensures that I can fully focus on the traffic and at the same time enjoy the admiring glances along the way. Driving this carefully cherished car gives me a sense of pride every time. Selling is out of the question for me; the value that these cars have as a hobby object is priceless. My dream car, the 450 SL, is more than a vehicle on four wheels – it is a piece of history.”
To restore to honor
Ronald has spent the last thirty years restoring his classic cars from the 70s and 80s to their former glory. Each project was a challenge, sometimes with great difficulty and high costs in finding parts. But perseverance and creativity have allowed him to bring these cars back to life with care and passion. His collection is a tribute to an era in which solidity and durability were key.
The treasury
In Ronald's treasure room, besides the Mercedes-Benz 450 SL, there are other Mercedes-Benz icons such as the W114 (200 Diesel), the W123 (200 Diesel), three versions of the 126 (280 SE, 380 SEL, and 380 SE), and of the type 124, a 200 and a 300 Diesel. His showpiece, however, is the W116 (280SE), which almost evokes emotion with its beautiful design. And of course there is the Mercedes 450 SL (Type 107), which is in the spotlight here – a car that reflects Ronald's sincere passion for Mercedes-Benz.
History of the Mercedes-Benz 450 SL
The Mercedes-Benz 450 SL, a variant of the iconic R107 model, was produced from 1971 to 1980. This roadster was part of the SL series, which became beloved around the world for its stylish design, reliability and powerful engines. The 450 SL featured a 4,5-liter V8 engine that delivered strong performance and exceptionally smooth driving, especially when combined with the automatic transmission. The model was a revolution in safety at the time, with innovations such as a reinforced body and a steering column that collapsed in the event of an accident to protect the occupants. The R107 remained popular with enthusiasts and collectors, not only for its performance, but also because it symbolized the solid German build quality and luxurious comfort of Mercedes-Benz in the 70s and 80s.
Symbol of a happier time?
Classic cars like the Mercedes-Benz 450 SL are symbols of a time when reliability and craftsmanship were paramount. For Ronald, his cars may be a connection to an idealistic past. Every time he enters his shed, he is reminded of a time when quality and durability were self-evident. Driving these 'gems' with the three-pointed star on the nose gives him the feeling of a happier time, a nostalgic moment of peace and reflection that he relives every day.
(The article continues below with the photos)
Dear Ronald
Beautiful car of yours (I am a big MB fan) but is it an American? I see American rims and tires, headlights, heating AC but European bumpers, odometer. Anyway it remains beautiful.
greetings Max Beining MB
I have sent you some more nice pictures by email.
I can also appreciate Mercedes very much. I grew up with my father's Fords (from Anglia to Cortina's, Taunus, Granada, Sierra and then Mazda...). But as a hobby car I have a 280 SL also from 1979, manual and light blue metallic. Wonderful car; comfortable, spirited, stable and beautifully built. As a hobby car I also had a w114 280 and a W114 250 for some time. What well thought out and fine driving cars, certainly for that time (1972, resp. 1969).
In my opinion, however, not every R107 is equally beautiful. It is a car that you should keep standard/original, I think. As soon as bells and whistles from the accessory shop are added, it can become quite 'wrong'. But I think that of every Mercedes, certainly from that era, just like BMWs and perhaps all cars 😄 Of course: there is no accounting for taste and it is just my opinion.
MB has just been buying dubious Russian steel for too long...already the least bad German brand
I had that experience too, especially the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s MBs could do something,
Even with regular and thorough anti-rust treatment, these are not cars that you leave outside in the winter if you want to enjoy them for a long time.
That the love of father passes on to son is not strange to me. I myself had a Mercedes 180 Ponton in the early 70s and was even awarded a "Golden" pin by the Mercedes dealer because I had completed the 250000 km without any problems.
My son Marcel, who was around 5 years old at the time (now 59), always rode with me and looked up to that beautiful black Mercedes. Once he had his driver's license, he bought his first Mercedes after a few less good brands and has never "cheated" since. He has been driving Meecedes for yeaaaars now and doesn't want anything else. His last choice was a Mercedes-AMG GT1. In short, we went to order it, bought it in the meantime and even though it is the brand new one, we have already attracted a lot of attention. As the experts among us know, it is the gem among the fine cars with a V63 cylinder engine of 8 more horsepower than the then much driven Solex on 3982 wheels.
Maybe we will get in touch with Ronald again (via Marcel Kappen ???) about his and our nice hobby. Nice articles again from amklassiek. 🤗🤗👍👍
Nice piece about the Mercedes types from the time when they were still solid cars. Only a 200 Diesel /8 does not belong to the W114 but to the W115.