‘One-off’ Benz SL tribute tipped for Motorclassica

MERCEDES-Benz is believed to be preparing a special one-off exhibit this weekend that will celebrate 60 years of its two-door, two-seat coupe and convertible range.

The German luxury car maker plans to use this week’s Motorclassica car show to display what one spokesman says is “so special that it could be the only one left in the world”.

The exhibit, believed to tie in closely with the low-slung SL coupe and convertible range’s 60th anniversary, will take centre stage alongside the Australian premiere of the German luxury marque’s S-Class Coupe.

The big two-door limousine will officially launch in Australia in February, with Mercedes-Benz using the annual concours d’elegance to introduce Australian and New Zealand customers with the two-door S-Class ahead of its launch early next year.

Mercedes-Benz’s “Gullwing” coupe was introduced in 1954. It initially featured a 3.0-litre in-line six 300SL, and added a 190SL featuring a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine and a removable roof a year later.

A 300SL-badged roadster version of the low-slung two-door was introduced in 1957.

Benz’s showing of the S-Class Coupe follows on from a similar event at last year’s Motorclassica when it showed the four-door version in Australia months ahead of its launch here.

Motorclassica, an annual concours d’elegance held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, opens to the public on Friday morning, and runs until October 26.

The event will have more than 500 classic and collectable cars and motorcycles on show. For tickets visit motorclassica.com.au.