Mercedes SL Series: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) [Hardcover]

Andrew Noakes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crowood Autoclassics | Publication Date: October 30, 2004

Mercedes Benz has now been manufacturing SL sports cars for fifty years, and for all that time the cars adorned with those two special letters have been admired and coveted by car lovers the world over. It all started in 1954, with the fabulous and iconic 300SL Gullwing, a road car developed directly from the stunning 300SLR racing car. Other models followed, including the more affordable 190SL, the µPagoda' car of the sixties and the stylish ranges of the seventies and eighties. Mercedes now use the SL tag before rather than after the numbers in the cars' designations, but the line is as strong as ever, with a magnificent new range and an SLR supercar developed with McLaren that takes the family right back to its roots.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Crowood Press (October 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861266731
• ISBN-13: 978-1861266736
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Luxury

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Present for Dad, January 1, 2010

By 

J. J. Marino "Geekasaurus Rex" (Rochester, New York) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mercedes SL Series: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

I got this for my father for the holidays this year. He has a Mercedes SLK. This book presents a very good pictorial and textual history of the Mercedes brand and of course the history of the Mercedes SL class. It is a focused book and might not have as much appeal to a general car buff, that is unless that person is into the SL class. That being said the authors present the material in a logical, interesting manner.

Overall a fantastic history book on an influential car and brand.

Thank you for reading my review.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great aid for SL fans, February 13, 2008

By 

Tufi Neder Meyer (Três Corações, MG, Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mercedes SL Series: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

For the admirers of Mercedes' highly coveted SL cars, this book offers their complete history, detailed specifications, good photographic material, plus advice at buying. Highly recommmended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about the SL series, March 19, 2011

By 

LJ Haasbroek (Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mercedes SL Series: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

This is a true gem detailing the history of the Mercedes Benz SL series from the 1950's to the 2003 McLaren SLR. The story behind the story is revealed in verbose yet illuminating detail covering the racing pedigree, the personalities involved, R&D projects than never went into production (the C111 Wankel mid-engine of the 1970's comes to mind), safety considerations, and how the economic environment and later the "green economy" influenced the evolution of the SL series. Well-placed pictures of different model years and photo angles are strategically placed throughout the 192-page reference book. A necessary addition to the book shelf of any SL-series fan.