The SL Experience: The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL Resource Book [Hardcover]

John Olson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0963539426 | ISBN-13: 978-0963539427 | Publication Date: September 1, 2001

The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL Resource Book - 368 pages, full color, hardbound reference to the five decades of SLs. Chronology of changes, production numbers, specifications, and performance data from 1954 to present; 190SL, 300SL, 230-250-280SL, 350-450-500-560SL, SL300-320-500-600 up to present. Model-to-model comparisons, advice on restoring, collector car insurance, and how owners have fun with their cars beyond everyday driving. Useful list of 90 SL experts and how to contact them. Book also has it's own website for dialog with other owners and experts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As important as an owner's manual but much more entertaining! Certainly fills its claim of "Ultimate SL Resource Book." -- Darrell Eagle, Tri-Star, Dec, 2001

"Exhaustive is the only way to describe this book on the Mercedes SLs ... even ranks popular options and colour names." -- Classic Cars Magazine, July 2001

From the Publisher

Our best selling Mercedes-Benz book in 20 years! Contains all the facts and references you'll ever need on these cars. You will refer back to it frequently. As useful as your owner's manual. Strong binding, full color. Full refund if not satisfied.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Sl Market Letter (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963539426
• ISBN-13: 978-0963539427
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,308,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 5 Star Expectations, December 28, 2003

By 

David L. Stanley (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The SL Experience: The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL Resource Book (Hardcover)

Sixty Five Dollars is a lot of money to spend on any book. My decision to buy this one was influenced by the many rave reviews and my desire to own the "Ultimate" SL resource book. Much of the book content was devoted to Gullwings and other collectables I couldn't afford to even think about. Medrcedes racing history also consumes many pages.

One real dissapointment is the propensity of the author to sell many pages to service providers for commercial advertising and much plugging for the SL market Letter - another commercial venture apparently produced by the author. My 3 star rating is a stretch. My copy is being returned to Amazon to be replaced by something a little less "ultimate".

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book Before You Buy An SL of Any Vintage, October 12, 2002

By 

Tracee Glass (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The SL Experience: The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL Resource Book (Hardcover)

Not only a nearly exhaustive review of SLs, from the Gullwing to the SL600, but a grab bag of useful information on MB art, books, clubs, toys, grand touring, and the like. Handy and beautifully crafted pull-out design appraisals by body type enhance the utility of the book. But the most compelling reason to include this book on your homework list before you buy an SL is for Olson's evaluation of the collectibility of each body type (and models within type) and the 8 factors that affect the value of a collectible car. While the book is a little skewed to the Gullwing and 300SL roadster, it's hard to argue with the author's obvious visceral appreciation of these works of automotive art, and the pictures and vignettes in the book are priceless.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author's 20 year Love Affair Shows on Every page, January 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The SL Experience: The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL Resource Book (Hardcover)

Not a repair manual, and not a coffee table display, but just about everything else! This is Olson's third 100 page expansion of this subject; now 368 entertaining pages. Everything's here from why you should buy an SL in the first place to picking a good one, accessories that enhance their value, special insurance for SLs, restoration tips, four days at Bob Bonderant's high performance driving school, and what owners do with SLs to have fun besides merely driving to work. Concludes with comprehensive indexes on other collectible M-B books, art, service manuals, plus a "Who's Who" of ninty SL experts and how to contact them. For my money it's worth every cent. I've referred back to it a dozen times in six months.