Classic Mercedes specialist Mechatronik has announced that it’s working on an uber cool project which characteristically melds modern hardware to the body of an R107 SL. The German firm, which has plenty of experience in the business of retromodding Mercs, has refrained from providing technical details of its Project 107, with the low-slung custom two-door not due till next summer. But we’re confident that something rather potent is on the way, given the diameter of those new brake discs and the exuberance of the preview pics.
Naturally, the powerplant of choice is thought to be a V8, because Mechatronik has history of shoehorning burbly AMG blocks into its part-old, part-new creations. In fact, it’s practically obsessed with the process, as illustrated by recent creations, based on the pretty W111 saloon and the drop-dead gorgeous body of a Pagoda. Both have both received M113 AMG motors, with the M-Coupe using a noughties-grade 5.0-litre with 360hp and the M-SL getting an earlier 4.3 tuned to 279hp.
Suffice it to say Mechatronik knows how to add a heck of a lot more power to old Mercs, so the later R107 SL base, with its larger discs, lowered ride and twin-pipe exhausts, looks ripe for something even more aggressive. It’s certainly a more sporting package to begin with, and with those larger rims, a rear spoiler and the firmed-up suspension, all points to engineers having gone the extra mile.
Mechatronik’s portfolio typically includes a wider modernisation of the package, with things like ABS and 21st century switchgear added behind a retro fascia, maximising usability but retaining that original charm which buyers pay through the nose for. Although given that these builds are bespoke customer creations, it's likely that the level of alteration is dictated by customer preference. And spend.
On that subject, given the extent of Mechatronik’s work on each car, you won’t be surprised read that most cars go for north of €400,000, which is about £350k today. High-end supercar money, yes, but for a car that mixes the best in design and technology from Mercedes, is essentially unique, and – let’s face it – bloody cool, we can see the appeal ten times over.
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