Brand: Michelin, Tyre Diameter: 14, Width: 205 | 380SL Panzerwagen

Mercedes 380SL Panzerwagen

A larger, stonger yet still stylish SL. Produced from 1980 to 1985.

Originally fitted with a 205/70VR14 radial tyre.

Replacing the Mercedes SL Pagoda wasn't going to be an easy task, but the R107 SL that came in 1971 did a pretty good job. In production for a massive 18 years, it sustained Mercedes throughout the 1970s and 1980s until the arrival of the R129 SL in 1989.

When it first went on sale the R107 was offered only in 350SL form, with a 3.5-litre V8 in Europe and a 4.5-litre V8 in the US. By 1973 the bigger powerplant was offered in Europe too, in the 450SL, but within a year the oil crisis had forced Mercedes to offer the economy-focused 280SL with a 2.8-litre six-cylinder engine.

A range-wide facelift in 1980 led to the 380SL and 500SL, with an all-alloy V8. A further facelift in 1986 brought a front airdam for all models and the six-cylinder 300SL. The mid-range car was now the 420SL while for US buyers there was a 560SL. When R107 production ended in 1989, 237,287 R107 SLs had been made.