New Harry's Garage. His R129 SL600

"DuckDraper" (jjkiger93gmailcom) 11/06/2014 at 20:19 • Filed to: None

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I've always liked the looks of the R129 compared to all the SLs that came after it. His review of the car makes me seriously want one now. Especially the V12 version.

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/06/2014 at 20:26

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Needs moar Sport!

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/06/2014 at 20:28

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Was there an optional sports package for it back in the day?

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/06/2014 at 21:04

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Yes. I have a 1997 SL600 Sport that was sent to AMG for extra work by the original owner before delivery.

There are a number of things that stand out about the car Harry has, most notably are the headlights. He mentioned that the car had the SL500 suspension installed to get rid of the self-adjusting hydraulics, but that's a feature my car will always keep. Yes the bills are big, but the car is original.

But about the headlights, the pre-1997 cars use a single headlamp with a two stage bulb. In 1997 they introduced the projector low beams and halogen high beams. The video very clearly shows that he has the later headlights installed, which means that his car doesn't quite belong as a 1993 model. Another tipoff is the naming convention. Before 1995, the cars were xxxSL. In 1995, they changed over to SLxxx. Maybe that's just an American thing?

His car should have headlights like this:

But it doesn't.

It's very obviously not a sport, becuase the front bumper is completely different, and it has no side skirts, but the newer cars do not have any form of back seat whatsoever. Mine just has a luggage shelf, and no indication of ever having a seat.

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/06/2014 at 21:37

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Wow thank you so so much for all this information. I bet the car is a dream to own. It must be nice having a de-tuned Zonda engine :) Is the black Merc in your first reply yours?

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/06/2014 at 21:46

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The very first Zonda uses the M120 just about out of the box, likely only changes to the exhaust, as the mid engined layout of the Zonda would require a whole new exhaust.

This is the later iteration of the Zonda when AMG was pushing the M120 V12 to higher and higher limits (eventually to 7.3L, and finally with added twin turbos). It looks like the intake manifold is just about stock to the M120 as well. It wasn't until the later Zondas when the engines were wildly tuned and put out upwards of 600-700HP.

Yes, the black SL is mine.

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/06/2014 at 22:07

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Judging by the horsepower rating of the original Zonda on GranTurismo 4 (if HP ratings are accurate in that game) that does make sense. It produces a little more power than the Sl600 which could easily be achieved by a better exhaust. Ze Germans know how to make an engine sound amazing. The M120 when properly tuned on the crazier Zondas sounds like the apocalypse. The M156 and M159 sound like an old Spitfire from WWII. Too bad N/A engines are on their way out because they sound amazing. For example, the Huayra sounds no where near as good as the Zonda.

You're car looks great by the way! Too bad you're a Jersey guy like me with that front plate.

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/06/2014 at 23:00

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Thanks!

The front plate has its benefits though, in case someone bumps the car primarily. I'd love to yank it off, and may reach a point when I can with collector registration, but I dont want to see the holes on the bumper either.

The M120 bone stock is about 400HP. I say "about" because the motor wasnt changed, but the newer cars are rated for less. The manual for mine says 389HP, but I have every reason to believe its got a very healthy amount still.

The newest SLs are all twin turbo. The R129 was the last on the NA V12 cars. 2001 was the last year for them as well. All super/turbocharged after these. The V8s arent bad, they make a great noise, but they are a little lacking. The V12s never really made a lot of noise, but the SL73 is a screamer for sure, but a whole different animal as well.

The newer cars arent bad, but just dont compare. The McLaren SLR has rock hard seats that are not enjoyable, the newest SLs are okay looking, but not great to me. Sure they're insanely fast, but you also never see them.

Where are you in Jersey?

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/06/2014 at 23:08

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I live in Gloucester County down in South Jersey. The pork roll, not taylor ham part of New Jersey. I never even knew about the SL73 so thanks for that! I don't mind supercharged engine noises though. Mostly because of the whine of an '03 Mustang Cobra or, more recently, the Challenger Hellcat. Then again my favorite car is the compound charged Lancia Delta S4 which is VERY force inducted. So I guess I'm a hypocrite.

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/06/2014 at 23:44

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S4 you say? No S4s that I'm aware of in my area, but the shop working on my Magnum currently has an HF stashed away in the back. I also know another guy who also has another HF in New York.

The SL73 was the largest V12 the R129 ever saw, and the best of my knowledge, are only in Europe, and the production number is 85 or right around there. There's a guy in Texas who claims to have an SL74, but as he admits, the engine is not something the car ever would have come with from the factory, so it's just a modified SL600. Very very modified. Out of that period of car, a V12 road car would have been Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes or BMW for the most part. Out of all of those, the Mercedes V12 has always been more reliable. I have people left and right tell me about how it must cost me a lot of money to keep my car on the road. Little do they know it's got 99k miles, and I intend to drive it even more. It needs a little more work than Harry's car, but will get there for sure, piece by piece.

Superchargers can certainly have a great sound, I just find turbo cars and twin turbo cars to not really sound all that great. The WRX has a very unique sound, but I'm perfectly happy with the NA boxer sounds, and while I do understand the power benefits, the horsepower wars escape me a little. Sure I love having gobs and gobs of power at my disposal, but where am I going to use it? I could bury the speed in the SL600 (because it will go all the way to the end), but where can I really get there?

There is a supercharged V12 that a guy tracks pretty hard though. Pretty wicked .

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/06/2014 at 23:59

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I'm pretty certain there isn't an S4 in America but it has that coked-up insane 80's engineering that I love. You have a Magnum too? I loved those when they came out and still do. And holy goddamn that Cobra is INSANE.

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/07/2014 at 00:05

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I have an interesting garage (SL600 Sport + Dodge Magnum RT). Maybe next year I'll add a Porsche 914, but I'm not sure. I need a garage with a bedroom attached. Preferably with a kitchen and bathroom as well. I don't know.

I can ask a guy sometime if he knows of any S4s in the US. If anyone knows, I think he would. If you asked him the right way, he'd probably be able to find one too.

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/07/2014 at 00:14

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That's a solid garage right there. I wish I will have enough money one day to even afford an S4. There was a recent Jalopnik article S4 Stradale up for sale in the UK for at least $350,000 US dollars. Another alternative plan I've been thinking about lately is making a Subaru Group B rally car. Basically I've always wondered what would Subaru build if they entered Group B. Build a tube frame, use an '85-'86 GL or Justy as the panels and slap a compound charged flat-4 in the middle.

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/07/2014 at 00:26

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You could even go for a Subaru 2.5RS Group B rally getup? I don't think it's that bad of an idea.

But a GL or Justy? That's a fine idea right there. I'd go for GL for looks alone over the Justy, toss in a monster WRX motor in the middle, and just rallycross the piss out of it.

As much as I respect the Delta, if I had to get a Lancia, hands down, Stratos. You just can't beat a wedge.

DuckDraper > JGrabowMSt 11/07/2014 at 00:48

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All hail the wedge!

JGrabowMSt > DuckDraper 11/07/2014 at 00:56

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http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/without-compro…