In 1963 the Mercedes W113 replaced two cars: the 300 SL racing legend and the successful 190 SL. In the process, the 230/250/280 SL two-seat coupe/roadster became an icon not only by carving out the perfect niche between its two predecessors, but also by being like no other car on the road. Mercedes W113 - The Complete Story explores both the technical and social side of how this legend was born. The book covers: the W113's predecessors - the 300 SL and the 190 SL; design and development of the 230, 250 and 280 SL models, including the distinctive concave 'Pagoda' roof and the 'Californian Coupe' rear seat option; Bela Barenyi's innovations that made the 230 SL the first 'safety sports car'; rallying successes for the W113; the R107 successor, with specialist advice on 'Pagoda' restorations, and the W113 in popular culture. Superbly illustrated with 249 colour photographs.