Mercedes-Benz is marking the 60th anniversary of the SL with an impressive selection spanning every variation at Techno Classic Essen, Germany, which runs until tomorrow (25 March). Its centrepiece is an 'exploded' R107 (below), with wheels, engine, gearbox, sills and other parts arranged beneath body panels suspended from the ceiling. The display also includes a stonking rally-spec 500SLC and a new R231.
Taking pride of place, however, is the oldest surviving SL – the recently restored 1954 W194, chassis ‘2’. M-B Classic boss Michael Bock is rightly proud of the 10-month rebuild, stressing in his pre-show press conference how important it was to maintain the car's essential character while returning it to as-new condition.
At the opposite end of the vast, 1200-stand complex, BMW also fills most of a hall on its own. The Bavarian firm marks 40 years of its Motorsport division with a selection including a wide-arched 2002 racer, an M1 and a delightful 700 hillclimb car to illustrate its competition heritage.
The talking point of the event for most visitors, however, is the sensational corral showcasing 19 Pegasos. These include the beautiful, Saoutchik-bodied Z-102 coupé of José Pujol and a spectacular speedboat built using 1951 plans found by the son of Pegaso’s designer Wifredo Ricart.
Across the aisle, leading Spanish dealer Fransisco Pueche features a stunning Z-102 Touring sold new to Pegaso factory racer Juan Jover for the ’53 Le Mans 24 Hours. In ’59, it was modified into a Spider by marque authority Enrique Comas-Cros, who, a year later, was the last person to win a race in a Pegaso in period.
