Sam Bailey started the SL Shop almost 20 years ago.
It has since moved at least twice, and today it has more than 15,000 customers on its books.
Sam grew up helping his late father work on Mercedes-Benz Pagodas, W108 saloons, and W111 coupés and convertibles, so it’s safe to say that he is fairly steeped in the marque.
He is the go-to man for anything R107 SL-related, from routine servicing to full restoration, at his 30,000sq ft facility just outside Stratford-upon-Avon.
Classic Mercedes-Benz gearboxes are rebuilt in-house at SL Shop
The 107-series is still such a usable everyday classic that upgrades are popular.
“Electronic ignition and throttle bodies on the V8s improve the throttle response, and mean we can change the cam and map the ignition,” explains Sam.
During our visit, at least one customer was throwing money at a full-blown restoration of a 450SLC in the fabrication shop, and even the R129 from the ’90s is beginning to have its day.
“We’re servicing a few 129s,” says Sam, “but it’s hard to get the right customer. R129s can get expensive out of proportion to their worth – they can get a bit crusty underneath because of a lack of underseal above the rear axle.”
A Mercedes-Benz W111 220SEb Cabriolet on SL Shop’s rolling road, essential for proper set-up of the injection pumps
