MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS
Mercedes-Benz introduced the W107 model in 1971; its first V8-engined sports car that came with new styling, extra cabin space and handling that vastly improved on the previous year’s 280SL.
Within a year M-B added a 4.5-litre V8 to its range. In SL form, the 450 offered a 200km/h top speed and 0-100km/h in a shade under eight seconds.
Boosting capacity by that extra litre involved extending the engine’s stroke by 30mm over the 350. Power was up by a nominal 15kW, but the big difference was a 30 percent lift in torque.
The transformation was most
