This is not your ordinary R107. The Mercedes-Benz SL R107 was a cool car amongst the coolest of cars. It performed in some moderately successful rally racing in the 70βs and 80βs, it even did some track racing, at the time. It just didnβt have the race pedigree that itβs predecessors had. However, a man called Neat DeAtley, saw itβs potential and wanted to bring one to the 1982 season of the Trans-Am Race series. A race series that raced on tracks like Laguna Seca Raceway, the Sears Point International Raceway and the Portland International Raceway.
Neat DeAtley also happened to look for a way to promote the Mercedes-Benz dealership he owned and so he decided to get the car build. Since this beast has a tubular frame with a fiberglass bodykit that looks like a R107, but actually isnβt, only the engine and the tail lights are from an SL.
In order to comply with the Trans-Am rules at the time, the 5.0 liter M117 had to be destroked to 4,5 liters. They had to replace the original Bosch fuel-injection system with twin Holley 4-barrel carburetors mounted on a custom-made intake manifold. For good measure, it got an aluminum head as well. Unfortunately, there are no numbers on how many horsepower it produced, though it was likely a lot since it was racing against big American muscle cars.
This car was not blessed by Stuttgart since it was not an official factory car however, the car raced by Loren St. Lawrence was the first Mercedes-Benz Race Car in a pro series since 1955. The SLβs best result was 6th place on the Road America circuit. And now, as luck would have it, you can own this beast!
The DeAtley Motorsport/Michelob Trans Am Racer Car is being auctioned at Mecum in Monterey, CA from August 18 to 22, 2022.Β
