The first mass-produced Mercedes SL with a six-cylinder engine was the iconic W113. A replacement for the 190 SL, the car’s elegant styling was backed up with more power and much-improved performance.
Known as the ‘Pagoda’, it was introduced in 1963 at the Geneva Motor Show, and today it is regarded as one of the greatest cars of its generation, alongside the likes of the Jaguar E-type and Aston Martin DB5. It is svelte and understated, and few classics are quite so revered.
So perhaps it’s a no-brainer that electric conversion specialist Everrati would eventually turn its attention to a model once favoured by the likes of John Lennon, Audrey Hepburn and Charlton Heston.
A front battery is fitted under the bonnet where that robustly engineered six-cylinder once sat
The company’s workshop at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire has already installed batteries in a series of popular models of yesteryear, including the Porsche 964 coupé, Ford GT40 and even the Land Rover Series IIA.
Everrati offers two electric powertrains in the SL: a standard 54.4kWh battery covers a range of up to 160 miles and covers 0-60mph in under eight seconds, while a Touring version features a larger, 68kWh battery and extends the range by more than 40 miles. Both versions have the same 300bhp electric motor, a limited-slip differential and regenerative braking, which allows for ‘one-pedal’ driving.
A front battery is fitted under the bonnet where that robustly engineered six-cylinder once sat, and a rear battery is mounted above and below the boot floor, optimising space and weight distribution. The electric motor is fitted in the redundant transmission tunnel, and drives the rear axle.
To power up the 54.4kWh batteries, a charging port hides behind the fuel cap. Otherwise, the only other noticeable difference to the SL’s svelte lines is a discreet Everrati moniker cut in chrome across the boot lid.
On a short first-drive event in Buckinghamshire, there wasn’t an opportunity to open the car up beyond 45mph – a shame, because the SL is perfect for a country jaunt on a summer’s day.
As you might expect, the Everrati version of this classic Mercedez-Benz wafts and wallows like the original, with accompanying minor squeaks and rattles amplified by the lack of exhaust note.
Inside, a reworked display on the dashboard shows battery capacity instead of a fuel gauge, while the gearstick moves fore and aft only, to select drive and reverse. The rest of the classic Mercedes trim can be upgraded with myriad options, including uber-sustainable Bridge of Weir leather.
Everrati CEO Justin Lunny says upcycling older cars makes an electric classic one of the most sustainable vehicles on the road. The battery technology is also fully recyclable – and, yes, the car can even be de-retro fitted with a combustion engine.
There is, however, a very large elephant in the room – the price. A commission starts at an eye-watering £330,000 plus local taxes. That’s £396,000 including VAT, plus the donor car. You don’t need a calculator to work out a bottom-line figure of around £450,000, plus a few options.
Lunny, who is already working on a Lamborghini LM002 ‘Rambo Lambo’ for a Middle East client, says a blend of the Pagoda’s iconic character and eco-credentials still make it a desirable choice. It makes you wonder how Rolls-Royce can sell an all-electric Spectre for just £332,000…
More information on Everrati can be found here.
