I found this pairing irresistible, although we’ll have to leave for Outtake status for today. I’ve done the Pulsar before, and the SL is going to have to wait a bit longer. But the pairing of these contemporary yet so different coupes stopped me in my tracks on our thrice-weekly jaunt to the Y (notice I didn’t say they stopped both of us). Well, they do share certain similarities, but to whatever extent that may be, that ends abruptly at their front ends:
Well, they were sold at the some time for a few years, but by 1983 or so, the R107 was well into its old age, having arrived back in 1971.
Curiously enough, their hind quarters show the most similarity, but then just about every car sold for some twenty years had those rectangular taillights below the trunk lid like that. Exactly which car started that trend anyway?
A more apt comparison might be with a first-gen Honda Prelude.
The Pulsar is a confusing car. I could never figure out why it was or what it was supposed to be.
“Exactly which car started that trend anyway?”
A “box” is very space efficient. You ever look into the trunk of an Chevy Celebrity, now that was an efficient space! More sq. ft. than many modern Cadillacs. My father stuffed four sets of golf clubs into the trunk of ours (quite regularly) to go on a golf outing with his buddies.
Dan, I don’t think it was boxy trunks per se he meant, but that particular kind of setup with rectangular/horizontal rear light clusters and a folded down trunk lid that meets in that kind of straight line. At least, that’s how I interpreted that question. And my answer to who started that trend is the 1959 Mercedes W111. I can’t find any earlier examples, but perhaps there are. No one is ever first with anything.
I agree with you Ingvar, at least until I stumble unto something older. I’ll let you know if I do!
To me, the 380SL might have been seen as dated and the Pulsar futuristic when new, but today the Mercedes looks contemporary and the Pulsar dated. Most post-1965 Mercedes-Benzes are like that, especially the circa 1965-72 250/280/300SE sedans. Classic and timeless lines.
Paul, when the time comes to write up the R107, come on over. I have one you can spend some wheel time with. Both tops. Fairly good condition.
I seem to remember an underwhelming turbo version of the Pulsar released in the mid 1980s.