The car that served as the basis for this project ended up in The SL Shop workshop in a rather poor condition. Deprived of its engine and gearbox, it seemed, according to the authors, to be doomed to be dismantled for parts or slowly decay in the open air. Nevertheless, it was decided to preserve the classic roadster by turning it into an electric car. First, the car was completely disassembled, restoring every part of the chassis and body, after which it was brought to a condition worthy of an exhibition — now this Mercedes fully meets factory specifications, down to the tires.
Instead of the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V8 engine, a pair of electric motors and a set of batteries from Tesla were installed. The SportLine ZERO model has an ideal weight distribution across the axles, adjustable suspension, and impressive dynamics (exact figures are not disclosed). At the same time, its weight exceeds that of the standard roadster by only 100 kilograms. The range without recharging is approximately 240 kilometers.
Despite the successful completion of the project, The SL Shop does not plan to offer clients services for converting classic cars into electric vehicles, but rather views this car as an assessment of the capabilities of an electric powertrain applied to the SL model.
