It was sunshine on wheels - and a symbol of a brand in transition.
The Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor (R170) isn’t just part of a new “Youngtimer” exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. It’s also the attention-grabbing showpiece.
Drenched in “yellowstone” (colour code 685), the same loud-and-proud shade that launched the SLK in 1996, this compact roadster is as bold today as it was nearly three decades ago.
A folding roof and rising hopes
The SLK’s party trick was its electro-hydraulic vario-roof: a steel folding hardtop that transformed the coupé into a convertible at the press of a button. It was slick, it worked and it made Mercedes the benchmark for open-air motoring with year-round usability. Impressively, it still left usable boot space when stowed.
Less weight, more wow
Under the bonnet, the 230 Kompressor packed a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with a mechanical supercharger good for 142kW.
The forced induction wasn’t just a gimmick as it drew on the company's’ historic use of superchargers in the 1920s to deliver muscular torque from low revs, with improved fuel efficiency to boot.
Style and substance
While its curves were clean and silhouette crisp, the SLK was just about fashion as it was about form with intent. The classic SL grille and taut proportions gave it a timeless quality, echoed inside by clear instruments, quality materials, and tidy ergonomics. It looked modern then and still holds up remarkably well today.
Debuting as a concept in 1994 and launched in production form two years later, the SLK was an instant hit.
More than 310,000 examples rolled out by 2004, helping shake off the brand’s reputation for sedate saloons and repositioning it for a younger, fun-seeking market.
The yellowstone SLK is on show in Collection Room 5 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum’s “Youngtimer” exhibition until November 2, 2025, alongside nine other classic cars from the ’90s and ’00s.
