Distinctive bodywork by Adolf Koch unique to Lorinser GS03
Power increase from 306bhp to 401bhp
O-60 mph in 5.6secs
Various bespoke options from Mercedes’ Designo customisation service
Low owners and mileage
MOT to January 2024 with no advisories
The Appeal
In the rarefied world of customised Mercedes Benz cars, Lorinser makes AMG and Brabus look positively commonplace. This longstanding German Mercedes dealer has been tuning the firm’s cars for decades but in 2003 decided to go one step further and develop its own car, the GS03.
Lorinser’s designer Adolf Koch conceived the GS03 as a celebration of his 40 year career. So when he took Mercedes R230 SL500 as his starting point, it really was just that: as the photographs of this car show, the GS03 looks significantly different to a standard R230 SL with distinctive extensions, grilles and bumpers.
Thankfully, for such a purposeful car, the GS03 is more than a styling exercise. Power leapt to 401bhp compared to the standard SL500s 306bhp, enough to catapult the GS03 to 60mph in 5.6secs.
Just 50 GS03s were ever built, of which this is the 5th. The original bill of sale, which is with the car, shows it cost in excess of 130,000 euros in 2004. Its low miles and excellent condition attest to its low number of careful owners. The R230 is one of Mercedes finest grand tourers, a cleverly engineered coupe-come-convertible designed for relaxing, long distance driving. The GS03 moves the goalposts, offering a more distinctive alternative with more performance and exclusivity in bucketloads. If you like the SL but want a version few others have, here is your chance.
The History And Paperwork
First registered 22nd March 2004
Delivered on 9th January 2004
Extensive history file including original bill of sale
Mercedes VIN Datacard confirms this car left the factory as a SL500
MOT to January 2024 with no advisories
Five owners from new
Seven Mercedes dealer stamps to 31,767 miles in 2016
Mercedes Designo custom bespoke options including stone leather and part wood steering wheel and carbon fibre effect gearshift
BOSE sound system
Light grey leather interior
Heated, ventilated and electric memory seats
Panoramic glass sunroof
Alpine satnav
Keyless entry
Dark wood veneers in good condition
Alcantara trimmed instrument binnacle
The R230 SL is a marvel of Mercedes design, combining high quality and luxury with an airy sense of style. This car started its life as a SL500, from close to the top of the R230 range, which provide a very high level of equipment. It was then carefully optioned by the first owner using Mercedes’ bespoke Designo service, before being again personalised by Lorinser.
The specification includes heated and ventilated seats, with electric memory function. There are attractive dark wood veneers throughout and an Alpine satnav system as well as a Bose sound system. The instruments are clad in alcantara and there is a discreet Lorinser badge confirming that this is the 5th of 50 GS03s.
The condition of the interior is superb, reflecting the low mileage and what must presumably be some very careful owners. The light grey leather and carpets, which one might expect to suffer due to their colour, are in very good unmarked condition. The only issues are very minor: the clear plastic on the ventilated seat switch on the driver’s side door has cracked. The other issue likely originated at the factory: there is a small area of poor trim finish on the top of the passenger door card.
The Exterior
Telurium Silver metallic paintwork in excellent condition
Lorinser styling package including wide body and front and rear bumpers, latter with central twin-exit exhaust
Lorinser 20inch turbine alloy wheels with split rims
Falken tyres all round
Folding metal hard top
The Lorinser styling package is quite an achievement. It manages to transform the svelte lines of the R230 SL500 that left the Mercedes factory into something altogether more macho and purposeful. The modifications are neatly integrated and, while distinctive, not over the top. There are extra grilles and wider arches as well as new front and rear bumpers. The latter is particularly attractive with its central twin-exit exhaust flutes.
The original owner also specified the attractive turbine-style 20inch split-rim Lorinser alloy wheels. These are shod with Falken quality tyres.
The R230 was the latest in a long tradition of SL Mercedes sports cars. As such it stays true to the ethos, combining high performance with a practical, spacious layout including a decent sized boot. It also utilises Mercedes then-revolutionary folding hard top, a clever design that can transform the R230 from coupe to convertible and back again at the flick of a switch and in a matter of seconds.
The general condition of the exterior is very good. It is finished in Telurium Silver Metallic and there are no obvious marks or even parking dings. There do not even appear to be any stone chips.
The Lorinser alloy wheels are in very good condition, just light kerbing on both nearside wheels detracting.
The underside of the car appears very good, with no obvious issues. There are no structural advisories on the MOT
The Mechanics
Supercharged 4966cc V8 Mercedes engine
Power increased from 306bhp to 401bhp
0-60mph in 5.6secs
7spd automatic gearbox with semi-automatic option
Lorinser sports exhaust
Full Mercedes dealer service history to 31,767 miles
Extensive history file to support ongoing maintenance
Original bill of sale showing specification and Lorinser options
The GS03’s party trick is to match its looks with performance. This car left the factory in January 2004 as a SL500 equipped with a 306bhp version of Mercedes’ very smooth 5litre V8 engine. Lorinser has a tradition of tuning dating back to the 1970s and continues to offer performance tuning across the Mercedes range. The GS03 therefore tapped into the firm’s experience, resulting in a power hike to 401bhp, enough to deliver the 0-60mph sprint in just 5.6secs.
The tuning work also extended to a Lorinser sports exhaust. The ventilation grilles around the car are also said to improve braking performance.
The extensive history file shows seven Mercedes dealer stamps up to 2016 and 31,767 miles. The current mileage is 46,890. We were not able to fully interrogate the photographs showing a thick array of invoices but we are told by the Seller that the car has full service history. The buyer may wish to ask the Seller about those other bills.
The MOT runs to January 2024 and shows no advisories. The car has covered less than 100 miles since the MOT.
Summary
There are modified Mercedes and then there is the Lorinser GS03, a car so rare that it scores only a handful of hits on Google. Just 50 were built, combining extensive and distinctive bodywork changes with significant performance upgrades.
This GS03 is a rare RHD model with low owners and low mileage. It appears to be in excellent condition, the thick history file suggesting careful stewardship by its previous owners. If you like the R230 SL Mercedes but want something that really stands out, then this Lorinser certainly delivers something a little different.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
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2004 R230 Mercedes-Benz SL GS03 LORINSER Number 5 of 50
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