standard transmission? - SL class stick shifts, do they exis

[marshall]

Hello, my mother wants a Mercedes roadster (specifically a 450SL) but cannot seem to find one with a standard transmission.  We have been told by some that they just don't exist, and by others that they do, but are extremely rare.  I was hoping I could get some guidance here.  Is there such a thing as an SL with a standard transmission, and if so did any of them make it across the Atlantic?  
Cheers!

 

[Matt Crooke]

standard transmission?

Thats a tough one. From my limited Merc experience, manuals are a lot less common to say the least, and thats here in the UK where 3 pedals and a stick with 1-5 on it are the firm favourite. I did read somehwhere that back in the 1980's, especially with the E class, they did import  a few manual cars, but auto's accounted for about 95% of sales, so eventually they stopped shipping them in altogether. I may be wrong, so its worth checking, but i wouldnt hold my breath. Sorry to be so negative!

cheers..