In 1971 Mercedes replaced the legendary W113 series SL with this, the R107. With a wide range of smooth and powerful 6 and 8 cylinder engines, impeccable road-manners, bulletproof reliability and timelessly classic design, it was a runaway success. And would remain so for the next 18 years.
Mercedes’ SL models have alway been benchmarks for luxurious travel, and the R107 is no different. They have real road presence and still command the respect and admiration of petrolheads and classic car fans the world over.
Hailing from the final production run of the R107 series, this 300SL model was first registered in March 1989 in Wetherby. MPC Mercedes of London have cared for the car since 2000, and were responsible for the engine rebuild undertaken in May 2014
The current owner purchased it in early 2014, undertaking work to restore the car to its former glory. This including a full engine rebuild and the installation of a new soft-top roof.
Since this time, the car has covered just 1,000 miles, was serviced in December 2020 (and has covered less than 60 miles since then) and has been kept dry-stored in an underground parking structure. Needless to say, it’s in good condition.
As well as the V5 and MOT (until December 2021), this 300SL comes with a significant amount of paperwork. Numerous previous MOTs and work receipts, 2 keys, original handbooks and a full specialist service history all come with the car. The paperwork is in a new Mercedes handbook folder, although the original 80s leather folder comes with the car.
One of the most interesting items of paperwork that comes with the car is the original Blaupunkt stereo system wiring schematic – something we’ve never seen before.
The SL has a beautifully crafted interior, and this example is in excellent condition. Naturally, as a 32 year old car, there are some minor signs of wear and tear – but certainly nothing to be concerned about. All the switchgear is in fine condition and operates well.
It’s easy to see why the R107 was such a success and remains so popular. Everything feels tremendously well put together and well crafted. And for a car of this period, it’s very well appointed and specified, featuring cruise control, power steering, electric windows, a Blaupunkt stereo system and Mercedes’ wonderfully smooth 3 speed automatic transmission.
Like so many luxury cars of this era, the cabin features rich, high-quality walnut veneer. Unlike many cars of this vintage, however, it still looks factory fresh. The luggage bench behind the seats is thickly carpeted and in fine condition, as is the boot area, which contains a Kenwood CD changer and the hydraulic roof mechanism.
You’d be hard-pressed to believe this is the cabin of a car that has covered almost 170,000 miles. It’s staggering how well Mercedes built these cars.
Like the interior, the exterior is in nice condition and belies the age and miles of the car. That may be partly due to the fact that, as a post-1986 car, this features a galvanised body shell. Other than one or two very minor blemishes, the exterior of the car is in excellent condition. The panels are straight and beautifully gapped, the paint looks fantastic and all the chromework is present and in fine condition.
The car rides on the original 15” Flat Face alloy wheels, which are all in near perfect condition. The current owner also had the soft-top roof replaced about 5 years ago, and has actually never used it! So there’s a brand new roof tucked away beneath the factory-option hard-top, which is in itself a very desirable item in astounding condition.
Although the mileage on the car is almost 170,00 miles, that really doesn’t tell the full story. The owner paid for a complete engine rebuild and new radiator/cooling system in May 2014, work which was carried out by MPC Mercedes of London when the car had covered 167,210. So, in reality, the engine has covered less than 1,000 miles since its rebuild.
Mechanically, this model of SL has many features which make it a great purchase, including: Bosch KE Jetronic fuel injection, servo-assisted brakes with discs all round and, rarest of all, an aftermarket hydraulic powered roof system. This system was so good that Mercedes allegedly used it as the basis of the powered roof system in the next model of SL. The owner tells us that, as far as he is aware, the system is operational, but he has never used it. They have been in contact with a specialist who works on these roof systems, and can provide the details to the buyer.
When it comes to desirability, not much tops a classic SL. The previous model (W113) has become the stuff of legend and nice examples are far out of the reach of most buyers. Which is why the R107 is such a great buy. It hails from that period when Mercedes Benz built cars that were not only beautiful to look at and drive, but were incredibly well built. You really do have to see one up close to fully appreciate just how well engineered they are. But they haven’t yet reached the stratospheric values that earlier SLs have, meaning they’re well within the reach of most buyers.
The classic white-over-black colour scheme, leather and walnut interior and optional factory hardtop make this SL only a great looking car, but superbly practi We can just imagine cruising down to the south of France or the Italian lakes in this, arriving perfectly refreshed and ready for a nice cool drink on the terrace. So it’s a car that has massive appeal and, as far as we’re concerned, has no real competitors. Nothing else we can think of offers the combination of timeless style, peerless reliability and effortless ability that this era of SL does.
Not only that but there are fewer and fewer R107s in this kind of condition on the road each year. We’re confident they will only increase in value over the next few years – making this the rarest of purchases, one you can make with your head and your heart.
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1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (R107)
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