A 4 folder of service history, old MOTs, tax discs and invoices
Superb overall condition and clearly well-loved
THE APPEAL
Since the very first of Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Sports Leicht’ models appeared in the 1950s, the model name has represented one of the finest sports cars in the world, as well as one that has got more and more collectable with age.
Early SLs, later Pagodas and the third-generation ‘R107’ models are now firmly rooted in genuine classic territory these days, with the fourth-gen R129 model rapidly catching up in terms of collector values. Which leaves the 2002-2011 R230 model sure to follow suit.
After all, in the early 2000s, the Formula One-inspired SL was the most desirable luxury sports car in the world.
It was engineered like all the best Mercedes-Benz models and was not only sleek and stylish, but also technologically advanced, with a modern cabin and driver aids such as PARKTRONIC parking assist and DISTRONIC adaptable cruise control – features that were in their infancy in 2001 when the SL debuted, but which are commonplace today.
The R230 also introduced the company’s trademark electric folding hard top – or VarioRoof - to the model, which had debuted four years earlier on the SLK.
It was a strikingly handsome car but also a very expensive one. At launch, it was offered only as the 386bhp SL500 – and that’s what we have here. A wonderful well-specified and gorgeously presented R230 from the first year of UK sales.
The car has been its owner’s pride and joy since 2014 – he bought it to use as a second car (more recently, third car) and has truly cherished it, but has recently had the opportunity to upgrade to the flagship SL55 AMG model – the only reason he’s selling his wonderful SL 500, and the only reason he ever would.cYEDo4iyWt7cZpkkNUBVnmBbmQ1v44Qos7brEC4V.jpg1.78 MB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
First registered in October 2002
Supplied new by Mercedes-Benz of Kings Lynn
UK V5C
MOT August 2023
Owned by vendor since the summer of 2014, when it had covered 44,000 miles
Current mileage of just over 59k
Service book stamped by main dealers up to 44,028 miles in 2014
Independently maintained since
Always garaged by vendor
Invoices for recent work and comes with an entire folder full of previous receipts, invoices and tax discs
Original factory build sheet
Every MOT certificate from new
OASIS printout showing full specification and purchase costs - £68,696
Private registration will be retained by vendor and car supplied on original plate – AO52 DKY
With prices of previous generation R107 and R129 SLs creeping ever upwards, the R230 is surely the next big thing in the Mercedes-Benz collector market, and this one has all of the hallmarks of a bona fide future classic. One of the best cars in the world when it was new; more than two decades later all of that still rings true.
This one is a fabulous example – a genuine low mileage example of the V8-powered SL 500. You’ll struggle to find a better early R230 on the market right now.
Notice to bidders
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