Descripción
Up for sale is my stunning Mercedes 1988 420 SL R107 with black paint work and cream leather interior which to me is one of the most desirable and rare colour combinations. The 420sl is also the rarest of all the SL's made. I am the 4th owner so this car has been loved and cherished in its long life and has always resided in London. Being a 1988 it is also one of the more sought after models being post 86 which came with a number of improvements and refinements improving the build and driving experience from what was already an excellently engineered car. It contains a number of the top spec mod cons of its era including electric windows, fully working AC heater, heated seats. etc. This car has been maintained to a very high standard with 4 folders worth of documentation and receipts accounting to nearly £25k in total which includes £13k with the SL shop and 5k in my ownership. No expense has been spared which has included a new soft top and replacement 420 engine which was fully rebuilt. The engine ticks over effortlessly and has been serviced regularly with specialists again with no expense spared. The engine has had new timing chain, tensioners as well a new distributor. The car has only been run on Esso Supreme (only remaining fuel that is ethanol free in the UK) which helps preserve engine components. Oil pressure has never gone over the 80 mark and never let me down on long trips to Cornwall etc. These cars are bombproof if correctly looked after and would put a lot of modern cars to shame with regards to build quality and reliability.
I viewed a number of SL's before I purchased this example. If you hover on any of the Mercedes forums they will tell you that with these cars now nearing there 50th anniversary this year you should purchase on condition as opposed to mileage. I viewed a couple of low mileage examples which turned out to have significant corrosion issues and others which didn't drive how an SL should. To regularly keep these cars in good order it is always best to keep them running which is what they were built for. In relation to bodywork the car is in excellent condition and has had new sills, jacking points and also fully refurbished subframe in the past and under my ownership new rear right quarter panel. The car also benefited from a full bulkhead replacement which can be a really expensive problem area and something to always check if viewing any SL. Chromework is excellent condition and the car contains the original Mercedes branded carpets and trim. The front dash is in excellent condition (expensive repair / replacement job if cracked or damaged). Again no expense has ever been spared to bring this car up to the standard it deserves. Last full specialist service was 400 miles ago and comes with pioneer radio with Bluetooth and phone capability and alarm.
In terms of remedial work, the seats whilst still very useable do have some cracks consistent with age. However, they still present well, foams are good and the rear seats are in great condition. If I were to be really picky the only small sign of corrosion which is not noticeable is a tiny bubble in the corner of the front bonnet and the original hardtop does have some age related marks but still in good condition compared to others I have seen.
In summary If you are looking for a very useable and well maintained classic r107 that has all the expensive jobs covered and can simply be enjoyed from the turn of the key then you will struggle to find another car within this price range. Just be ready for compliments in the summer and lots of admiring views / glances.
