Description
1 Owner | 29k miles | Main Agent Service History | Original Condition
Some cars are bought, used, and passed on. Others are held onto a little longer, perhaps out of sentiment. And then there are the rarest few, the ones that never leave their first home, preserved almost as though time itself has stood still.
On the 11th of October 1984, Mr. Haills walked into Waterhouse Chelmsford (Mercedes-Essex) and took delivery of his new 500 SL. Finished in the quietly sophisticated shade of Petrol Blue Green metallic (877) over Cream Beige leather (275), his order was accompanied by a carefully chosen set of options: a limited-slip differential for surefooted driving, cruise control and ABS for long-distance confidence, electrically adjustable mirrors for ease of use, rear seats to accommodate an extra passenger or two, heat-insulating glass with heated rear screen, headlamp wipers, a factory fire extinguisher, and a black soft top. The car left the dealership with every hallmark of the flagship SL - and then it never left his care.
For over four decades, this R107 lived a charmed life. Driven only in the dry, never left outside, and always tucked away in Mr. Haills garage, it became less a means of transport and more a personal treasure. With just 29, 350 miles covered, it remains in its factory paint, both hard and soft tops still beautifully preserved. Even the smallest details speak volumes about its story - two original keys still in their leather sleeves, period brochures, a full set of books and maintenance records, and even the small-format MOT certificates that chart its sparing use.
Importantly, it was never mechanically neglected. Every service under Mr. Haills’ ownership was entrusted to the supplying dealer, and more recently, due to distance, care passed to Mercedes-Benz UK’s flagship centre, Brooklands - where its visit was overseen by Steve Perry. It is, in every sense, a car that has been cherished as much mechanically as it has cosmetically.
Look closely, and the condition is every bit as remarkable as the provenance. The chrome gleams, the trims retain their depth, the alloy wheels are unmarked. Inside, the Cream Beige leather remains supple and inviting, the wood trim still deep and glossy, and every switch, gauge, and button is as crisp as the day it left Stuttgart. Nothing feels tired, nothing looks faded; it is a cabin that has been preserved, not worn.
Turn the key, and the 5. 0-litre M117 V8 settles into a smooth idle, its distinctive burble mellow but purposeful. On the road, the 500 SL still embodies exactly why it was the range-topping model of the R107 series: relaxed, refined, and utterly usable, yet capable of delivering genuine performance when asked. Forty years on, it remains an effortlessly pleasurable car to drive - as adept at wafting along a country road as it is stretching its legs on the motorway, roof down, with that unmistakable V8 soundtrack in the background.
The R107 500 SL has long been regarded as the one to have. More powerful and more desirable than its 280 and 380 siblings, it strikes the perfect balance between usability and collectability. Yet even among 500 SLs, examples like this are almost mythical. One owner. Original paint. Just under 30k miles. Full main dealer history. Untouched, unrepeatable provenance. It’s not just a fine R107 - it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the very best of the breed.
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