Description
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
Viewing: Tues 28th April 2026 from 12pm
Auction: Wed 29th April 2026 from 9am
Location: St John's Rd, Buxton SK17 6BE
2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor
Just 15, 000 miles from new!
Estimate
£8, 000 - £10, 000
Registration No: LJ51 RTY
Chassis No: WDB1704492F220135
MOT: November 2026
Supplied new to the car-friendly climate of Japan and imported in 2020
Very low mileage of just 15, 000 miles from new
Entered from the ownership of a forty-year Mercedes-Benz Club GB member, being in that ownership since 2020
Surely unrepeatable; an excellently presented, collector-grade example
At the start of the 1990s, after the introduction of their two-seat grand-tourer, the R129 SL, the launch of the Mazda MX-5 encouraged Mercedes-Benz to create a new compact roadster, slotting below the SL. By late 1991, under Bruno Sacco, the first design sketches were drawn, with scale models of what would become the SLK (R170) being built in the first half of 1992. Massively successful at launch, worldwide sales hit 55, 000 in its first year—over double the entire nine-year production of 190 SLs—and between 1996 and 2004 over 311, 000 SLKs were sold. The roof design consists of a folding steel hardtop with both halves linked by a mechanism that is locked securely when the roof is closed. At the touch of a button on the centre console, a hydraulic system controls the fully automatic folding process in which the boot lid is also integrated.
Described by the vendor as “excellent” in all areas and supplied new to the car-friendly climate of Japan, this extraordinary automatic SLK left the factory in its present colours of Brilliant Silver Metallic with Magma Red leather upholstery, with air-conditioning, heated seats, folding mirrors, and more. Since then, it has been upgraded with reversing sensors. It arrived in Britain in 2018 and has had only two British owners. When it landed, it was promptly serviced by a main dealer, with new air, oil and fuel filters, while the gearbox received new gaskets and seals.
Our vendor, a now elderly gentleman who has been a Mercedes-Benz Club member for over forty years and formerly cherished a 190SL, acquired the SLK in 2020 from marque specialist Edward Hall. He has used it sparingly, and shown it at a recent Mercedes-Benz Club event at Gaydon. In December he took it to Mercedes-Benz Wakefield for an MOT (passed with no advisories), oil change and complementary health check. It then received maintenance including cleaning the throttle valve, replacing the spark plugs, and some small wiring repairs. Showing just 15, 000 miles from new, it is sold with the V5C and assorted invoices and other documents from Britain and Japan.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
