Description
Ascot Grey | Blue Perforated Leather | Automatic | Extensive Service History | Original Handbook Pack
A beautifully documented example of Mercedes-Benz’s enduring R107, elegantly finished in Ascot Grey with contrasting Blue Perforated Leather, accompanied by an extensive history file spanning more than three decades, including its original service book and handbook pack.
One of Stuttgart’s most accomplished grand tourers, combining the silky refinement of its six-cylinder engine with timeless elegance, an excellent factory specification and the reassuring solidity of an era when Mercedes-Benz built cars to last a lifetime.
The Mercedes-Benz R107
There are certain motor cars that never really go out of fashion. The Mercedes-Benz R107 SL is one of them.
Introduced in 1971 as the successor to the celebrated W113 'Pagoda', the R107 would remain in production for an extraordinary eighteen years, becoming one of the longest-running models in Mercedes-Benz history. During that time, it established itself as the preferred transport of Hollywood stars, European aristocrats, successful industrialists and those who appreciated the finer things in life without necessarily wishing to draw attention to themselves.
The SL was never intended to be an out-and-out sports car. Instead, Mercedes-Benz set out to create something altogether more civilised: a beautifully engineered, effortlessly capable grand tourer, equally at home cruising along the Côte d'Azur as it was navigating the streets of London.
Its styling, developed under the direction of Friedrich Geiger, was a masterclass in restraint. The long bonnet, broad shoulders, delicate chrome detailing and perfectly judged proportions have aged remarkably well. Indeed, one might argue that the R107 looks rather better today than it did when new.
Beneath its handsome exterior lay the sort of engineering for which Mercedes-Benz was once universally renowned. The R107 was designed with an almost obsessive attention to structural integrity, safety and longevity. Its substantial construction, sophisticated suspension and beautifully finished cabin gave the SL an unmistakable feeling of solidity.
In 1985, Mercedes-Benz introduced a comprehensive update to the range, bringing revised suspension, improved braking and a new generation of engines.
Among these was the 300SL, powered by the smooth and dependable 2, 962cc M103 straight-six engine, producing approximately 188bhp. While the larger V8 models attracted attention for their displacement, the six-cylinder 300SL offered a particularly pleasing balance of performance, refinement and weight distribution.
It was, in many respects, the thinking person's SL.
With its smooth automatic transmission, excellent visibility and wonderfully relaxed driving character, the 300SL remains one of the most enjoyable and usable versions of the R107.
This Particular Example
First registered on 1 August 1988, this Mercedes-Benz 300SL is a late-production example of the R107, benefiting from the numerous mechanical and engineering improvements introduced during the model's final years.
Finished in the wonderfully understated shade of Ascot Grey, complemented by a contrasting Blue Perforated Leather interior, the car presents a particularly elegant interpretation of Mercedes-Benz's celebrated grand tourer.
It is a colour combination entirely in keeping with the character of the SL: sophisticated, restrained and unmistakably of its period, without being ostentatious.
The cabin is upholstered in blue perforated leather, while the factory-fitted rear seats provide additional occasional accommodation. The removable hardtop, finished in matching Ascot Grey and equipped with a heated rear window, transforms the car from an open-top roadster into a refined coupé for the colder months.
Further factory equipment includes automatic transmission, electric windows, cruise control, central locking and top-tinted glass, making this a particularly well-specified example.
The combination of the straight-six engine and automatic gearbox is especially well suited to the R107's character, delivering the relaxed, effortless motoring experience for which the SL became so celebrated.
History and Provenance
One of the most appealing aspects of this particular 300SL is its extensive accompanying history file, providing a detailed record of maintenance, servicing and expenditure extending across more than three decades.
The car retains its Mercedes-Benz handbook pack and service book, together with a substantial collection of historical invoices, MOT certificates and supporting documentation.
Among the earliest records are original Mercedes-Benz main dealer documents from Charles Sidney of Doncaster, dating back to the early 1990s, establishing a long history of attention from both the manufacturer's dealer network and independent specialists.
Of particular note is a speedometer replacement carried out and documented by Mercedes-Benz early in the car's life, at approximately 11, 000–12, 500 miles. The relevant dealership paperwork is retained within the history file, providing valuable context for the mileage displayed today.
The accompanying service records and MOT certificates provide further evidence of the car's recorded mileage progression over the years.
By March 2013, the car was being maintained by M. G. Autos in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, where it underwent servicing and preparation for its MOT, including replacement tyres, front brake pads and sensor wires, together with attention to the steering, brake pipes and windscreen washer system.
That same month, the dashboard was retrimmed by P&G Trimmers of Milton Keynes, at a documented cost of £960.
In March 2015, at an indicated 42, 507 miles, the car underwent a particularly comprehensive programme of mechanical maintenance at Diagnostics, Servicing & Repairs in Leighton Buzzard.
This included replacement of the front and rear brake discs, pads and calipers, alongside routine servicing, a coolant change, auxiliary belt replacement and associated mechanical attention.
Further invoices throughout 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 record continued servicing, MOT preparation and mechanical repairs, including attention to the braking system, fuel lines, transmission pipework and other age-related maintenance items.
In October 2019, the car underwent a documented pre-sale inspection at an indicated 48, 944 miles. The inspection included checks of the bodywork, underside, interior electrics, mechanical components and accompanying documentation. The underside was recorded as having been cleaned, rust-treated and painted, while the vehicle's history and identity were checked.
During the same period, a replacement soft top and associated rubber trims were invoiced, adding further to the documented expenditure.
More recently, the car was serviced by independent Mercedes-Benz and AMG specialist Autoclass Garage in May 2023. The work included replacement of engine oil and filters, spark plugs, transmission fluid and filter, power-steering fluid and filter, brake fluid, battery and ignition components, together with attention to the fuel system.
The most recent ownership has seen further expenditure on both mechanical and cosmetic details.
Throughout 2025, invoices from recognised marque specialist The SL Shop record the purchase of replacement soft-top window seals, scraper seals, navy floor mats, an electric aerial, a fuse kit and a protective hardtop cover.
In September 2025, a complete set of four Uniroyal Rain tyres was fitted, with the invoice recording an indicated mileage of 52, 357 miles.
Further documentation from 2025 and 2026 records attention to the heater blower system, electrical components and suspension-related items, together with the purchase of additional specialist parts.
Taken together, the documentation paints the picture of a car that has benefited from regular attention and continued investment over many years.
For a motor car approaching its fourth decade, such a comprehensive paper trail is both reassuring and increasingly difficult to find.
Factory Specification
This example was supplied with the following factory equipment:
Automatic transmission
Blue perforated leather upholstery
Body-coloured removable hardtop
Heated rear hardtop window
Rear seats
Electric windows
Cruise control
Central locking
Top-tinted glass
On the Road
The appeal of the 300SL has never been about outright speed.
Instead, it is about the quiet satisfaction of a beautifully engineered motor car performing exactly as its makers intended.
The straight-six engine delivers its power with characteristic smoothness, while the automatic transmission encourages the unhurried progress for which the SL became famous.
There is something wonderfully reassuring about the R107's substantial doors, beautifully weighted controls and commanding driving position. It belongs to an era when Mercedes-Benz engineering was governed less by production costs than by the conviction that a properly built motor car should last for decades.
With the hardtop fitted, the car assumes the character of a refined fixed-head grand tourer, perfectly suited to year-round use. Remove it, lower the hood and the experience becomes altogether more romantic.
It is equally comfortable pottering through the English countryside, undertaking a weekend escape or embarking upon the sort of continental journey for which the SL was originally conceived.
Few classic convertibles manage to combine such an agreeable sense of occasion with genuine everyday usability.
A Modern Classic
The R107 has long since established itself as one of the most recognisable Mercedes-Benz designs of the post-war era.
Its enduring popularity is not difficult to understand. Few classic convertibles offer such an attractive combination of elegance, comfort, mechanical dependability and timeless design.
The later 300SL is particularly appealing, combining the model's handsome appearance with the benefits of its final mechanical evolution.
This 1988 example, finished in the elegant combination of Ascot Grey over Blue Perforated Leather, benefits from a desirable factory specification, original handbook and service book pack, extensive historical documentation and evidence of considerable maintenance expenditure.
An attractive opportunity to acquire one of Stuttgart's most enduring grand tourers, equally suited to summer weekends, continental touring or simply being enjoyed whenever the sun makes an appearance.
After all, the finest luxury is often the ability to go somewhere without being in any particular hurry.
