Highlights

High specification, desirable SL500
Removable colour matched hard top
Lower mileage example
Presented in wonderful aesthetic and mechanical order
Serviced less than 200 miles ago

The Appeal

That perfect blend of Mercedes Benz build quality and performance. Beautiful styling, lavishly appointed and great road holding, it's something that's hard to beat and is a characteristic perhaps most prevalent in the brand’s legendary SL lineup. The R129 era Mercedes SL represented a huge leap forward for the model, and Mercedes Benz in general, boasting great improvements in design, performance and safety, whilst sticking true to the core values that made the SL a class leader in the world of luxury performance tourers.

Today the R129 stands amongst collectors as the go to model for those looking for a stylish, but genuinely usable SL. With enough of that retro 1990s charm to stand out from the crowd with a healthy dose of more modern safety features and mechanical reliability to keep up in the modern world, the R129 certainly makes a wonderful candidate for a nostalgic, suave, every day toy or finds itself well at home in the role of fun weekend mile muncher.

This 1991 R129 is a very early example of the beloved model and comes to us in top flight SL500 spec. With just over 74 thousand miles on the clock, and a recent service less than 200 miles ago, it stands today in wonderful mechanical order, and finished in a timeless high factory specification, is surely one of the finer examples of the model available on the market today. For the avid Mercedes enthusiast, this isn’t one to miss.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 28/03/1991
Supplied through Mercedes distributor Caffyns of Dorset
Last owner had it for 13 years
Backed by a well sized history file
Leather bound Mercedes book folder is present with an extensive collection of manuals and operating literature stowed inside
Service book is at hand with several stamped services dating from the pre delivery inspection up until the 55 thousand mile mark
A vast set of MOT certificates also accompany the car
Current MOT valid with no advisories until July 2024
V5 registration document present with the car
Impressive collection of invoices for work undertaken and parts bought to maintain the car throughout its lifetime, much of which comes from Mercedes-Benz main dealers
Invoice present for recent service and fuel pump replacement less than 200 miles ago

The Interior

Well presented impressively original interior space
Extensively upholstered in sumptuous black leather
Leather is of a good high standard throughout, with very minimal signs of wear or heavy use
High quality seating front and rear, coated in rich black leather, with the only notable point of blemishing being some heavier wear to the drivers seat bolster
Subtle walnut finish wood embellishments can be seen throughout the cabin, all in great shape, boasting a high gloss shine
Electric memory seating for front seat occupants, in good working order
Tastefully upholstered door panelling with a mix of black leather and carpeting with subtle, quality door furniture throughout
Contrasting white headlining on the removable hard top roof, in clean order however it does appear to be slightly sagging in places
Blaupunkt radio head unit with CD multi change system
Well sized carpeted rear boot area
Interior trim, controls and switchgear present wonderfully and lack the signs of more prolonged or heavy use often found in these areas
Pop up leather bound roll bar for added protection when open top driving
Rear seating looks to have seen incredibly limited use throughout their time
Plush black carpeting throughout with Mercedes Benz protective floor mats

The Exterior

Suave, timeless exterior colour specification
Finished from the factory in Mercedes Brilliant Silver with contrasting grey lower sections and bumpers
Exceptionally well presented from an aesthetic perspective, in good clean original order throughout
Paintwork is of a wonderful standard, with minor paint imperfections
Early, pre facelift example
Removable hard top roof
Electric soft top roof resides under the hardtop
Whilst we were unable to remove the hardtop on the day of the shoot, the vendor informs us that it unlatches and can be removed with ease
Four great quality silver 16” Mercedes alloy wheels reside at ground level
A fifth full size spare wheel sits in a bespoke compartment under the boot floor
Exterior trim, badging and glass work are all in excellent shape and present as such

The Mechanics

Higher specification SL500
As such we find this car equipped with the excellent 5.0 litre Mercedes Benz V8 engine
Impressively powerful without being brash or obnoxious
Extremely clean from a mechanical standpoint with a near spotless engine and engine bay
Well maintained and regularly serviced throughout its lifetime
Most recent oil service undertaken less than 200 miles ago
Both fuel pumps were replaced at the same time as the aforementioned oil service at a cost of £826.84
At the turn of the key the Mercedes fires into life and settles into a comfortable idle
The car provides a wonderful driving experience with great power delivery and excellent, crisp gear changes from the smooth automatic gearbox
Underside appears clean and solid throughout

Summary

If you’re after a well built, reliable, sporty and ultimately stylish roadster, it's hard to beat a Mercedes SL.

Whilst all the generations of the marque’s flagship roadster boast impressive reputations, these R129 era cars are often seen as the best of the bunch, courtesy of their classic styling with more modern amenities, safety features and improved running gear.

Demand for good quality examples is on the up which makes clean highly original examples, especially in top flight SL500 specification, such as the car we have here all the more enticing for the devoted Mercedes enthusiast.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.

A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.

All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.