Introduced in 1989 as the latest iteration of Mercedes’ long-running SL series, the R129 heralded many firsts for the flagship Grand Tourer. The hydraulically-operated folding roof, the 48-valve V8, the manual gearbox and V12 options and the automatic rollover-bar were all firsts for the SL. The clean lines and legendary build quality mean that the R129 is still a very desirable and sought-after classic.

This SL was first registered in 1991, and covered just a few thousands miles a year for the first few years. It was in the ownership of its last keeper since 2012, and has clearly been cherished and very well maintained.

With just 7 owners over the last 31 years, and fewer than 3,000 miles covered since 2010, this SL is unsurprisingly in very good condition. Servicing was been carried out by a Mercedes main dealer for the first few years, and latterly by an independent specialist.

The paperwork file that comes with the car inspires confidence in the quality and history of the vehicle. As well as the original handbooks – still in the leather wallet, the file also contains a number of old MOT certificates, a HPi clear check from 2019, quite a few receipts for servicing and maintenance items and the servicing record. The official servicing record contains 8 stamps from main Mercedes dealers, with the last one being logged at 44,938 miles. Naturally, the current V5 is also present and correct, and the current MOT runs until February 2023. 

These records confirm the car’s low mileage, in fact it’s averaged less than 3,000 miles a year since new. Previous owners have clearly looked after the car very well, as shown by the fine condition it’s presented in.

With an interior swathed in sumptuous cream leather and complementary light tan carpets, this SL is a lovely place to spend time. The front seats are roomy and comfy, with plush leather. There is some age-related wear and tear as should be expected in a car of this age, but nothing significant. As a 2+2, there are small rear seats, but in reality this should be thought of as a luggage area or for very small children only. Both the front and rear cabin areas are in excellent condition. 

The leather is contrasted with the glossy wooden trim on the dashboard, door cards, gearknob and steering wheel, which is all in excellent condition. Mercedes have always specced the SL very well, and this 500 is no different. Even though it’s now a 31 year old car, it comes equipped with electric windows, mirrors and seats, air conditioning, heated seats and a modern Kenwood CD/radio unit. Everything works just as it should, and all of the switchgear, dials and internal trim is in very good condition.

The boot area is a very good size, easily enough for a couple of medium sized suitcases, and is nicely trimmed in good condition light tan carpets. The original first aid kit and original tool kit are present, as is the wind deflector, which is in as-new condition. Under the floor panel is a full-size spare wheel with a tyre that looks to be in fine condition with plenty of life in it.

The R129 is a very handsomely designed car. Its wedge-like, clean lines are unmistakably late 80s / early 90s, but still look fresh and classy today. It’s one of those timeless vehicles that draws admiring glances wherever it goes. Finished in Mercedes’ Metallic Blue-Black, it’s a deeply lovely car. The paintwork is in very good condition, with only a couple of minor blemishes we could see. In fact, all of the external trim items, badges and brightwork elements are in very good order. It even has headlight wipers, which are one of those period 90s details that we really do love.

It rides on 17-inch, 7-spoke alloys, all shod in Continental Sport Contact2 tyres, which are in excellent condition. The wheels are in fine condition, and we think they suit the vehicle really well. Underneath the car, the floorpans, chassis, exhaust and all of the visible suspension and braking elements look to be in excellent condition. There was no damage or significant corrosion we could see, in fact the underside is in superb condition for a vehicle of this age – from underneath you could easily believe it was less than 10 years old.

The hard-top that comes with the car is in excellent condition inside and out. It detaches in just a couple of minutes, but does require two people to remove it safely. The current keeper never removed it, basically using the car as a coupe. When the hard-top is removed, the car has a hydraulically-operated folding fabric roof which sadly has a small tear in it. At the moment, the fabric roof is not fully functioning as, although it goes up and down, it fails to automatically latch. This appears to be an electrical issue, but would require further investigation.

Mercedes of this era were renowned for their ‘bombproof’ reliability and build quality. The 500SL, as the flagship grand tourer of the range, is certainly no different. Featuring a 4,973cc naturally-aspirated V8, mated to an automatic gearbox, the powertrain delivers smooth, torque-laden and effortless progress. The engine sounds meaty, idling and running very smoothly and pulling the car along well. Under the bonnet, the engine bay is in good condition. It could benefit from an engine valet, but overall looks very well, with no evidence of oil leaks, overheating or any other issues.

As evidenced by the paperwork, the car has been very well maintained, and having such low mileage on a large-block V8 means it has many years, probably decades, of grand tours and luxurious cruising left. In September 2020 the owner sent the car for inspection and had the cylinders pressure-tested (they passed with flying colours) and also had it de-coked and the valves and seats rebuilt. So mechanically it’s in pristine condition.

The owner informs us that the car drives beautifully, driving, shifting gear, steering and stopping exactly as it should. From what we saw, that certainly seems to be the case.

Mercedes-Benz have always made great cars. But during the 80s they designed and built some truly epic cars. The R129 500SL is certainly one of those – elegantly designed, peerlessly well built, deeply desirable and featuring a crushingly powerful 5-litre V8 pushing out more than 300bhp. It’s pretty much the ultimate grand tourer from the era.

Yes, Mercedes shoehorned a V12 into the same chassis a few years later, and the MAG version upped the power, but we think the 500SL is the sweet spot. A cosseting ride (you wouldn’t want to do a long journey in the AMG), heaps of power and a fine specification make this the thinking person’s choice from the range. And this particular car is a prime example. The Metallic Blue-Black paintwork is in lovely condition, and contrasts perfectly with the classic cream leather interior. Visually, it’s everything you could want from this kind of car.

Added to this, the fact it’s been so well maintained and covered so few miles (with less than 80,000 on the clock, this mighty V8 is barely broken in) gives real confidence. This is a car you could easily still be driving and enjoying in another 30 or 40 years. It’s practical too: the cabin and boot are roomy, the wind deflector helps to maintain your perfect coiffure when you’re enjoying having the top down and the hard top that comes with it means you can enjoy this fabulous machine whatever the British weather may throw at you.

And if you’re a collector or looking for an investment, well you can never really go wrong with a classic Mercedes. Obviously, they’re not making any more of them, so they’re only going to get rarer. But also, as the motoring world moves to a more EV-centric model, classics like this – luxurious tourers with powerful ICE powertrains – are only going to become more sought after and desirable for collectors.

Overall, this is a beautiful, well-specified and very covetable machine. If you’re after a way to waft down to the French Riviera a few times a year and fit right in with the jet-set, you won’t find a better companion than this.


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