• Beautifully presented both inside and out

• Good history

• 4 owners since new

• New hood 
• 3 keys

Accolades often come thick and fast when describing Mercedes’s classic R107 SL models. With a production span of 17 years, the brand literally created a classic the moment it first appeared. 

By the time last examples rolled off the production line, the model had still been kept abreast of modern requirements and offered a new range of flexible engines, galvanised treated bodies, safety and practicality all helping to cultivate an image that has never been tarnished.

Subject to a recent cosmetic overhaul, this UK spec 1988 Automatic 300SL offers a very solid proposition with a file of paperwork and features some lovely details that help lift a well-kept car. 

With the additional bonus of a new hood and an excellent leather interior, it comes with a recent service and 6 months MOT. This car could be the perfect example to use as we extract the last days of summer and perhaps a little treat to enjoy those crisp and clear autumn days. 

Registered new at Motox Mercedes main dealer in Oxford, it was kept by its first owner for 8 years, then sold to a doctor. She kept the car until 2011, when it was briefly sold to a buyer in Kent, then to a buyer in Blackpool, and eventually to the current owner. It has a good body of early paperwork suggesting good mechanical upkeep and has covered less than 4,000 miles over the last ten years. 

The current owner has an eye for good R107’s and couldn’t resist the charms of this late model 300 SL in Arctic White. Persuaded by the exceptional condition of the interior and its solid presentation, the car needed some minor cosmetics to bring up to scratch which was ably carried out by GT Vehicle Solutions. 

The owner, a devoted Mercedes fan and self-confessed details guy has ensured that the car's critical finishing touches give that extra layer of desirability. One item, in particular, is the recent addition of a period Becker radio which also comes with its OEM pamphlets and booklets and adds a touch of elegance to the already classy and well-preserved interior.

The cars paperwork helps to paint a picture of its continuous maintenance, with both of its first owners using Mercedes main dealers to service the car, with additional up keeping including new springs and brake work. More recently the car has gone through a VDI check, which discloses that there are no mileage, finance or credit discrepancies. 

The car has recently seen a service and new pads, along with a new fuel gauge cluster. In addition to its servicing bill of health, the car has been fitted with a new OEM canvas hood, as well as a handful of new emblems for the finishing touches. It comes with an MOT to April 2022. 

The leather pebble interior finish has clearly been well cared for over the years, with the mushroom colour leather seats likely to have been subject to a refurb at some point, as the level of wear shown is minimal. The seat bolsters and material is in good shape, with no visible markings or signs of wear. 

The car is fitted with the desirable rear seat option, and as in the case of the front items, are in very good condition. The carpets are complete with minor suggestions of age but again have stood the test of time well. The boot carpet has a handful of marks but is in line with a car of this age and mileage. 

The door cards have been also well preserved with no marks, ripples or scuffs evident. The dashboard finish is good, with minor wear noted on the binnacle but the plastics and veneer are remarkably free from damage with no cracks noted on the top of the facia. The dials and switches show limited wear and all are said to be functional. 

The steering wheel is in good order, with no issues noted on the gear stick or gaiter. Two items that have a huge aesthetic appeal is the untested Kenwood car phone  and the recent installation of the desirable FM/AM Becker radio. Both the headlining of the soft top and hardtop are in good condition, with no significant damage just a minor patch of dirt discolouration observed on the hardtop lining.

The panel work on the car is very good throughout, with no signs of damage noted. 

The panel fit and door gaps are as flush as one would hope, with no suggestions of irregular fitment. All doors open and close with no issues, all hinges and stays operating as they should. The structure of the car is also positive, with the external panels not showing any suggestions of significant corrosion, although there is just a slight suggestion of age on the underside of the rear wings where it meets the rear bumper. 

The engine bay, suspension turrets and chassis rails all look good, with the underside and bulkhead appearing to be in solid condition. There are no suggestions of structural issues in the boot compartment or hood well and both are dry. The sills and inner wings are all looking solid too.

The paint finish has been very well applied, with very minor evidence that it has seen a respray at some point in its life, which accounts for the near blemish free condition of the paintwork. As a result, the car is free from chips, with no damage on the door edges or front of the car. The lustre of the arctic white paint is even throughout and maintains a decent shine. 

There is evidence that a protective coating of rust inhibitor has been applied under the bumpers, inner wings and engine bay all of which continue to keep the elements away from the metal. This all adds up to the evidence that the car has been well stored too.

The car’s hardtop is in good condition no signs of damage and its glass and chrome looking decent. The OEM canvas roof is a new item and is a good fit. The rest of the glass is in decent shape, with a little lamination damage on the bottom right-hand-side corner of the windscreen and some signs of age on the side glass. 

The seals and rubbers are in good condition. The chrome is generally good shape with no dent damage, although some items such as the underside of the front grill and rear boot finisher show signs of age. Both could be replaced if needed, thanks to the R107’s excellent parts availability. 

The bumper and side trim is good, with a little distortion to the rubber in places but show no significant blemishes or evidence of parking damage. Both bumpers hang well with no issues with their mounts. All lights and lenses are in good condition with no damage or wear. The tyres are around 10 years old, and a couple of them show a little wear but are all legal with good tread. 

The 15” alloys are in good shape with no scuffs or kerb damage. The number plate mounts are set on chrome plinths and have been secured with four fixings instead of the two that are commonly seen. 

The engine has been subject to a good level of mechanical sympathy over the years, which can be attested to the careful ownership profiles. As a result, the engine runs well, with no issues with its starting. There is no excess exhaust smoke when the car is idling and no unwanted noises or dashboard warning lights were observed while the engine was running. 

The gearbox is said to engage well, with no slippage or clunking. Like the engine, it is said to be leak-free. The components look good, with evidence of new service parts. The hoses, pipes, radiator, exhaust and suspension components look good, with the brakes having been subject to a recent check-over along with new pads and function well with no issues. 

The car rides well, no noises are said to come from the dampers, with positive suggestions that the bushes are all fit for purposes. The steering is also said to be good, with no issues flagged up. An advisory has been flagged up on the MOT, which suggests that the ball joint dust covers will need replacing soon.

It’s no secret that the R107 300SL is an elegant and durable option for those who wish to experience German engineering without the problems that are often associated with classic luxury grand touring cars. In this respect, the SL offers the best of all worlds providing an able compact car capable of dealing with modern traffic with style and reliability. 

With its exceptional parts availability and a host of specialists available, the SL is already ahead of the game for those who like their classics sensible without sacrificing any character.