A technological exercise for Mercedes the R129 SL was a relatively simple car to look at styling wise but underneath the subtle but effective exterior was a bevy of new age tech which Mercedes used to lead the market with. This translates to the modern day really well with the car still being a strong choice for a modern classic that is easy to live with whilst still giving heaps of driving pleasure. 

This car was sourced by the current owner from a specialist dealer as the owner is a lover of Mercedes and the SL model, this car fitted the bill for the current owner, and they have enjoyed their time with the car. Lack of time now dictates that the car does not get used and the owner is reluctant to use it in the wet weather, the decision has therefore been made to pass the car on. 

There is an abundance of paperwork all neatly organised in a binder, from MOT certificates to invoices for parts and work. The maintenance booklet shows regular servicing throughout the car’s lifetime and the original owner’s manuals have been kept in great condition. 

This car has come from a dealer specialising in classic and high-quality cars and as such has made sure the car is in top condition with the added benefit of giving it a full HPI check. There are invoices for parts and servicing but on the face of it this car has only needed regular running maintenance in terms of parts and work, a big plus for Mercedes there in terms of reliability. 

The blue interior is a nice surprise and contrast from the bright white exterior, the surprises don’t stop at just the colour however with it being in such great condition also. The owner informs us that the external seat bolsters on these SL’s tend to be prone to degrading quick and was keen to point out the near flawless condition of the bolsters in this car. 

It goes further than the bolsters however with the rest of the upholstery having a very low level of wear and tear, you don’t have to try very hard to imagine this car sat in the showroom in 1993 based on the condition of the interior. Then again, with 19,000 miles from new, that's exactly what we expected. 
We feel that the photos will do most of the talking here but from our brief time with the car, the interior was a big highlight on this car with the blue upholstery and wood trim working very well together. 

As you can see in the photo gallery below the Mercedes is in fine shape with lower-than-average levels of wear and tear. This isn’t a massive shock however from a low owner and low mileage car such as this. Trim, lights and body panels are all up to Mercedes’ high standard and the wheels and tyres complete the high condition package nicely.

Open the bonnet of this SL and you’ll be shocked at just how clean everything is and on the face of it how good a condition everything is in, from rubber components to electrical wires, plastic covers and paint all presenting in fantastic condition. There are no signs of any fluid leaks and with such little mileage we can only assume the current owner’s reluctance to take it out in the wet has paid dividends to the condition under the bonnet. 

As expected, the car fired up eagerly and idled smoothly and quietly with a nice rumble whilst revving. No unwanted or worrying noises were heard whilst we were there for the photoshoot and the auto box engaged forward and reverse gears without issue. The owner reports that the car drives sublimely and has a surprising amount of power for such an unassuming car. 

All evidence points to this car being in the best condition it can possibly be and we have also tried our best to show you as much of the underside and hidden away areas we assume would be trouble areas for cars of lesser condition to show just how good the car is. 

This is a fantastic example of a 280 SL and the current and previous owners have done a sterling job keeping it in such fine fettle. The interior is absolutely sublime and is a wonderful place to be and all the common trouble areas usually found on these cars have been kept in the same great condition as the rest of the car. 

This is surely one to be cherished by an enthusiast to ensure it stays in this condition for a long time to come.