• Comes with perfect factory hardtop

• Fully stamped service book, specialist maintained all its life

• Genuine low mileage of 81,800

The fourth generation of the SL made its debut in 1989, and was the design work of Bruno Sacco, whose “vertical affinity” approach to car design called for vehicles that wouldn’t be made immediately obsolete by their successors, Partly by retaining styling cues that were traditional for the brand and by offering themes that could be continued into future ones. 

He wanted each generation of SL to stand alone. And the R129 arguably stood higher and more proudly than any other. But it wasn't just the right-first-time styling that made the R129 SL such an impressive car, because under the skin it was also stacked with innovation. 

Safety, for instance, was right at the forefront of its design. For example, the car was the first to have an automatic pop-up rollover bar, which would automatically launch itself in open top mode in less than half a second to protect the occupants if the car was about to overturn. The seats also included several safety innovations including built in seat belt tensioners and side impact protection. 

Back in 1991, when this example first hit the road, it was hugely innovative stuff. 

The vendor of this car discovered it for sale at a dealership in West Yorkshire two years ago and purchased it because an SL was one of the cars that he had always promised himself.

It has been used since for a number of classic car events and road runs, but the vendor has now decided to sell it having enjoyed the ownership experience and progressed onto an older Daimler Sovereign to look after as his next classic.

The SL has clearly been well looked after throughout its life, with five previous owners, two of whom were father and son. Each of the car’s keepers has maintained it properly and kept a record of work carried out on the car during their ownership. 

It is a testimony to their dedicated care and ownership that the car looks as fresh and clean today as it did when it left the Stuttgart factory 30 years ago.

There is a box file of service history and receipts provided with the Mercedes, including a service book that has been stamped all the way through from new to 80,800 miles in August 2020, since when the car has covered barely 1,000 miles.

Also included are over 50 separate receipts, the vast majority of which are from independent Mercedes-Benz specialists and document the high quality and specialist care that this car has received throughout its life.

There is a V5C in the name of the vendor and an MOT valid until July 2022.

Pearl Blue is one of the most appealing colour schemes for an R129 SL and really sets off the big car’s chiselled lines.

This example is in fine order, with a deep and lustrous shine and no discernible damage or imperfections. All of the panels are straight and in fine conditio and all the trim is present and correct.

The electric roof is in good order and works as it should, whilst the car is also supplied with a factory hardtop that is in as good condition as the rest of the car.

The biscuit coloured leather and matching carpets are very well presented, as you’d expect from a genuine low mileage car. It is a clean and very well cared for example that has evidently been properly looked after by each of its previous owners. 

It is in superb original condition, the only deviation from standard being a modern stereo head unit which makes the car more usable on a day-to-day basis. All of the dials and switchgear work as they should and there are no dashboard lights illuminated.

Under the bonnet, the Mercedes features a 3.0-litre straight six which develops 228bhp. It's not the fastest sports car you'll ever drive – the 500SL ticks that box - but it is a smooth and lively cruiser with a well-matched automatic transmission that suits the powertrain.

With such a fastidious maintenance record, it's no surprise that this one is in fine fettle and sounds absolutely fantastic. The owner reports that it drives really well with no known faults and that the steering, brakes and suspension are all in good order.

This is a lovely, unspoilt and original example of the classic R129SL, which is a Mercedes-Benz model that is rapidly appreciating in both following and value. It has been really well looked after throughout its life and is superbly well-presented. It deserves the same treatment from its next owner, who will certainly not be disappointed by its current outstanding condition.