Photos supplied by the vendor
Highlights
- Only 37,059 miles from new
- Very original condition
- Just 4 owners
- MOT to January 2023
The Appeal
Mercedes’ SLK may not have been the first car with a folding hardtop roof (that was actually the Peugeot 402 Éclipse back in 1935), but it was certainly the first car to make the technology truly mainstream. When it launched in 1996, that retractable hardtop was a massive selling point, and one almost every manufacturer rushed to emulate over the next decade. None of them executed it as well as Mercedes though – the SLK’s roof packaging is a thing of beauty and helps the car achieve its snub-rear, sports car proportions despite the roof mechanism.
The SLK was a pretty little car, finished well with a good level of equipment as standard, a relaxed and comfortable driving experience and some enthralling drivetrains. This particular model is the 230 Kompressor (2.3-litre supercharged engine), which probably offers the best compromise of decent performance and sensible running costs.
Presented here in very good, clean and original condition, it’s a fine opportunity to get your hands on a good example of what is rapidly becoming a sought-after modern retro sports car.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in March 2000
- 4 owners from new
- Genuine 37,059 miles
- Previous owner kept the car garaged and only used it in dry weather
- MOT until January 2023
- Personal plate (included in sale)
- Original owner’s manuals included
The Interior
- Perforated black leather upholstery
- Detachable wind deflector
- Spare wheel, original first aid kit and toolkit
- Original Mercedes radio/CD system
- Electric mirrors and windows
Internally the SLK is pure late-90s design. If you love the idea of a retro-styled roadster, this could very well be your perfect car. With such low mileage, the cabin is presented in generally very good condition. The leather is all in good condition, with some light age-related wear, but no evidence of damage, tears or significant wear we could see.
All of the instrumentation, switchgear and buttons are in good, original condition. There is some light wear evident, the odd blemish and a bit of scuffing to the plastics in places, but nothing that would cause us any concern. Overall, the cabin looks very good, and the owner tells us that everything works exactly as it should.
The Exterior
- Brilliant Silver paintwork
- Original 7-spoke alloy wheels
- Iconic folding hardtop
Once again, the exterior of the car is presented in fine original condition. The Brilliant Silver paintwork is in good condition, with only minor blemishes and scuffs. We could not see any evidence of damage or corrosion, which is always reassuring on an unrestored car of this age. All of the trim is present and correct and in straight, good condition, as are the badges, lights and glass areas. With a good valet and polish, we think the exterior will come up very well indeed.
Of course, the key feature of the car is that wonderful folding hardtop. The owner tells us that it operates perfectly, with no unexpected issues or snagging at all. Underneath, the car presents in similarly good condition - looking straight, clean and well-kept. We couldn’t see any evidence of damage or corrosion, it looks remarkably solid for a 22 year old vehicle.
The only area that the new owner may wish to address sooner rather than later are the alloys. While they have not been curbed, they are suffering from significant lacquer peel (a common issue with these wheels), but a refurbishment would soon restore them to their absolute best.
The Mechanics
- 2.3-litre supercharged engine
- 5-speed automatic transmission
While the original generation of SLK came with a wide variety of drivetrains, we think the 230 Kompressor is probably the sweet spot for performance and running costs. Developing a healthy 190bhp, the supercharged 2.3-litre inline-four gives the little roadster plenty of grunt. Mated with the automatic gearbox, it enables smooth and quick progress while maintaining the plush ride Mercedes are renowned for.
This vehicle is presented in very good mechanical condition, with genuine low mileage and a long MOT. The owner tells us that the engine fires up readily and sounds good, with no issues that they are aware of. They also tell us that the car drives as you’d expect, stopping, turning and changing gear as it should.
Summary
Few cars can genuinely be said to have started a trend, but the SLK is very much one of them. The folding hardtop design went on to be copied by a host of manufacturers over the next 15 years. Of course, none of them were as cohesively designed or successfully integrated as Mercedes’ system.
This lovely little car really does offer a wealth of opportunities: coupé exhilaration, wind-in-the-hair motoring at the push of a button, and that intoxicating supercharged whine. Add to this the cache of the Mercedes badge, the genuine low mileage and the fine original condition, and you have something that really could be considered a bit of a bargain.
Car enthusiasts are rapidly waking up to the charms of the SLK, and good, low mileage examples like this are hard to find. With a bit of love and some TLC, this could be a car that stays with you for a very long time.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
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