When the time came to replace the R107-generation SL, which had been in production from the early-1970s right up to the late-’80s, the engineers and product planners at Mercedes-Benz had a bit of problem-solving to tackle. The primary concern was how to approach the increasingly stringent safety regulations in the US market, and there were no half-measures here: the plan was to come out all-guns-blazing, ensuring that the new R129 would not just be technically compliant, but pioneering in its class-leading safety measures. This turned into a colossal engineering effort, with five years of work and over £8m spent on developing the car’s rollover system: in essence, it features a host of sensors which can detect when the car’s rotated by more than a certain angle, at which point it deploys the rollover bar, locks the seatbelts and unlocks the doors. In addition, the windscreen surround is ludicrously strong, and a driver’s airbag was standard-equipment with additional airbags optional. So it was a paragon of safety, but the R129 was also an impressively mature proposition – building on the reputation of SLs of yore, this new-for-1989 design elevated luxury and equipment to a whole new level, while a range of smooth engines offered impressive performance. In the case of the SL 500 that meant a 5.0-litre V8, a 32-valve DOHC M119 unit serving up a vivid 322bhp, along with some sublime levels of equipment. Everything you could want from a sporty modern grand tourer, all wrapped up in a beautifully retro package.
The current owner knows his way around an R129, as he currently has more than one in his personal collection. This particular car was acquired largely thanks to its history, which clearly demonstrates that it’s been looked after and correctly serviced, and the price was right thanks to it having covered relatively high miles and being a Cat D. Neither of these things were a massive concern however, as a mileage of 169k on one of these cars is hardly over-stressing it, and the Cat D damage was in fact due to it having been scraped by another vehicle down the passenger side – something that was rectified by the last owner at a cost of £1,780 back in February 2020. The seller has been very much enjoying wafting around in this wonderfully luxurious roadster, but it’s now excess to requirements owing to him having so many other cars to play with.
There’s a pleasingly substantial amount of documentation accompanying this car, including the original service book showing that it was first supplied with the registration number EE 400 on February 28th 1996. The book is regularly stamped up to 2015, along with handwritten annotations showing when work was carried out such as a new sump, changes of brake pads and discs, shock absorbers and so on. There’s a whole host of receipts to support servicing and maintenance since (it was serviced in recent years by Weald Service Station in Goudhurst), as well as documentation for the vehicle’s Tracker which was registered in 2000. There’s a receipt for the bodywork repairs in 2020, and the V5 is present.
The R129’s interior is roomy enough, yet pleasantly cocooning, and in this car it’s all trimmed in tasteful grey leather. The front seats are 10-way electrically adjustable, and their condition impressively belies the mileage – naturally there’s a bit of usage wear, but they’re certainly not shabby. The steering wheel is a little worn at the top, but not excessively so. The wood trim in the dash, centre console and door cards is all in good condition; the door cards themselves have a few scuffs and marks but are generally in good order. The front seats tilt forward correctly to allow access, and the rear seats are in extremely good condition. The car has its original factory-fit Mercedes-Benz audio system which is in working order. The electric windows work well, as do all of the dials, and there are no warning lights on the dash. The pop-up rollover hoop works on the button like it’s supposed to. Inside the boot we find the factory-fit CD changer, first aid kit and warning triangle, with an 8-hole alloy wheel as a spare.
Finished in striking Green-Black paint, this really is a pretty car. One particularly desirable element is the panoramic roof: all R129s came with a factory hardtop, but it was quite an expensive option to have one with a full glass top panel and retractable blinds. There’s also the optional ‘Draught Stop’ windbreak, which can be affixed to stop your hair getting all ruffled when you’re driving with the top down. The soft-top raises and lowers correctly, with its electro-hydraulic mechanism working as it should; the hood is in good condition and was fitted with new windows in 2013. This car wears the period-upgrade AMG wheels, which are a very attractive design. Originally this option featured staggered widths (they were 8.5x18” at the front, 10x18” rear), and given the fitment of the rears here we’d assume that they’re all the same width and this car is actually wearing two pairs of fronts; nevertheless they look good and suit the SL very well. They all have some kerbing though, and have evidently been quickly resprayed with a rattle-can (as evidenced by the overspray and paint on the tyre valves), so a perfectionist might spring for a refurb. Overall, the body is very presentable. There’s a little orange peel to the paint on the rear bumper, the front splitter has a small crack on one side, and one of the front fog light lenses has a crack. The nose has a few stone chips, and a tiny scab by one of the headlights. But what would you expect of an unrestored car that’s been used and enjoyed for 169k miles and twenty-five years? You can see from the photos that this a very good-looking car indeed, and it drew more than a few admiring glances and comments as it posed for our lens. (n.b. If you’d spotted that the gaps around the bonnet are a bit off, that’s because the bonnet catch started playing up on the day of the shoot – Murphy’s Law, as it was opening and closing fine the day before! The seller will have this rectified before sale.)
The running gear of an SL 500 is a truly impressive feat of engineering. Squeezed in under that bonnet is a mighty 5.0-litre V8 – and this is no dumb lump of pig-iron, but a super-advanced setup boasting dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and a peak output of 322bhp. These motors have lightweight aluminium blocks and heads, variable cam control on the inlet side, forged rods, oil-sprayed aluminium pistons… all very durable stuff. There’s also a baffled sump – it’s evident how much attention to detail went into ensuring these cars were impressive performers as well as comfortable wafters. We can see from the history that this SL has always been regularly serviced, and it’s a fabulously smooth runner. With a lot of cars, a buyer might be concerned to see a mileage of this level, but with an R129 with a huge V8 it just doesn’t seem to be an issue; the SL simply shrugs off the miles, and the engine is a slick and willing companion. It fires up easily, idles evenly, pulls strongly, and the 4G-TRONIC automatic transmission is equally smooth and friendly. The owner reports that the car is very pleasant to drive, with no evident issues with the suspension, steering or brakes.
Well, there’s no point messing about is there? R129s are an eminently attractive proposition these days for a number of reasons, and you might as well jump to the top of the ladder and opt for the full-fat 500, mightn’t you? It means you get to enjoy that joyous and booksmart muscle-car engine along with the fully-stocked interior. And this particular example makes a very compelling case for itself: look at the mileage and the Cat D status not as negatives, but as something that works in your favour as a canny consumer – covering this distance in no way means that the car is worn out (on the contrary, it’s a vivacious, eager and attractive thing), and the Cat D referred to a scrape on one side which has been repaired smartly… so what we’re really looking at here is a very affordable route into SL 500 ownership. The interior is pleasant, the car runs like a dream, and it’s ready for a new set of adventures. Why pay through the nose for a concours example, when this is one that you could happily cruise around in every day?
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.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
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NO RESERVE! 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 R129
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