Description
1996 Mercedes Benz 600SL V12 Red with Black Interior and Panoramic Roof - active suspension
MOT to December 2024 with no advisories. Full service 8th December 2023 so ready to go anywhere with nothing to spend immediately
Please note the private registration has been removed and the car is now sporting P574 RNF
1 previous famous owner for 8 months before he died and I purchased the vehicle.
Fully documented history continuous including invoice from MB when new
Owned by me since 1 year old and 11, 000 miles – purchased from MB main dealer Chingford with full used car Signature warranty at the time.
Original MB Purchase invoice for.........£104, 000 sold new to Associated Newspapers for it's famous owner. They put the car back on consignment to MB Chingford after 12 months where I saw it in the showroom passing every day. I arranged a test drive and the Sales Manager Ian gave me the keys and said enjoy. I drove it up the M11 to Cambridge and back on my own and returned and signed the paperwork and took delivery a few days later. I can honestly say it drives the same as when I bought it - no deterioration in drive or power after 125, 000 happy miles in my hands. It's been looked after as it should.
I have had various personal number plates on the vehicle in 27 years and it has been registered in my own, my wife and my company names but has only ever been used / driven by me. All documents listing these changes.
1 inch thick file of services and work with every invoice.
Always part of a small collection of prestigious cars properly maintained and exercised correctly but not abused and never been near a race track.
Performance from the V12 with 400lb torque and 400BHP is, using Rolls Royce terminology ‘more than adequate’. Overtaking at 50-90 is as fast as any supercar from the 90’s era and at 80 MPH the engine is ticking over at 2000 revs making for a very relaxing touring car.
The amazing active suspension which was only on the 600SL model works correctly keeping the car stable through every bend and the car raises up 15cm to drive along rough tracks or flooded roads – not something I have done but the car certainly raises up when this is activated.
Car has been garaged since new and it shows, no deterioration on the rubbers or chrome effect bright parts.
Original Mercedes floor mats front and back – front ribbed, back smooth.
Addition rear seatbelt professionally fitted which is a shoulder cross belt as well as the standard lap belt for modern safety.
Unused full size spare wheel and original full size tyre with 50MPH sticker still applied.
Unused tool kit with full set of tools in unmarked canvas roll.
Unused jack.
Unused original R129 first aid pack.
Unused original fire extinguisher.
Original SL600 Wood steering wheel and gear knob which I think were extras.
Cruise control works perfectly.
Original Mercedes Becker stereo Radio / Tape / CD which holds any station and works superbly.
Original Mercedes 6 disc CD changer in boot.
Automatic air conditioning blowing cold correctly and no fading on screen.
The soft top is original and in great watertight condition with clear rear windows – Rubbers seal tightly so ride is quiet just with soft top up.
Unmarked mesh wind deflector with original cover stowed in boot.
Very sought after panoramic roof which make the car like a coupe with a silent drive and unused sun curtains.
Parrot Bluetooth system fitted which works perfectly through the stereo system to stream audio or music from your iphone or android and microphone for hands free calling.
Matching high quality Michelin Cross Climate tyres with 6mm plus of tread.
The car has never had any rust in the arches repaired not any corrosion in the chassis, it has always been jetwashed underneath a couple of times a year. The underseal is original and nothing has ever been covered up with gunk or repaired underneath or bodywork wise.
The car has never had any kind of accident or supermarket dings – it does not go to supermarkets…it does like a nice hotel in the country by a river though – feels at home there
Notable work done:
Suspension arms front replaced in 2004.
Suspension struts rebuild 2015.
Automatic transmission fluid replaced every 5 years.
Minor oil seepage from little use rectified 2020 with a new lower gasket.
Brake pipes cleaned 2021
Seats have been regularly fed with hide food
All rubber seals oiled with seal feed so they are supple and water / windproof.
Professional valeting twice a year with ceramic seal polish to bodywork and glass. The car has NEVER broken down or needed an RAC call out – it’s been totally reliable in 27 years.
And a question I know will be asked – why and you selling? I do own another one LHD. I use new 4x4’s every day as I have a farm as well as businesses and a couple of the cars are being used for just a few runs a year so not really realistic to keep forever with tax and insurance and servicing just to look at. I have always loved this car but am into more outdoor sports and Marathon running now as I am older, so don’t get the time to go to the car shows and events and life moves on so this beautiful machine can be enjoyed by another custodian. I also have 2 very active Border Collies so they come everywhere in the 4x4’s every day and the Mercedes stay in the garages.
This is a genuine original unmolested car which I have looked after and cared for since it was a year old.
I remember one of the car magazines did a test of all the supercars at the time - we are going back to mid nineties, but there was a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Corvette, Bentley (supercar?) SL600 and some others. The SL 600 was the car the testers agreed was technically far superior to anything else on the road at the time and would be the chosen car to take home and keep. I did buy a couple to keep and they were right. I will try and search for that comparison if I can find the time as it's interesting reading.
Oh and it does have a tracker but you will have to sort the subscription out for that.
Fresh service December 2023 to add to the inch thick service history file.
