{"id":5721,"date":"2020-03-18T10:34:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T10:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=5721"},"modified":"2024-09-12T10:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T09:21:15","slug":"r129-mercedes-benz-sl-the-time-is-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/r129-mercedes-benz-sl-the-time-is-now\/","title":{"rendered":"R129 Mercedes-Benz SL &#8211; The Time is Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is nothing finer than jumping behind the wheel, dropping the roof and hitting the open road. Yes, many of us live in wet, old Britain, but even so, there are occasional sunny days during which we can enjoy the wind in our hair. It\u2019s an elevated style of driving, a new way of getting about, it\u2019s more exciting to be driving with your dome capped only by the sky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many open-top classics to choose from, and all offer the same base \u2018wind in hair\u2019 experience. However, some do it a lot better than others. A case in point would be the SL cars from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\">Mercedes-Benz<\/a>. The amount of engineering put into these cars is astonishing and always has been. One common complaint of all convertibles is scuttle shake. This is caused by a lack of rigidity in the shell that comes from lopping the roof off. Ask anyone who\u2019s owned a Saab 900 convertible and they\u2019ll tell you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about it. Mercedes-Benz engineered around it though, and as such, built strong, rigid convertibles that offer the same driving ability and on-road manners as their tin-topped counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"R129, SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, roadster, convertible, mercedes, SL Class, motoring, automotive, SL500, SL320, SL280, SL300, classic Mercedes, retro car, carandclassic, carandclassic.co.uk\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01-765x574.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-01.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Convertibles can sometimes feel flimsy and weak, but not an old Mercedes. Buy a good one and the doors will still shut with a deep, heavy \u2018thunk\u2019. The car will be reliable, it will feel solid and it will be an absolute joy to drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other thing to remember is that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\">Mercedes-Benz SL<\/a> is a timeless classic with no pomp or ego. They\u2019re just cool. Look at the old SL Pagoda or the R107 &#8211; they\u2019re effortless and free of any self-importance. They exist to please their driver, that\u2019s it. Sadly though, in the case of the Pagoda and the R107, they also exist to empty bank accounts. The R107 has shot up in recent years, for example. But all is not lost, the R129 is out there, it\u2019s affordable and it\u2019s every bit the perfect roofless Mercedes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">An introduction to the R129<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We didn\u2019t get the R129 until 1989, however, Mercedes-Benz engineers were working on the development from 1984, which would explain why the R129 is based around a shortened and strengthened W124 floorpan. The W124 was and still is an outstanding car (and we\u2019d know, as we have a 230E on the Car &amp; Classic fleet). By using the floorpan, the R129 inherited front damper struts with separate coil springs and gas shock absorbers, while the rear was a five-link setup. The rear was also designed to reduce squat and alignment shift, which was handy given that some SLs would be fitted with a 5.0 V8.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"R129, SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, roadster, convertible, mercedes, SL Class, motoring, automotive, SL500, SL320, SL280, SL300, classic Mercedes, retro car, carandclassic, carandclassic.co.uk\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715-765x511.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751715.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking of engines, that\u2019s probably where the R129 SL shines the most. It is all things to all drivers. If you just want a reliable, sporty cruiser that has a bit of \u2018go\u2019 when you need it, you have straight-six models like the 2.8 or 3.0. There was also a 2.8 and 3.0 V6, a 3.2 V6 and a range of 5.0 V8 engines. Things didn\u2019t stop there though, as there was a 5.4, and a 6.0 too. Oh, and let\u2019s not forget the bonkers 7.0 and 7.2 V12 models. You could have a sports car, or you could have a supercar. The R129 could be whatever you wanted it to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, the most popular models are the 3.0 to 5.0 cars. Many will tell you that you have to go for a V8 model, and while they are indeed lovely, don\u2019t treat them as the \u2018be all, end all\u2019 of the R129 spectrum. The straight-six and V6 engines are wonderful, and they offer plenty of grunt in the lightweight R129.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"R129, SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, roadster, convertible, mercedes, SL Class, motoring, automotive, SL500, SL320, SL280, SL300, classic Mercedes, retro car, carandclassic, carandclassic.co.uk\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298-765x574.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/11899298.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almost all R129s are automatic, with early cars having a four-speed 4G-Tronic \u2018box, while later models had a five-speed 5G-Tronic. There were some five-cog manuals, but they\u2019re both exceptionally rare and incredibly fragile. Auto is the way to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Externally, the Bruno Sacco design has aged beautifully. Purists will want early, amber indicator cars but don\u2019t be put off by facelift models.They\u2019re just as beautiful, as the facelift itself consisted only of minor visual tweaks. No matter what era you buy (and remember, this car was available until the early 2000s), you\u2019ll be getting a perfectly proportioned, handsome, clean-lined, two-seat sports car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside, it\u2019s Mercedes-Benz business as usual, which for the era is no bad thing. The R129 is one of the last cars from the \u2018built properly\u2019 era, and it shows. The interior is exceptionally well screwed together, even by today\u2019s standards. The seats are sturdy and comfortable, and if the hydraulic roof mechanism is looked after, it seals the cabin snugly and with a pleasing sense of enclosure. That said, the R129 came with a detachable aluminium hard-top, so if you want to make it feel a bit more warm and solid through the winter months, you can.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">What are prices like?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The R129 is yet to go the way of the R107, but it is on the climb. The R107 was, ten years ago, a car you could pick up for anything from \u00a35,000. Now, you\u2019re looking at \u00a330,000 for a nice, presentable one. And looking at the data we have here at Car &amp; Classic, it seems the R129 is going the same way. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the moment, there are R129 examples out there for as little as \u00a33,000, though they will of course need work. \u00a35,000 will put you in the territory of a presentable 3.0 car, while \u00a310,000 will get you into the territory of V8 cars, though at that money they won\u2019t be the best examples. For a quality V8 model, you need to be looking north of \u00a312,000.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Untitled-1-800x688.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Untitled-1-800x688.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Untitled-1-768x661.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Untitled-1-765x658.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Untitled-1.jpg 915w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can push your budget to \u00a315,000 upwards, you\u2019ll be able to get your hands on a really nice V8 example, or a truly exceptional six-cylinder version if you can live without a V8. \u00a320,000 upwards, and the world is your oyster, as you\u2019ll be in late-model, low mileage territory (though don\u2019t worry about mileage too much. These old Mercedes are built with that in mind).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">Why should I buy one?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\">R129 Mercedes-Benz SL<\/a> is, frankly, a masterclass in how a two-seat, open-top sports car should be done. It\u2019s built incredibly well, it\u2019s engaging to drive and the design is seemingly ageless &#8211; park an SL on the trendiest of high streets and it will fit in with the modern cars around it. But at the same time, it will be just as at home, and just as appreciated at a classic car event. It\u2019s a captivating, elegant machine that, if looked after, will outlive most other cars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"R129, SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, roadster, convertible, mercedes, SL Class, motoring, automotive, SL500, SL320, SL280, SL300, classic Mercedes, retro car, carandclassic, carandclassic.co.uk\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709-765x511.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12751709.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to being based on the W124 platform, the R129 is also a car that you could very easily use every day, and through all seasons so long as the car you buy still has its aluminum hard-top with it. This isn\u2019t a delicate, \u2018sunny Sunday\u2019 kind of car. The R129 wants to be driven. It\u2019s happy around town, it\u2019s happy blasting through the countryside and it\u2019s happy to cruise along the motorway for hours on end. As long as you can cope with just two seats, it\u2019s the perfect all-rounder. A car you will look for an excuse to drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">How long until I see a return?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re lucky enough to buy an R129 SL, the trick to maximising its value throughout your ownership is to maintain it properly. The R129 is a luxury German car, and it needs to be treated as such. No cheap pattern parts, no cheap fluids or service items. Look after it properly. If you do this, and if you keep on top of the bodywork and interior, (seats can wear with age, early cars can have electrical loom issues and panels such as the front wings and rear arches can rust), you\u2019ll be sure to keep the value in the car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/list\/31\/sl\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5727\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"R129, SL, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SL, roadster, convertible, mercedes, SL Class, motoring, automotive, SL500, SL320, SL280, SL300, classic Mercedes, retro car, carandclassic, carandclassic.co.uk\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06-765x574.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1999-1280-06.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the years progress, the rough and unloved cars fall by the wayside and are inevitably being broken for spares. As such, the R129 is becoming progressively rarer, but the demand is in no way declining. Look after it, keep it pristine both mechanically and visually, and you\u2019ll never lose your money on it. Give it as little as twelve months, and you could easily sell the car for a profit. Though, we\u2019ll warn you now, you won\u2019t want to!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is nothing finer than jumping behind the wheel, dropping the roof and hitting the open road. Yes, many of us live in wet, old Britain, but even so, there&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":5722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[85],"tags":[15,12,13,696,263,208,105,1730,14,218,16,492,1729,1731,1734,1735,1733,1732],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>R129 Mercedes-Benz SL - The Time is Now - Car &amp; Classic Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Mercedes-Benz SL is a wonderful looking car, but more than that, it\u2019s a Mercedes, so it\u2019s engineered like nothing else. 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