Guide price: £10,000-£13,000

・Distinctive colour
・Well maintained throughout its life
・Thousands spent

Do you have a V12 itch that needs to be scratched? The Top-trumps winning cylinder configuration becoming something of a rarity these days, yet the Mercedes CL600 coupe isn’t just a car that offers bragging rights. It suggests genuine class and oozes quality throughout. The CL-Class coupes were created to absorb the very latest of Mercedes-Benz technology and in effect were the brand’s showcase models. Add in the traditional virtues of prestige and a first-class ride, the CL-Class offer the very pinnacle of sophistication with seamless V12 power delivery and a brooding presence.

The owner is a prestige car fan and he takes a great deal of time and pleasure in maintaining and driving his cars. He took the four owner Mercedes on board, as he had fond recollections of the CL-Class models having owned several when they were current. He bought the car in 2017 and has added around 5,000 miles to it, using it mainly as an occasional and weekend car. Bought to be used and enjoyed but he now has his eye on another potential winner, an original Lexus LS400 sited as a replacement. Naturally, he has kept on top of any issues on the CL600, and during his ownership, it has seen a new ignition coil with a control module and an oil high-pressure line, as well as regular servicing and maintenance needs. The car is stored away from the busy streets and normally resides in a quiet private area.

The original owner of the car took advantage of the Mercedes hospitality back in 2003 and flew over to Germany to pick the car up while enjoying a break in Europe. He maintained the servicing during the 12 years of ownership, which includes main dealer stamps up until 2010 and specialist attention from then on. Specified with optional driver assistance system (Distronic) and the voice control system (Linguatronic) as well as comfort ventilated front seats and keyless go, the car is well spec'd for long-distance travel. It was then sold to a succession of two more owners until 2017 when it ended up in the hands of the current keeper.  The car has been regularly used throughout its life, with a decreasing yearly mileage in recent years. The CL600 comes with a well-organised file of paperwork, which suggests that any potential issues have been addressed straight away. Prior to the current owner's custody, it saw an ECU repair and a power steering pump replacement, with an additional £4000 spent during the current owner's care. Obviously, these imposing cars cannot be run on a shoestring, but each owner has done their bit to keep this distinctive tourer on the road, which is confirmed by the paperwork. The car comes with an MOT until July 2021.

The interior elegant and airy presentation has been well-preserved, the Mercedes build quality ensuring the quality materials maintains its allure. The seats are finished in royal blue leather and are in good condition, with some evidence of ageing and minor wear observed on the driver's seat. There is a mark on the passenger seat bolster but the rest are free from significant damage. The carpets and mats are in good condition. 

The door cards show small signs of wear on the fabric area but are in scuff-free condition, with all of the functions still operational and the door-mounted speakers in good working order. The dashboard is in good condition, with the odd minor mark here and there, with no issues to suggest careless use. The dials, switchgear and controls are not only all said to be functional but are in good visual condition. The padded leather dashboard is in good order, with the odd small mark. The veneer finish detailing is good and again free from major issues. The steering wheel is in very good condition, and is free from damage of unsightly wear, the centre console incorporating the gearstick reflects the general positive state of the interior presentation. The headlining is in good condition with no damage. 

The original tool kit remains unused as does the original first aid kit. The period Nokia phone still appears to be functional, should you want to have a little fun with a game of Snake. The boot is in good condition, with very limited signs of use, with no damage observed on the carpet and minor signs of use on the plastic trim.

The bodywork is in good condition, with even panel gaps and level fitting panels throughout. All of the doors open and close with no obstruction. The underside is in good condition with no signs of significant damage on the floor pan or chassis rails. The inner wings and sills appear to be in good condition, with the engine bay and suspension mounts solid. The body is free from any distracting damage, with no significant dents observed. All of the arches are in good condition, although there is a spot of corrosion developing on the base of the near-side C-pillar. The glass is in good condition with no chips or hazing. The laminate is intact, with no sign of ageing. The door rubbers and trim are in good condition, the sunroof is fully functional.

The seldom-seen Titanite Red paint finish has retained its deep lustre, and the coverage is even. There are typical signs on light scuffs observed on some of the panels which could be treated by a detailer if needed. There are minor stone chips evident on the front of the car - again not deep enough to have penetrated the metal and are certainly no cause for concern. On the lower near-side rear arch, there is a small patch where the paint has chipped. It has gone through to the undercoat but there are no signs of corrosion. A paint drip was also observed on the near-side arch which might suggest a repair at some point - the finish and fit are otherwise good. The bumpers and side trim are in decent condition, with light scuff marks on the front items.

The wheels were changed at some point in its life, losing the factory fitted items in lieu of a set of period-correct 18” items. They are in good condition, with a little light damage and corrosion being evident on the near-side front item. The tyres are a mix of Bridgestone and Boto, three are from 2016, with the other replaced in 2019. All are in good condition with plenty of tread left.

The mile-munching twin-turbocharged V12 engine started up with no issues, the engine did not produce any unwanted noises - no knocks or grinding. The car gets up to temperature with no problems, with no smoke or blowing coming from the exhaust after the initial condensation. The car is said to drive well, with no issues with the steering or suspension. The engine shows evidence of being well looked after and was clean with no evidence of dirt build-up. The brake components are in good condition, with a decent amount of life left in all of the disc and brake components. They are said not to cause any issues when in use, with no squealing or judders. The automatic transmission is said to function with no faults. The exhausts are in good condition with no visual damage.

A comparatively rare car, with just 2,255 of these elegant twin-turbocharged, 5.5-litre V12 cars produced, this example comes with decent service history and a file full of invoices and spending. The exterior colour extrudes the strong energising colour of a red wine, nicely highlighting the subtle lines but this is no vin ordinaire. Combined with the sumptuous royal blue interior, this complimentary colour combination gives the CL600 a distinctive air of originality. With evidence of regular spending and a positive bill of health, this is a superb opportunity to sample the rich texture of this fine modern classic.