Highlights

Lovely originality
Excellent paperwork file
Low mileage example
Recently registered as a historic vehicle

The Appeal

Thought by many as the greatest roadster/GT ever built as far as quality of construction is concerned; the sound the door makes when closed is enough to convince most people that these Mercedes are simply amazing in their build quality. The R107 is a sophisticated take on a sports car with luxury in mind rather than performance - made to drive to the country club or out to a nice dinner, or just to cover some ground in complete comfort at decent speed. While they won’t pin you back in your seat, they will quite happily cruise at the upper end of their speedometer and not miss a beat, while maintaining wonderful ride quality.

The example we have presented here remains in lovely original condition both inside and out, with some bodywork carried out back in 2009 to keep it in hood health. This SL has a rather low mileage record of only a mere 75,885 miles from new which can be backed up by both the service records as well as the MOT certificates which are present with the vehicle. Like any original vehicle, it does show some gentle hints of age - but these imperfections are what brings cars to life, a real survivor with many stories behind its wheel.

The History and Paperwork

Originally registered on the 1st of August 1982
Declared registered/used overseas but no record of it being used abroad
V5C is present and correct, ready for transfer of ownership
Original Mercedes maintenance booklet and owners manual
Maintenance booklet shows an extensive record of services
Previous MOT carried out in 2020 shows a clean pass with no advisories following a failure for exhaust emissions and headlamp aim which seems to have been fixed
Registered as a Historic Vehicle as of last year, now making the vehicle tax and MOT exempt
75,885 miles from new, equating to less than 300 miles carried out annually on average since brand new
Plenty of old MOT certificates are present with the vehicle
Paperwork present for private registrations being transferred to and from the vehicle
Invoices present for previous mechanical work undertaken, as well as a quote from P. Watson Motor Repairs from 2009 for £4,500

The Interior

Black leather upholstery with plaid fabric
Both front seats remain in lovely condition with only some very light signs of use, no rips or tears appear present on the leather or the fabric portions
Original steering wheel is in good shape with gentle signs of use as to be expected
Gauge cluster remains operational and easy to read with no fading on the numerals
Dashboard appears to be free from cracks or damage on the upper section
Wooden veneer trim looks to be in good condition with gentle signs of age, no apparent delamination can be seen throughout
Central switchgear remains operational and easy to read
Original Blaupunkt radio remains in place and reportedly operational
Floor carpets in good condition with no rips or tears to be reported
Rear seats remain in excellent shape with just some scuffing noticed on the central hump between the seats
Both door cards are in good shape with nice leatherwork and fabric, with just the usual scuff marks noticed on the lower portions of the doors, mostly on the driver side storage pocket

The Exterior

Silberdistel Metallic paintwork
Brightwork showing some patina in areas but retains a nice shine
Headlamp housings appear free from damage and water ingress
Front bumper bar shows some hints of corrosion in areas
Light paint chipping and corrosion noticed along the seams above the headlights and the central grill
Bonnet appears straight and free of damage, as do both of the front wings
Both door handle shows some blistering on the brightwork
Some gentle corrosion noticed around some of the side trim pieces along the doors, nothing excessive or worrying however
All four wheels remain original and do show some scarring as to be expected, with cracks appearing on a couple of the tyres treads from age
Soft top has a couple of rips on either side of the roof and appears in poor shape
Desirable hard top is present and appears in good condition with only some minor corrosion noticed with nice brightwork
Rear lights appear in good condition with no damage noticed and reportedly remain entirely functional
Rear bumper bar retains good brightwork
Boot lid spoiler remains present and in nice condition
Front nearside wing, front offside wing, both rear arches, both sills as well as both doors had been replaced and professionally repainted in 2009 by P. Watson Motor Repairs at the expense of £4,500, and all present themselves very well to this day

The Mechanics

2.8-litre inline-6 cylinder petrol engine
Automatic 4-speed transmission
Rear-wheel drive configuration
Great service history with plenty of service stamps and invoices present
The keeper states that the engine starts and runs without issues or unwelcome smoke plumes out the rear
The steering is believed to be in good mechanical health with a good amount of road feedback while remaining easy to live with
The automatic transmission is reported to be in great health, with smooth gear changes and no unexpected lunges during shifts, and no whining noises present
A healthy amount of invoices and MOT paperwork are present with the vehicle, ensuring the vehicle has been cared for throughout its lifetime regardless of its low mileage
A couple of the tyres may require replacement due to cracking from age

Summary

Absolute elegance in a sporty package, it's something that’s quite hard to beat when paired with being built like a house on wheels. This example could benefit from some TLC from a new custodian, and it could be a rather quick and painless restoration for anyone keen enough to get their hands dirty. For what these are worth, you’ll certainly struggle to get something with more bang for your buck!

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.

All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.