Quality speaks for itself – and there’s no denying the longevity of Mercedes-Benz’s legendary ‘R107’ SL, from its extensive 17-year production run to its status today as one of the world’s best-loved classic sports touring cars.
SLs have survived in their droves, as tasteful now as they were when new. There are plenty on the market, but this one’s a bit different as it’s a 560 SL, the biggest of the lot and sold only in the USA, Australia and Japan.
This one’s a Federal Specification car, restored in the USA before being imported to the UK. A left-hand-drive model, it’s extremely rare in the UK and have several US-only features.
Having spent most of its life in the USA, the 560 SL was imported to the UK in 2018, before being registered in 2021 by the vendors – a car mad couple from Suffolk who have a few other interesting cars and had always wanted to try one.
Having imported and registered the car themselves and having used it for a few family events, they’ve decided to let it go to a new home ready for the next classic.
The car has been freshly MOT’d and it has a full UK V5C, along with documents showing all import duties are clear and paid.
It also comes with some fascinating early history showing it was supplied new by Silver Star Motors, the Mercedes-Benz main agent for Long Island City, New York State. The car remained there with its original owner until 2011, which is the date of the last invoice in his name. Thereafter, it passed to an enthusiast who had the car repainted and the top end of the engine rebuilt, with invoices for the parts included in the history file.QYypBkznt5moqviTK50EIt3VOVrxAVHy2lahUGhc.jpeg1.04 MB
THE INTERIOR
Dark tan leather upholstery
Heated seats
Air conditioning
Crack-free dashboard
As R107 interiors go, this one is superb, helped no doubt by the fact that the car has been kept under cover for most of its life.
As a result, there are none of the usual cracks on the dashboard nor any fading to the veneers or warped door cards. It’s superb.
It’s an unusual spec for an R107 in that it has full leather rather than the similar MB-Tex upholstery more commonly found on the model. The specification is huge – air conditioning, heated seats, an airbag, ABS – lots of technical advancements only seen on US-spec models.
Finished in the rare and unusual colour of Light Ivory, which was only offered between 1985 and 1987, the 560 SL looks very smart indeed, while the Federal front end includes chunkier bumpers and quad round headlights in lieu of the European SL’s rectangular ones.
The car is structurally superb and has never been welded, but the outer bodywork was repainted in the original colour a few years ago. It’s a good finish, whilst the alloy wheels and exterior trim are all in good order.
The car is supplied with a body-coloured hardtop, not seen in the photos, which the vendors say is in excellent, rust-free condition and will be supplied on its own stand so you can store it in the garage.WVVEoscg342OVn7jBmxgcLgYaSFwJ7pspchvjE2k.jpeg1.89 MB
THE MECHANICS
5.6-litre V8
Three-speed auto transmission
Starts and runs beautifully
Well-maintained
The 5,549cc V8 engine starts well, holds a steady temperature and shows excellent oil pressure and the vendors report that the car is brilliant to drive, operating without fault and with impressive reserves of power. They have driven it on several long trips on classic events and to a family wedding with no faults whatsoever5yfBkDcDKopOa3XWPJUxbmt4QAND8NBQYI4gwy4b.jpeg873.92 KB
SUMMARY
R107s don’t get much rarer or more interesting than this one – a late model 560 SL with a fascinating history behind it. It’s impeccably well-presented and in fine order throughout
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