∙Top-flight 5.0-litre V8 model
∙Extensive history file and will come with a fresh MOT
∙Desirable colour combination
∙Original factory hard-top

The phrase ‘go big or go home’ has been motivating humans from time immemorial. And rather brilliantly, when it comes to the R107 500 SL, you’re able to go big while going home, thus ticking both boxes at once. The bigness doesn’t refer to the overall dimensions, of course – as with every R107 that rolled off the production lines between 1971-89, this model is charmingly diminutive in stature – but instead the running gear that’s shoehorned within. Because while there were a great many drivetrain options offered over the years, there’s no point messing about is there? If you want to go big with an R107, you get a 500: it comes packed with a full-fat 5.0-litre V8, which is more than enough to keep you entertained. This doesn’t turn it into a hellraising sports car, naturally – the point of the SL has always been to combine ample power with a cosseting ride and a well-appointed interior, to create a thoroughly pleasant sports-GT/roadster for pleasurable day-to-day motoring and, equally, engaging entertainment on high days and holidays. It’s at once an urban runabout and a long-legged tourer… and the five-point-oh ensures that the ‘ample’ is rather a lot more ample than lesser models in the range: 237bhp equates to 140mph and 0-60mph in around seven-and-a-half seconds, so it’s got the potential to be a bit of a tearaway if you so desire. But most of all, the model represents those timeless SL values very neatly: class, style, dependability. With an edge.

SLs are eminently usable, that’s what makes them so desirable these days – they aren’t classics that need to be wrapped in cotton wool and treated with kid gloves; if well maintained, they can be used just like modern cars, without fear of troublesome maladies or histrionics. This 500 SL is a strong example of an R107 with a life well-lived; it’s always been used as intended, properly looked after, and kept in fairly regular use. That’s not to say it’s at all leggy or baggy – its mileage of 115,564 actually equates to a little over 3,000 miles a year throughout its thirty-eight year life, so it’s not as if it’s been an everyday commuter. No, this is a car that’s just been kept going through the years and enjoyed by owners who know how to look after it. This inherent honesty is what makes it an attractive proposition today, and the paperwork very much backs this up…

There’s a decent history file here, with the original service book featuring regular stamps from new right up until 2005. Latterly, the servicing, repairs and maintenance are all clearly documented by a substantial sheaf of invoices and receipts. We can see, for example, that in 2006 the car had a camshaft replaced along with assorted other works in a bill totally £1,807. In 2016, £1,630 was spent on some minor welding repairs to the underside, new auxiliary belts, new brakes including a rear caliper, a major service and a new electric aerial. Receipts such as these form a robust paper-trail that will reassure the new owner of everything that’s been carried out over the years.

Rather than opt for the MB-Tex synthetic leather trim, the original owner specified this 500 SL with the grey ‘Sports Check’ cloth interior, and it’s something that makes a lot of sense for a drop-top: after all, you don’t want to be sticking to the seats in the summer, do you? The cloth trim is in decent condition too, with no holes, splits, rips or excessive wear. The front seats recline correctly to allow access to the factory-option rear seats, which are also in good condition and fitted with three-point seatbelts. The dash has a few cracks on the top but is generally in good order, with all the gauges working and the eyeball vents swivelling freely. The wood trim and switchgear shows a little patina of usage but it’s all complete. The car is fitted with an aftermarket Sony CD head unit and Pioneer speakers. Inside the boot it’s all dry with just a little surface corrosion to the boot floor, and the original spare wheel is present beneath the carpet.

Finished in tasteful blue/black metallic, the bodywork looks superb and acts as an excellent counterpoint to the lighter grey interior. The 500 SL was the only model in the range to receive the chunky boot spoiler, and the car’s also fitted with 15” alloy wheels – these wear matching Michelin tyres with good tread. 

The light lenses and window glass are all in good condition, and all of the correct trim and brightwork is in place; the Mercedes star on the front grille is a little loose, but it’d be the work of a few moments to secure it. 
We know that the underside received some minor welding repairs in 2016, and it all appears to be solid under there now. The soft-top hood is in very good condition, and raises, secures and lowers freely without difficulty. The SL also comes with its original factory hard-top, which is in excellent condition.

We can see from the service history that this car has always been serviced regularly and maintained with the appropriate parts and products. It is reportedly a good and reliable runner, with a smooth engine that idles evenly and pulls strongly through the gears. The radiator has some visible age-related wear but it’s still doing a decent job of keeping the engine at the correct temperature. We’re assured that the gearbox is smooth, and there are no issues when it comes to suspension or steering; the history shows that the brakes are fairly recent, and on the whole this is a pleasant and comfortable cruiser that runs like an SL should.

R107 SLs are in high demand these days; they have been for a while and that’s not something that is likely to ebb away any time soon. Their enduring appeal crosses the boundary between serious classic car hobbyists and people who want a classic motor that they can use without worrying about it failing to proceed: these are well-built and dependable things, and that core goodness is key to their consistently strong values.
500 SLs are thinner on the ground than most within the market, however, as the flagship model didn’t sell in such wildly prolific numbers as the lesser six-pot cars. So what we have here is an alluring proposition: the super-sized 5.0-litre V8, wrapped up in a package that includes a substantial history file and the knowledge that a lot has been done over the years to keep it ticking along as it should. A usable SL with a desirable spec, it’s ready and waiting for its next owner to enjoy.

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