Highlights

‘Showroom condition’ inside and out
Full service history
Genuine 57,000 miles
Exceptionally original example
Factory colour coded hard top
Factory optional rear seats
Over £8,500 recently spent
2 spare keys come with the car

The Appeal

One of the most enduring and evocative classics in automotive history, the R107 needs little introduction. Glamorous looks, astounding build quality and a rewarding all-weather driving experience all add to the appeal. No wonder these cars are still so sought-after.

The later facelifted 300SL is particularly in demand because these cars added updated looks, galvanised rust-proofed body and a new 3-litre straight six to the car’s existing appeal. The refined engine is powerful but more frugal than the older power plants, and is the sweet spot in the range.

This superb example is one of these more desirable, later facelifted cars. It was registered in 1987, a couple of years before production ended. Condition is everything, and thanks to its very low mileage as well as careful storage, this highly original SL ascends close to showroom order.

It is beautifully presented in the elegant but sporty colour way of Signal Red 568 over black Karo sport check, which is affectionately known as ‘Black Forest Gateau’ by aficionados of the model. This vehicle is in simply exceptional condition and must be one of the best R107 roadsters available on the market today.

Beyond the impeccable condition, the car comes to market with very low mileage of 57,000 miles and it benefits from £8,500 of recent expenditure. This work was undertaken by well regarded marque specialists and included extensive work to the fuel system including a new fuel tank. The wheels were refurbished and rather than buff out storage marks the vendor had it professionally re sprayed. A full professional detail was undertaken on completion. Not surprisingly, the lengthy MOT contains no advisories.

If you’re looking for a R107 - and many people are - then you’re not spoilt for choice. This car is undisputably one of the best we’ve seen in a long while.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 1st August 1987
Extensive history file as shown in photos
Stamped service book showing regular maintenance
Service and MOT records verify the low mileage
Always garaged throughout its lifetime
Kept as part of a discerning collection
Just fully serviced by Mercedes specialist
£8,500 of recent work including a completely new fuel system
New advisory-free MOT
Full VDI check carried out by the vendor as shown in photos
Original owner’s manual, service book and radio manual
Historic MOTS
MOT to 1st April 2026 with no advisories

Mercedes-Benz Datacard:

VRN E638HRV
Model 300 Sl
Engine 103982 22 004799
Transmission 722322 02 895352
Order Number 0 7 537 84737
Order Location Great Britain
Interior 071
Paint 1 Signal Red (568o)
Paint 2 Signal Red (568o)
Approx. Build Date 1987-01
238 City Drive Light For Great Britain
341 Additional Blinker Lamps
362 Rhd Vehicles As Per Ec Regulations (Control Code)
461 Instrument With Miles Ind. And English Legend
507 Outside Rear View Mirror, Left And Right, Heated (Electrically Adjustable On The Right)
524 Paintwork - Preservation
565 Rear Seats Used On Sl Models
583 Electric Window Lifters (Front Doors)
592 Heat-Insulating Glass, All-Around, Heated Rear Window Pane, Band Filter
613 Headlamp Left-Hand Traffic
682 Fire Extinguisher
740 Black Soft Top Fabric 9001

When the vendor acquired the car he understood that it had been dry-stored throughout its life. The fabulous, original condition of the car, both inside and out, would certainly back up that assertion. Reassuringly, he has ensured the car has been brought up to a remarkable standard, with the last few invoices showing an expenditure of over £8,500. The service history is remarkably well recorded, and as part of a large collection, the car was sparingly driven on the open road and kept garaged; no expense has been spared in its upkeep. Indeed this beautiful SL has covered only 6000 miles in the past 26 years!

Delivered new by a Mercedes-Benz main agent in the UK, the car still carries the dealer plates and window sticker. The original leather folder contains all the manuals, including that for the radio, as well as the original stamped service book with all important data card showing the factory specification. The original box style first aid kit, fire extinguisher, red cloth toolkit and Mercedes-Benz branded mudflaps are still present, testimony to this car’s incredible originality, all this only adds to the car’s desirability and long-term investment potential.

The Condition

Refurbished alloys and matching premium Michelin tyres just fitted
Factory original hood in outstanding condition
Amazing timewarp interior
Clean, unmarked carpets
New old stock period Blaupunkt radio
Factory +2 Rear seats look unused
Factory spare keys present
Original toolkit, first-aid kit, warning triangle
New factory correct ribbed overmats fitted
Chrome and badges generally excellent

This car looks as though it has just been driven out of the showroom. Finished in Signal Red (568) - one of the most popular and elegant colours for the R107 - the external presentation is close to immaculate, particularly for car that is over 40 years old. It comes complete with its hard top with a light headlining and looks to be in excellent condition. The vendor states that instead of trying to polish out some storage scuffs he decided to paint the hardtop to ensure it was upto the showroom standard of the rest of the bodywork. The good news continues across the chromework which is very smart and the headlight lenses appear to be clean and fracture-free.

The soft-top is also in outstanding condition, with all the original windows clear and crease-free. The alloy wheels are also virtually ‘as new’, having just been refurbished, and these are complemented by excellent premium tyres all round. Underneath, the SL appears to have benefited from being under-sealed and is clean and proper - we can't discern any signs of corrosion or reason for concern. Nestling into its Karo Sports check seating, it feels like you’re back in 1988. From the lovely wood trims to the cream door cards, the astonishing interior of this car feels like it could have just left the showroom: there are virtually no giveaways of the car’s age, a testament to a lifetime of careful, diligent ownership. It's clear from first glance that this has been the pride and joy of every driver to sit in its opulent cabin. The factory seats are in fabulous condition, proudly sporting one of the R107's most popular colour combinations. The ‘+2’ seats in the rear look unused. If we are being super picky there is a very small amount of pitting on the very slim chrome boot trim that you really have to look for.
Folding down the rear seats reveals a generous extra space for luggage, which is in good order.

The carpets across the board are in extremely good condition, with no marks or discolouration, and a glance underneath those in the front reveals a clean and rust-free floor pan. The factory-style ribbed over mats are new, having just been purchased from the SL Shop. The stylish wood veneer on the dash looks wonderful, with no cracks or splits to the lacquer that we can discern, with all of the dials and switches appearing clean and easy to read. Every one of the generous internal options is working as expected. To complete the authentic time warp experience, the car even boasts a Chromelondon-supplied new old stock period Blaupunkt radio cassette, complete with its manual and box! The boot is in excellent order with good, clean carpets - there is an original factory first-aid kit, apparently unused, along with the original warning triangle, jack, wheel brace and spare wheel. The factory tool roll is in red cloth, and tools are also present in excellent order. Ultimately, this is an utterly superb example of the 300SL.

The Mechanics

Powered by Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 2,962 cc straight-six
Refined four-speed automatic gearbox
Starts and runs beautifully according to the vendor
Outstanding engine bay presentation
An exceptional example with an excellent service history
Just serviced and has had a new fuel system just installed
Large history file showing regular maintenance
Service and MOT records verify the low mileage

With a very recent full service by a marque specialist, the SL reportedly starts on the first turn of the key, gear changes are smooth and quiet, and the engine sounds lovely. The vendor assures us that it drives as well as it looks. During the four-hour photo shoot, the car started on the button and was moved to and fro with no issues at all.

With its very low mileage and comprehensive history, in addition to the R107’s reputation for longevity and reliability, the car should offer many more years of trouble-free motoring. Reassuringly, after being stored for a period of time and not driven the vendor, instead of simply cleaning out the old fuel tank, took the prudent step of installing a completely new fuel system including new tank, sender, strainer, filter and Bosch fuel pump - Mercedes OEM of course.

Open the bonnet and, again, it’s difficult to believe the car’s age and mileage. The engine looks amazing, and aside from a modern battery, everything looks much as it must have done when new.

The vendor believes this is probably the best, most original of its kind in the country. If you’ve always wanted an exceptional 300SL, this is the one to buy.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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