Highlights
- Well-maintained car with recent improvements and large history file
- Popular 3.2L straight six model in Azurite Blue with matching hard top
- Pre-facelift car fitted with rare 5spd automatic gearbox
- Recent work to front axle, brakes, and engine service
- New soft top fitted in 2025 in correct German Haartz fabric
- Current MOT valid to November 2026 with no advisories
- Private dateless plate included
The Appeal
The R129 is the sort of classic convertible that you can comfortably buy with your head and your heart. Impeccably engineered and built, crisply styled and as durable and reliable as anything built then or even now, these are cars equally at home touring long distances or tootling down to the local watering hole.
The pick of the range is arguably the 230bhp 3.2L SL320 because it provides decent performance with real-world economy. This 1995 pre-facelift Azurite Blue car is fitted with the legendary M104 straight six engine, and it comes with a large history file attesting to the care of its keepers. As a pre-facelift car, it is rare in being fitted with the 5spd rather than the more regular 4spd automatic gearbox.
The car comes with its matching factory hard top and is largely standard save for a set of Mille Miglia alloys that we’re told cost £1,800. The vendor acquired the car in 2023 and has built on that extensive history folder with a long list of recent work, including a new roof in correct German Haartz fabric. Other work has included attention to the front axle, brakes and, of course, servicing. More details are provided below. The result was a clean MOT pass in November 2026, since when the car has covered few miles.
This is a very tidy, nicely specified example of the perennially popular R129.
The vendor says:
“Car drives great and accelerates well, and comfortably sits at motorway speeds. You can even get 30mpg+ on a long run. Looks great parked on the drive! And you get lots of good comments when out and about. Having the roof down is fantastic, listening to the legendary M104 engine purr is a joy. Only up for auction because I've now bought a Porsche 928s.”
Key Information
- Mileage: 130,278 miles indicated
- Country of registration: United Kingdom
- MOT status: valid until 24th November 2026 with no advisories
- Technical specs: 230bhp 3.2-litre inline-six petrol, 5-speed automatic
- Paperwork: Large folder of receipts and invoices; two keys included, V5C
The Detail
- Attractive and generally well kept Azurite Blue metallic paintwork with matching hard top
- Due to age and mileage there are a few minor paintwork points to note
- These include a touched in stone chip as shown in photos
- Bodywork presents well including ‘Sacco Planks’ and front and rear bumpers
- Matching hard top appears well kept
- Vendor notes some small stone chips and one tiny scuff on driver's side front bumper
- Underside reported in good condition with no serious rot we are told
- Underside said to have been Lanolined with solid jacking points and arches reported
- Recently replaced fabric folding roof in correct factory fabric
- Recent repairs to roof mechanism detailed below
- Soft top headliner has started to sag; the vendor will attempt to fix before sale
- Mille Miglia wheels fitted with Kumho sport tyres, valued at approximately £1,800
- No structural advisories on MOT
- Grey leather interior with walnut veneers in good order for age and mileage
- Some light and inevitable age to front seats noted in photos
- Rear seats appear little used
- One small tear in the driver's seat reported
- Woodwork by seat controls starting to split
- Some armrest discolouration noted
- Features electric aerial, electric steering wheel, electric seats, climate control, cruise control
- Fitted with Alpine head unit
- Interior fittings all reported in good working order
- Infrared central locking is working we are told
- Vendor states car drives well, accelerates strongly, and comfortably cruises at motorway speeds
- Reported to be capable of 30mpg+ on a long run
- Dry stored throughout current ownership
- Private registration plate included in the sale
Recent work since 2023 noted by seller:
- New roof in correct German Haartz fabric
- Rebuilt front top hydraulic top cylinders with the correct dynamic seals
- Engine wiring harness rebuilt with silicone insulated cabling
- Front lower control arms
- New front anti roll bar bushes
- Front inner and outer track rods
- Replacement front discs and pads
- New front top mounts
- Wheels aligned
- New rear hard line brake pipes
- Replacement rear soft lines
- New water pump and thermostat
- Replacement accessory belt
- New spark plugs
- Full service
- Replacement cam cover gasket
- Cam cover painted in correct colour
- Gearbox and differential serviced
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