Highlights
- Perfect car for the summer
- Low mileage for the age
- Long MOT
- Great condition
- Excellent history & paperwork
The Background
First introduced to the market in 1954, the SL class is one of Mercedes’ finest lineups; a range of GT sports cars with performance and style in mind. The SL was never initially destined to make its way into production for the consumer market, but during the boom after WW2, it was suggested that a street-going version of the 300 SL racecar would be perfect for wealthy enthusiasts.
This first-generation SL would include W198 and W121 cars, both of which are exceptionally sought after today, with the Gullwing W198 coupé being one of the most prized classics. As expected, the first generation of SL proved to be rather popular and would be produced for just shy of a decade until being succeeded by the second generation W113.
The W113 featured sharper body lines, an iconic “pagoda” shaped roof, a new interior, and an assortment of engine options throughout its lifespan. Despite being a valiant replacement for the previous generation, Mercedes saw room for improvement yet again and released the 3rd generation of SL cars. This generation (R107) would make waves as the first SL to be offered with a V8 engine and advanced safety features, but would only be sold in a total of 4 countries, before being succeeded by the 4th gen SL.
That brings us to the R129, which was introduced in 1989 and was packed full of upgrades yet to be seen in the SL class. The R129 features advanced safety options, muscular body lines and was available with inline 6, V6, V8, and even V12 engines for AMG variants. It was also the first Mercedes to feature a hydraulically operated folded roof, and projector lens HID headlights. It is a car that stays true to the SL spirit, providing a balance between exciting performance, luxury comforts, and top-down motoring. Today, the R129’s styling is unrivaled on the roads and great examples like this one are getting more scarce by the day.
The History
First registered in 1995, this SL320 has travelled considerably few miles in its lifetime. As the MOT history will reflect, the car has covered below average miles annually since around 2013, bringing us to the total shown on the odeometer today. Throughout these years, the car has been regularly serviced and has accumulated a great amount of paperwork.
In recent years, the car has covered even fewer miles and now deserves to be treasured by its next owner. With the summer on the horizon, this is the perfect car to enjoy some top-down driving!
The Paperwork
Buyers will be pleased to know that this car comes with a large assortment of paperwork, including the original handbook, V5 document, previous MOT certificates, and the original Mercedes owner booklets.
The paperwork also includes an assortment of receipts for previous labour & parts, with the car needing nothing mechanically major in the past. This vehicle will also come with 2 keys, and has MOT until March 2023
The paperwork also includes an assortment of receipts for previous labour & parts, with the car needing nothing mechanically major in the past. This vehicle will also come with 2 keys, and has MOT until March 2023
The Interior
Equipped with a plush interior, the cabin of this Mercedes SL320 is a very pleasant place to be. The front passenger seat has been very well preserved, with minimal wear to the bolster and controls alike. The driver’s seat has clearly seen the most usage, but for a car of this age it is still in fair condition and certainly won’t spoil a truly pleasant driving experience. Both rear seats also are in excellent condition, and there is quite a strong chance that they have only ever been used a handful of times.
In true Mercedes fashion, the door cards are equipped with snazzy electronic seat controls, to ensure both passenger and driver can tailor the seating experience to their own tastes. The door cards themselves are in fantastic condition, and the wood effect trim pieces contrast well against the light grey plastics.
The steering wheel, all controls, and centre console details are not only in full working order but have also been very well taken care of, with just the most minor signs of wear. Carpets, the headliner and interior trim items emulate the other interior details and are themselves too in brilliant condition. Having been sat around not covering too many miles over the years, this interior would certainly benefit from a detail to restore it to its full glory but is fantastic as is and definitely won't disappoint.
The Exterior
The exterior is in excellent condition for the vehicle’s age, with its gorgeous blue paintwork still shining in the sun. Other than an ever so slight colour difference with its faded bumpers, the paintwork shows very few signs of the wear & tear typically seen on cars of this age, and could easily be machine polished to a standard that would rival most cars on the road today.
All exterior trim pieces and details are also in great condition, and both the headlights & taillights could quite easily pass for new. All glass and mirrors have also been well taken care of, with no noticeable marks or scratches typically seen on vehicles of this age. In true SL fashion, the front end features a large central Mercedes badge, which is exceptionally striking and still looks fantastic.
Once the detachable hardtop is removed, the folding soft top underneath comes out to play. The soft top follows suit with the rest of the car, and is in excellent condition, with no tears, rips, or leaks.
All 4 wheels also look superb and have clearly been very well preserved over the years. Each wheel still retains a high level of shine and contrasts brilliantly against the rich Blue paintwork.
The Mechanics
Recently serviced and treated to new wishbones, this lovely Mercedes SL320 is in full working order with no mechanical or electrical issues to report. The 3.2L powerplant pairs brilliantly with the smooth auto gearbox, and gives the car more than enough power to party.
As this was the first Mercedes to be fitted with a hydraulic folding roof, it should come as no surprise that it’s one of the key features to keep an eye on. The roof on this particular car works flawlessly, with both the hardtop release mechanism and the folding roof working exactly as intended.
As the MOT history reflects, this car hasn’t suffered from any major issues in the past and has a clean bill of health with plenty of history to support. Speaking of MOT, this gorgeous SL320 has an exceptionally long MOT, valid all the way until next March.
The Appeal
The R129 is one of the more desirable recent cars from Mercedes’ highly regarded SL lineup. It’s a car that achieves a fantastic balance of performance, comfort and an assortment of modern advancements unseen on Mercedes vehicles prior.
This particular example is in fantastic condition, needs nothing to be enjoyed and will no doubt fill the new owner with pride.
This particular example is in fantastic condition, needs nothing to be enjoyed and will no doubt fill the new owner with pride.
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