Winning bid
£14,000

1996 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129)

Highlights

  • Finished in the rare Mercedes Green Black colour
  • Genuine Mercedes soft top module fitted recently
  • Great overall condition 
  • 5.0L V8 under the bonnet 

The Appeal

Released back in 1989 the R129 took over the mantle from the previous R107 generation of the now legendary SL line. One of the final all Mercedes designed and built cars before Chrysler came on board and quality control changed, the R129 is a mighty automobile that is sublime to own. Coming with both a soft and hard top the SL is the perfect all-weather cruiser ready for anything you wish to throw at it. 
As this example is the SL500, a 5.0L V8 engine sits under the bonnet providing ample power to the rear wheels through an automatic gearbox. This car has lived an interesting life and is now ready for you to take it home. 

The History and Paperwork

  • First registered in February 1996 
  • Its first registered address was along Brompton Road, just next to Harrods
  • From this exclusive address, it heads out of the UK to the south of France in around 2001
  • Here it is owned by a professional yacht captain
  • Most of the stamps in the service book come from French Mercedes dealerships 
  • It comes back into the UK in 2013 and it acquired by the current owner in 2014
  • In their ownership, the car hasn’t asked for much 
  • It received a new genuine Mercedes-Benz soft top electronic module along with a new mohair hood 
  • The alloys were refurbished in June 2021 
  • It has also had new Michelin tyres, a new steering damper, and new under-bonnet sound insulation
  • The car will also come with the original wind deflector, tool kit, and first aid kit
  • Within the paperwork bundle, there are lots of old MOT certificates
  • Its current MOT runs out in June 2024
  • There are a few other assorted invoices that show recent services and small expenditures
  • Now it’s time for you to get behind the wheel of this beautiful R129 and add to its illustrious history
  • Comes with two keys

The Interior

  • Finished in a combination of beige leather and wood veneer the interior looks great
  • The two front seats are not only heated but also electrically adjustable with a memory function 
  • The condition of the leather is very good for a car of this age 
  • There is some slight wear to some of the driver’s seat bolster, but there are no tears to the material 
  • The two rear seats are also in very good condition
  • These seats can fold down and create a larger interior luggage space
  • It beige carpets are all in great condition
  • They are currently being protected by black Mercedes over mats 
  • Spanning the front is a contrasting dark brown dashboard
  • As the car has spent a lot of its time in a garage there are no cracks to this dash
  • This condition is matched by the car’s interior wooden trim
  • It still has a beautifully glossy finish with no lacquer peel or cracking
  • All of the switches, memory function for the seats, air con, and automatic roll bar are reported to work 
  • The boot section is fully carpeted and in very good condition indeed
  • Here you’ll find the original wind deflector, first aid kit, tool kit, and spare wheel
  • Overall, the interior is in excellent condition for its age
  • Now it’s time for you to get in and sample true Mercedes quality 

The Exterior 

  • This SL500 has been finished in the rather rare Green Black colour
  • Looking bluer in certain lights it is a very fetching colour
  • The exterior paint condition is very good
  • There are a few little filled-in stone chips dotted around and minor scratching to the rear bumper
  • No blistering or rust spots could be seen on the days of the photographs
  • Its trim and light lenses are all unmarked as well
  • The four alloys were refurbished in 2021 and they still look great
  • They are all wrapped in Michelin rubber
  • As you can see from the photos the car has three roof configurations
  • All three configurations were photographed 
  • Its Mohair hood was replaced in 2021 and is still in great condition 
  • The current owner also had the metal hardtop refurbished recently 
  • When not in use this hardtop sits on a genuine Mercedes stand 
  • Overall, the exterior is  in very good condition for a car approaching its third decade 
  • It’s going to look great in your collection that’s for sure 

The Mechanics 

  • This is not any Mercedes SL it is one of the full-fat V8 examples
  • Under the bonnet is a 5.0L V8 that provides ample power
  • The power is sent through its automatic gearbox
  • This vital component is reported to be very smooth on both up and downshifts 
  • The current owner has experienced no mechanical problems in their 9-year ownership
  • Its last service was carried out in May 2022 at 76,830 miles
  • The accompanying service book is well-stamped from its earlier life 
  • It was serviced at 11497, 15227, 20080, 23861, 33660, 47249, 60090, and 61272 miles
  • All of these were at Mercedes main dealers in France
  • Since 2014 it has been serviced by local Mercedes specialists with documentation present
  • On the day of the photos, the car was required to manoeuvre around the location 
  • It started up first time, every time of asking and would idle nicely
  • No undue noises were observed during these manoeuvres
  • Thanks to the care of the current owner this SL500 is ready to go 
  • All you need to do is hop in and turn the key, it’s that easy

Summary

You wouldn’t know that this car is fast approaching 30 years old. Thanks to this condition, this SL500 should be the next addition to your collection. 
With its hard top, it can be used in the colder months, and in the warmer months, you can store the roof and use the soft top. Few cars can offer this flexibility, and even fewer can match this SL’s build quality and overall condition. You don’t want to miss out on this excellent example.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
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Auction Details

  • Year1996
  • MakeMercedes
  • ModelSL500
  • ColourGren Black
  • Odometer77,203 Miles
  • Engine size4973cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownHitchin
  • CountyHertfordshire
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

14 Bids from 8 bidders

rblack••••
Bid
£14,000
25/07/23
gillshi••••
Bid
£13,750
25/07/23
DarenCh••••
Bid
£13,500
25/07/23
gillshi••••
Bid
£13,250
25/07/23
DarenCh••••
Bid
£13,000
25/07/23
gillshi••••
Bid
£12,750
25/07/23
DarenCh••••
Bid
£12,500
25/07/23
gillshi••••
Bid
£12,250
25/07/23
DarenCh••••
Bid
£12,000
24/07/23
lobo_su••••
Bid
£11,500
24/07/23

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