There's something about the SL range of Mercedes that is making them more popular than ever. You get cool looks, luxury comfort, good performance, and it's a usable car capable of munching up some miles should you wish to take it off touring. They are a nice car to live with, reasonable to maintain, usually by your local independent specialist, and they never fail to turn heads.  

Finding a nice original car of this age can be tricky, as you probably know. Luckily this is one of those original cars you dream of finding. The seller has maintained the 300SL well over his 20-year ownership, it has had exactly what has been needed to keep the car in excellent order.  

The seller purchased the Mercedes 300SL mainly for his wife to use and also used for the odd holiday trip over to France or up to Scotland. Both the seller and his wife have thoroughly enjoyed the car. In their ownership, an average of 1,000 miles each year has been accumulated over the 20 years, and when not in use, it has been kept in dry storage, which has helped retain the car's originality. 

Very sadly, the seller's wife passed away. He feels the car would be better off in a new home where it can be cherished in the same way, but also be used as it should. The private registration will be removed at the end of the auction. 

Inside of the Mercedes is in exceptional condition for the age of the vehicle. Finished in blue material, there are no apparent signs of wear to the seats, especially the driver’s seat, which usually takes most of the wear. There is a small rear seat which was an optional extra at the time. The door cards are also in excellent condition with no marks to mention. There is a very small scuff on the rear quarter panel where the roof release handle is. 

The dashboard is excellent and unmarked. Behind the wheel, the instruments are working as they should, with the odometer showing a reading of just 66,769 miles. Moving across towards the centre, there has been a Sony Head-unit fitted which is connected to a boot mounted CD multichanger. The heater controls sit within the walnut trim, which is also in excellent order with no cracks to the lacquered finish. The switches for the windows are in good order, working as they should with no wear to the buttons. 

The carpets are also superb, with no obvious signs of any wear to be seen. The inside of the convertible roof is in good condition, as is the inside of the hard top. Inside the boot are the wind deflector, jack, wheel brace, tool kit, warning triangle and spare wheel, and the carpet is excellent. 

Finished in Diamond Blue Metallic (3550), the 300SL presents really well and is believed to be the original paintwork apart from the sills, which have been repainted some years ago. Starting at the front, there are obviously some minor stone chips, but less than you would expect for the age of the vehicle. 

The chrome work is in excellent order and has a bright finish to the bumper and grille surround. The headlights and foglights are free from any chips or cracks in the lenses, and there are optional extra headlight wipers fitted. The bonnet looks to align as it should with the wings and opens and closes with ease.  

Around to the sides of the Mercedes, the swage line is nice and straight, with an even gap around both doors. Opening the doors, they still have that new feeling as they click into each stop as they open. There are chrome wheel arches fitted, and the rear nearside has a slight dent. Under these is reported to be waxoyled to help prevent any corrosion from setting in. 

The black fabric roof is in excellent condition and is the original. The plastic windows are free from any excessive scratches or discolouration, and the fabric shows no creasing, as you often see on convertibles. The hardtop is also included. This is in excellent condition with no damage or marks to point out.  

To the rear and the lights are free from any damage, the boot lid aligns as it should, and the chrome badges are in good order along with the bumper. The wheels are also in good condition, with no signs of any corrosion to the faces, and the tyres have a good amount of tread remaining on each corner.     

Fitted with the 3.0 litre, it is regarded by many as the better engine, having more power than the 2.8 litre and better fuel economy than the 3.5 litre. The Mercedes has been well maintained with 14 service stamps in the book to back this 66,769-mile machine up. The SL fires up straight away, with no hesitation and sounds as it should, with no untoward noises to be heard. 

The automatic gearbox changes smoothly as the car pulls through the gears, and again with no strange or unwanted noises coming from the transmission. The car stops as well as it goes with no juddering through the brake pedal or pulling to either side. 

A nice low mileage 1987 Mercedes 300SL, which is in excellent condition. The seller has owned it for 20 years, covering approximately 1,000 miles each year. 

The Mercedes has not wanted for anything over the years as can be seen from the service stamps and invoices for work carried out. Will you be the one to become the next custodian of this German classic and cherish it just like the seller?