It was the car that caused controversy in the British Royal Family after Diana, Princess of Wales, shunned the offer of another Jaguar XJS to instead get behind the wheel of a German car. 

That was in 1991, and it made her the first Royal to drive a non-British car. It was also a fabulous piece of publicity for Mercedes-Benz, resulting in more column inches and public demand than any five-star review in Autocar could ever have attained.

But Royal endorsement aside, the R129 SL was a wonderful car regardless. At the time of its launch in 1991, the two-seater was one of the most technologically advanced cars in the world. It was one of the safest, too, with a pop-up roll bar that would automatically deploy in the event of an accident. 

Like all Mercs of its era, it was a wonderfully over-engineered car with a strength and solidity unlike anything else, especially not any rival sports car.

Today, over three decades since the R129 first appeared, it’s a model that’s rapidly appreciating as a collectors’ item. As a result, well-preserved and original cars are growing increasingly desirable. This one is a 300SL, in many ways the baby of the bunch, but at the same time the most affordable to own and run. And it’s a cracker.

Supplied new by Portmann’s Mercedes-Benz in Manchester, this SL spent most of its early life in the North-West and was regularly maintained by Whitefields, the Mercedes-Benz main dealer in Bury, Lancs. It appears to have then been sold to an owner in Scotland at some point in the mid-2000s and used sparingly, but serviced annually by an independent Mercedes-Benz specialist, before continuing its tour of the UK in 2013 by moving to Mid Wales and the owner before its current one. The last owner – in South Wales - had had it for seven years and has covered a relatively small number of miles per year. It was last serviced at 78,500 miles and has covered just over 1,000 miles since.

A full UK V5 comes with the car along with a comprehensive, fully-stamped service book detailing 28 years of fastidious maintenance. There are also a number of old MoT certificates to corroborate the car’s mileage and impressive history. 

Also included are a number of more recent bills for parts supplied by independent specialists and the car’s original factory build sheet, which is a fascinating piece of history that should technically have been disposed of before the car was delivered to its first owner.

The seller has also advised they will put a fresh MOT on the vehicle for the lucky winner.

Inside, the SL is very smartly presented, with tan leather and matching tan overmats, with neat blue piping to match the car’s exterior. 

It’s all in superb order, as you’d expect from a low mileage car, with no excessive bolster wear or visible damage. 

It’s typical Eighties/Nineties Mercedes inside, too – chunky, over-engineered controls and a reassuringly old-fashioned feel so typical of a Merc of this vintage.

From the wooden ‘ski-slope’ with twin storage binnacles to the neatly trimmed leather-clad rollover bar at the rear, it’s all in exceptional order, though the rear-seating is really only suitable for extremely small people.

As a two-seater, though, the SL is an extremely spacious and comfortable car as well as a sporty one, with an impeccable combination of luxury and performance feel that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else other than maybe a Jaguar XJS, but the Mercedes feels at least one generation ahead.

Finished in Ice Blu metallic over a darker blue lower body, the 300SL enjoys one of the most attractive colour schemes for a Benz of its era. The colour scheme really sets the lines of the car off well, and it’s in superb order, too.

There’s no evidence of any corrosion and the original alloy wheels are also in exceptional order, with only light marking and no heavy oxidisation. 

It’s all in exceptional condition, with a deep gloss shine and no tarnished areas – indeed, as original cars go, it’s in truly fabulous order.

The 228bhp 2,962cc engine starts on the button and needs for nothing, as you’d expect from a car with less than 80,000 on the clock.

It’s not the sportiest SL but it still covers 0-60mph in less than nine seconds and has a top speed in excess of 140mph, which is more than enough for most modern traffic situations. 

The oil pressure is fine, there are no untoward noises and the automatic gearbox shifts smoothly through all the gears, while the steering and suspension don’t throw up any cause for concern.

Indeed, the Mercedes-Benz straight sixes in these cars are known for their longevity and will easily cover hundreds of thousands of miles without fuss. This one is barely run in and has been subject to a proper specialist maintenance programme throughout its life.

Striking, stylish, unrestored and original, this R129 has a huge amount going for it. It is clearly a car that has had a cherished existence throughout its life and – as such – has never wanted for anything other than routine maintenance and cleaning.

The exceptional way in which it is presented is an absolute credit to its previous owners and also to the car’s impressive build quality in the first place – the R129 was one of the last over-engineered and beautifully finished cars to come from the German brand and this example, albeit the smallest and least powerful engine, is also one of the absolute best you’re going to find. 

It deserves a new owner who will lavish it with the same attention it has been used to throughout its life.

The photos in this listing have been provided to us by the seller.

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