∙Low mileage and low owners
∙Immaculate condition
∙Full history

If a classy roadster is on your shopping list it matters little which decade you’re interested in, as there’s one car that personifies style, sophistication and build quality – the Mercedes SL. Whether you’re after 50s style, 60s chic, 70s or 80s glamour, or 90s modernism - it’s a model that Mercedes has always absolutely nailed. A wonderful car for its first owners and one that’s lusted after by many generations that follow.

But if you’re a child of the 1990s or started to be aware of cars from this era then the Mercedes you should be lusting after is the R129 SL, a machine that personifies the decade. Available with a range of engines from a 2.8-litre straight-six to a monstrous 7.3-lite AMG V12 the R129 SL is one of those cars that offers something to so many people. Stylish, yet modern enough to cope with contemporary traffic, it’s a car that can be used every day or squirrelled away for high days and holidays, and perhaps the pick of the bunch for today’s buyer are the V8-engined models. 

With over 300bhp on tap in 5.0-litre guise it was a very fast car in its day, yet one that is equally at home cruising or posing or putting a wide grin across your face as you revel in its glorious V8. The car we have here has an impeccable history and is presented in nigh-on immaculate condition and represents a rare opportunity to bag a classic Mercedes-Benz roadster before their prices follow previous generations and head for the stratosphere.  

While the R129 was launched in 1989 this example dates from 1995 and features the M119 V8 engine, marketed as the SL 500. Originally purchased as a new car in 1995 it belonged to the same owner until it was traded in with Mercedes and subsequently sold as an Approved Used Car to its second owner in 2004 with an indicated mileage of 34,696. 

It was loved and cherished by its second owner who used it sparingly until 2014 when, with the mileage at 48,576, it was stored for the next four years before being recommissioned in 2018. The SL 500 was then sold to its current and third owner in 2019 who has enjoyed it as stylish weekend transport. Having added less than 1,000 miles over the last two years the current owner would now like to pass this immaculate roadster onto a new owner who will love and cherish it as much as he has. 

It’s rare for a car that’s over 25 year old to retain its full history but this 500SL has a stamped service book from its early years with its first owner along with MoT certificates and the majority of the receipts from its second owner including the bill of sale when it was purchased as an Approved Used Car.

The paperwork to accompany the car is presented in a folder with a significant number of receipts, invoices and MoTs to confirm the low mileage of the car. During the current owner’s tenure the car has been serviced by a local Mercedes specialist and the plastic rear windows in the hood have been replaced by a professional trimmer using the correct OEM material. Naturally there are receipts for this work within the comprehensive history file along with a V5C in the owner’s name and an MoT that runs to October 2021. 

Finished in its original beige leather, the interior of this SL500 presents exceptionally well with hardly any wear to be seen at all. The seats are in excellent condition and are electrically operated and move freely in all directions. The cream carpet on the floor, under dash panels, centre console and door trim is similarly in excellent condition with no sign of wear or any discolouration. The carpet has been protected by over mats and to keep the mats clean there are plastic mats to ensure the interior stays immaculate.

The dashboard and wood trim are in excellent condition – as are the vestigial rear seats – and the hood. The owner reports that all the electrical items – including the air conditioning - work perfectly, as you’d expect on a car that’s obviously been well looked after during its life time. The boot is finished in the same cream carpet as the interior and is also immaculate and the OEM wind deflector still sits behind its hidden panel within the boot.

The R129 might be a more aerodynamically efficient design than the SLs that preceded it, but it still oozes style and sophistication. This SL 500 remains resplendent in its metallic blue black paintwork with contrasting bumpers and lower body panels. The paint finish is excellent and there’s not so much as a bumper scuff to mar its appearance. If we were being incredibly pernickety we’d mention a small paint imperfection by the SL 500 badge and a very small chip to the near side front indicator but overall this SL 500 is in superb condition.

Its black canvas hood, complete with new plastic windows, is in excellent condition and operates perfectly via the button next to the gear lever, folding back smoothly and quickly. A factory hard top accompanies the car and this is also in excellent condition – both in and out – and locks securely into position once it’s lifted onto the car.

The eight hole Mercedes alloys are in good condition but do have some light scratches that can be seen in the pictures. They are fitted with Continental ContiPremiumContact tyres with plenty of tread remaining. Those on the rear axle are date marked 2008 while those on the front axle are dated 2013.

Mechanically the SL 500 appears to be in fine fettle as is to be expected from a machine that’s been well looked after during its life. While we didn’t have the opportunity to road test the car it started and idled perfectly during our photoshoot and the owner reports that it drives well with the four-speed automatic changing gears smoothly.

With earlier incarnations of the Mercedes SL becoming increasingly collectible the R129 presents a perfect solution for those wanting a desirable and stylish roadster. With its fine provenance this is a car that could be squirrelled away for use on high days and holidays but would also be the perfect prospect for those looking to make more regular use of their sophisticated drop top.

With huge reserves of performance on offer it would be the perfect machine for a quick blast to the south of France but its docile nature makes it equally at home pottering to the shops. Keep the hard top in the garage during the summer months, but come winter it’ll keep the SL’s interior as snug and warm as a contemporary coupe making this car an ideal all seasons machine. It’s in superb order and is ready to be driven away and enjoyed.

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