1997 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

This R129 represents the model’s middle era. A facelift in 1995 saw a more rounded and up-to-date aesthetic take over from the angular purity of the 1980s original. Detail changes such as a new body kit, amber indicator lenses going clear and twin sculpted cut outs in the lower wings all made these later SLs feel more 1990s appropriate (for better or worse). This is the entry-level R129 but don’t let that fool you, it’s still packing 190bhp. Though in a car that weighs a portly 1830kg, the ‘dash’ to 60mph is managed in a pretty unremarkable 10.2 seconds. A top speed of 143mph is worthy of remark however; no doubt due to autobahn gearing and those slippery Sacco lines.

With 115,733 recorded miles this SL has been used and enjoyed, yet its condition tells a tale of three fastidious former keepers. The paintwork gleams and the interior is tidy enough for you to leave the top down wherever you park. A few nice extras including the ‘Sport’ option (18-inch staggered alloys), Panorama hard top, air-conditioning and cruise control make this SL experience that little bit nicer. The vendor has included an indoor car cover and wind-cheating anti-buffet screen for quieter and less hairstyle-threatening topless journeys to boot.

A few fetching AMG upgrades have been added to this 280SL including the exterior badging and, more importantly, those stunning 18-inch alloy wheels. They don’t affect the car’s performance – except perhaps by offering a bit more grip – but they do help to set this stunning R129 apart. There are a few marks around the car, though it’s clear that the near quarter century since it was new have been kind. The offside front bumper insert next to the fog lamp is missing its cover, and while we’re at the front end, the nearside headlamp washer arm is also missing a cover. Keeping to the nearside, there’s a pin hole dent in wheel arch and the wheel this side has some mild kerb marks and paint imperfections. In fact, all of the wheels show similar light imperfections; though remain highly presentable. They’re also shod in a mix of Pirelli (front) and Dunlop (rear) tyres with good life in them. There’s however, a chunk taken out of the sidewall of one of the rears and there are a few signs of age cracking, so we’d not rely on these for too much longer.

Elsewhere, there are a few odd light scratches to the bodywork, the worst of which are the scuffs to the back of the offside wing mirror. Generally, however, this SL presents very well indeed for a car from this era. The shut lines front and rear appear typically Teutonic and precise, suggesting a lack of any previous accident damage. That desirable hard top is largely in excellent shape, as is the soft-top hood underneath it and its accompanying headlining. Some mild windscreen delamination can be found at the nearside bottom corner, though it’s in the very early stages and shouldn’t present a problem for many years to come.

As a later SL this 280 comes with a five-speed auto, as opposed to the earlier four-speed. This smooth-changing unit is a big plus point as it not only behaves in a far more modern fashion, it also lets you hold revs longer and ‘learns’ your shift preferences. The cabin shows the usual wear creases to the driver’s seat upper bolster, though these appear to be at the mild end of the spectrum. An aftermarket Sony CD player with Bluetooth and mic is found in the centre console, though there’s also an Alpine autochanger in the boot along with the original Blaupunkt Paris cassette deck.

The cabin appointments all appear to operate as they should and the revolutionary roll-over bar extends and retracts as intended. The driver’s door card has some trim peeling from failing glue on its bottom portion plus there are some nail marks to the inner door pulls on both sides. Other than these minor points, the cabin remains in a condition that’s a credit to such a classy machine.

Mechanically this SL feels strong and drives as it should. The under-bonnet sound deadening is peeling away (as they all seem to) yet the rest of the engine bay looks clean, dry and free of the usual signs of leaks. This sense of care and maintenance continues when you peek underneath. The underside has plenty of factory underseal still uniformly present and correct, with no obvious signs of leaks, poor jacking or other damage from careless ownership/maintenance. Even surface corrosion is hard to spot. It’s all appears fighting fit.

There’s not a lot of history with this SL but as mentioned above, its condition makes up for that. Having said this, there is a Mercedes-Benz service check invoice, though we don’t from when, as there’s no date. We also have a diagnostic and roof microswitch replacement invoice carried out recently (at 113,877 miles) to cure the ‘roof open’ chime, which was sounding while the roof was up. We also see five previous MoT sheets and a V5C that records just three former keepers. There are two sets of keys and a check online reveals that this SL has covered less than 1000 miles in the past four years; apparently barely used outside of trips to and from the MoT test station.

What sets this apart from just another SL are its highly-desirable options. The Panoramic hard-top roof is a big bonus as are those lovely 18-inch, five-spoke AMG alloy wheels. Added to the standard features of this later SL – chiefly its greatly improved five-speed automatic transmission – you have a nice mix to get the best from the 1990s SL experience. The car’s overall condition seems excellent and the underside strongly suggests that it has spent the majority of its life in a garage. As these deserving Mercedes-Benz models seem to be on a trajectory for greatness, we have little doubt this one will meet, or even exceed, its reserve of £8,000 and £12,000.

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