1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

“I bought the car from The SL Shop in 2011, where it had undergone a thorough health check,” says vendor David Drury. “It had a few owners in the previous 24 years or so of its life, before it was sold to the specialist. It has been used regularly, but not intensively, while I’ve had it – doing about 5000 miles a year on average.”

The included V5 document shows a total of nine owners since the SL’s first registration on the 10th of April 1987, but it’s the huge service record (please see our Photo Gallery and History Highlights sections, below) that show the care and attention that each has bestowed on this example.

Like many classic cars it was off the road and stored in a garage during most of the 2020/21 lockdowns, before David returned it once again to the road. “We now have limited garage space and more cars than we need, so it’s time for the SL to go to a new owner.”

Having covered a healthy annual mileage over each of the last ten years, this regularly driven car should provide its next owner with an R107 in thoroughly fine driving fettle.

“The paintwork was treated with Feynlab ceramic coating in 2020 and the soft top was also treated at the same time, for a combined cost of £500,” says David. Here is what the company posted on facebook at the time: https://www.facebook.com/crystalclearautodetailing0/posts/2736688233273355.

The bodywork is in great external condition and is lovely and shiny when polished up, as here. “The chrome-work is all in good condition with no splits or bubbles. The soft top is also in excellent condition, and the car comes with the original hardtop and a stand and cover for it.”

Shut-lines retain their Teutonic perfection. Cosmetically, David is right it does look pretty smart, but up close there are a few areas displaying a bit of surface rust. There is a touch of bubbling on the nearside rear wheelarch, just ahead of the wheel, a bit of rust at its top and some light surface corrosion on the rear of the front wheelarch on the same side; on the offside, you’ll also find some bubbling – although, to a lesser degree – and the bottom of the B-pillar where it meets the sill is little bit crusty.

Of course, it’s always good to have the hardtop option and the ability to change an R107 into a Coupe for the winter. The alloy wheels are good, with just a touch of bubbling of the surface finish here and there. Tyres look to have plenty of tread remaining.

The softtop is in excellent nick, with few signs of wear. Light lenses are fairly nice and clear; the front nearside spot light’s electrical feed cable has come a touch loose.

The SL’s interior is generally in a good condition; the wood veneer is crack free and leather is in decent nick, with just the odd blemish that includes a rip on the driver’s seat bolster and small area of missing material on the passenger seat base. One or two of the door rubbers would also benefit from replacement.

Carpets are good, as is the soft-top headlining while the hardtop’s is immaculate. The power hood works exactly as it should, as do the majority of the other electrics. David though is thoroughly honest in his assessment of the car: “I’m aware of the following faults: the dashboard clock doesn’t work; the central locking only works on the driver’s side; and there’s a small leak in the seal between the hard/soft top and the head rail above the windscreen, which can result in water coming in if the car is driven in heavy rain – although I have found that putting a bead of grease/Vaseline along it before securing the top fixes it.”

A previous owner fitted an alarm but David has never used it and isn’t sure if it’s serviceable.

“The car is in excellent mechanical order, has been regularly serviced and has recently had a full service,” says David. “It starts perfectly and runs very smoothly; the steering is a lot tighter than some old SLs and it is an absolute pleasure to drive”.

We can confirm that this is indeed a nice driving example; it’s benefitted from regular exertions under David’s steam and is definitely one to be driven and enjoyed.

“Some underbody corrosion was repaired in 2019 following an MOT inspection,” he says. A quick look underneath shows a generally solid picture, although there are one or two spots that may require a bit of TLC over the next few years.

Under the bonnet the 3-litre V8 inhabits a very clean and nice looking engine bay. It’s clearly received regular attention and is perhaps this particular car’s biggest selling point.

You’ll find an RAC Vehicle History Check, a number of expired MOT test certificates, some Refusal of MOT Test Certificate forms (along with identified defects and advisories), the original Owner’s handbooks (in their original wallet) and a variety of invoices.

Of the latter, the most recent include: one for £1042 from Automec of Swansea (29/01/20) for a service, brake check, repair and repaint of the O/S/R and N/S/R wings and under floor de-rust and underseal, among other works; another for circa £600, also from Automec (30/09/21) for a thorough service and new distributor.

The strongest element of this car’s history is the service book, which has a simply huge number of service stamps contained within it.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has maintained to a good standard.

The R107 has been on its uppers for a number of years now and the top examples go for a pretty penny at specialists such as The SL Shop. Indeed, we’ve sold a wide number over the last few years ranging from prices just over £10k through on up to over £30k.

This particular example is a good quality car. It’s covered a fair amount of miles but the history file shows that it’s been lavished with care in doing so. Vendor David has used the car regularly, so it should provide the next owner with a very nice driving example.

We think it’ll sell for somewhere between £12,000 and £22,000. That’s quite a big range, but even at the top end it leaves fiscal room to deal with the car’s light cosmetic issues.

It’s definitely an example that can be used and enjoyed while being tidied up as and when necessary.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.