1992 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

This car is a gorgeous example in show condition. It’s never been painted so what you’re looking at here is a factory original 1992 300 SL. It’s exceptionally clean inside, outside and underneath. On top of this there is a lovely history file which even includes the original bill of sale.

The car has just had a had new radiator and the tyres are fairly new factory spec Dunlops. The spare is unused and a new windscreen was fitted in 2021. With a total mileage of less than 50,000 miles, this SL still drives like a new car.

These early R129 SLs were made to a very high standard and equally well made as the outgoing R107 SL. In addition this one is in a striking colour combination of metallic pearl blue with a mushroom leather interior and an electric navy soft top.

A pre-facelift example, this R129 represents the model’s original iteration in terms of aesthetics, with ‘ginger’ front indicators, three-slot vents behind the front wheels, and non-body-coloured door handles.

The good news is there is no bad news with this stunning car. There are some tiny marks just above the grille on the leading edge of the bonnet, and the Mercedes Benz bonnet emblem (easily replaceable) has lost some of its colour. Other than that, it’s immaculate.

The gaps between the tops of the tyres and the wheel arches are exactly equal and spot on – this car sits absolutely perfectly. The panel gaps, as you would expect of a Mercedes, are tight and even.

The paint, remember, is factory original. And it still shines with a luxurious, deep lustre. All the trim is in perfect order. The hard top is unmarked and the soft top is lovely.

The original wheels are in great shape and were recently fitted with factory spec Dunlop tyres – a sure sign of a car that’s been looked after like a loved family member. And with those proper old high profile tyres fitted, this 1992 car will likely ride better on our pot-holed roads than many modern machines.

The quality of materials and the way they’re assembled places this era of Mercedes SL in class of its own. No other manufacturer managed to quite match the combination of top quality, style, spec and durability, and this example shows just how well that combination can last if looked after – and it surely has been.

You can see that the driver’s seat has been sat in, but there are no scuff marks on the bolsters, as there would likely be on many other cars. The mushroom leather is all in superb condition, and the woodwork shines like new.

All the switch gear looks excellent, with clear white markings – and the owner tells us that absolutely everything electrical works just as it should, including the parking sensors, which are the only deviation from factory spec.

Inside the boot the spare wheel looks unused (because it is) and still has the factory supplied piece of card with fitting instructions in place. There’s also a Mercedes tool roll (again unused) and a box of spare fuses.

The cast iron exhaust manifold has surface rust as a result of the coating suffering from heat damage over the years, but this is purely cosmetic and could easily be rectified with a modern high temperature paint.

Other than that the under bonnet area is a joy to behold, with unmarked plastics and just the odd bit of surface blemishing on some of the cast alloy parts. It really wouldn’t take much to bring the engine bay up to show spec.

This car had a documented instrument binnacle change at 29,000 miles and the old unit (with the original spec mechanical odometer) is boxed and supplied with the car.

The total mileage is hence 46,200, an astonishingly low figure for a car that’s more than 30 years old – fewer than 1500 miles a year on average. And with the build quality of this period of Mercedes, it represents little more than running in mileage. No wonder it runs like an expensive Swiss watch.

This time warp SL comes with a fantastic history file, including the original bill of sale from when the car was brand new. There are also all its old MoTs with no advisories, a pile of old tax discs and a stack of old invoices. It was last serviced just 500 miles ago in 2022. It’s also just had new radiator, and comes with a fully stamped service record. The owner says:

‘I bought the car because it’s one of the best early R129s out there in beautiful, original condition. I am retired now so just don’t have the space that I used to have.

‘The history is not particularly interesting but it’s full, with every old MoT certificate and no advisories, and the original bill of sale plus old invoices. The car has always been garaged and it’s completely original apart from the parking sensors.

‘Whatever has needed to be done has been done to it. The most recent thing is a new radiator, new matching Dunlop tyres as it left the factory, and a new windscreen. It’s also had a ceramic coating applied to the paintwork.

‘It’s show condition inside, outside and underneath. Everything works just as it should, with no exceptions.

‘Its colour scheme and its originality make this a special car. These early R129s were as well made as the last of the R107s and the 103-series engine is probably the best engine Mercedes ever made. It is, of course, the original engine, so it’s a matching numbers car.

‘I would describe this car as a sound investment as it represents great value for money.'

This 300 SL really does represent the end of an era, as the facelifted versions were called SL 320s from 1994 on. Many enthusiasts also think that build quality also declined later in the model’s run. This is the best early example we’ve seen for as long as we can remember, and we feel it would suit a collector, such is its quality.

We estimate this car will reach anywhere between £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.