1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

In the care of the vendor for the past 20 years, this means that this Mercedes-Benz 300SL has been treasured and pampered by the same chap for the past two decades.

First registered in January 1989 and finished in Arctic White and black leather, it sports both a refurbished black fabric hood and a matching Alpine White hard-top and stand.

Only having covered 81,880 miles from new, it has an extensive history file and has, we are told, “wanted for nothing throughout its life.” Capable of lengthy journeys when required – it’s been to Le Mans more than once - it has been kept garaged when not in use, and that use has only been in dry weather whenever possible.

Now being very reluctantly offered for sale, if the past is any guide then this is a nigh-on textbook example of the sort of R107 that should do well as an investment in the medium- to long-term - after providing a huge amount of fun in the meantime, obviously!

The vendor is honest enough to tell us that the car was given a professional lower half re-spray when it was bought from Paton’s Mercedes dealership 20 years ago. The work was so well done that it is almost impossible to detect and we doubt anyone would have noticed had he not mentioned it.

This means that other than the usual minor stonechips and marks the Mercedes has very good paintwork. Brilliant shutlines too, something the vendor attributes to what he believes is an accident-free history. It also sits four-square and everything from the exhaust to the trim pieces, lines up beautifully.

It is fitted with excellent ‘flat-face’ alloy wheels, which are free of scuffs, scrapes and damage. The boot contains a full-sized spare fitted with a Michelin MXV tyre. The 300SL comes with another, which could be used as a second spare (this wheel has lived in the garage, we understand, and never been fitted). The matching Dunlop Sport tyres are all good with approximately half of their tread remaining.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There is a very nice set of four mudflaps fitted too, plus headlamps wipers and the front foglamps without which no R107 looks complete. The chromework is generally good; however, the chrome strip on the boot lip is showing slight signs of blistering.

As for the roofs, as you can see in the photos, the soft-top is very good indeed, fitting tautly and raising and lowering easily. It was fitted with replacement plexiglass about five years ago and the work was done properly, utilizing the proper windows, as confirmed by the holograms you can see on them.

The hard-top is similarly good, with excellent paint and a very good headlining. There is also a stand to keep it safely stored when it isn’t being used.

The black leather seats are in lovely condition, and are said to still be the originals. Only lightly creased, they are as firm and springy as they should be and are very comfortable and supportive. There are no rear seats, the space where they might live being taken up by what is, frankly, a much more useful carpeted luggage area.

The rest of the carpets, which are protected by overmats, are also in a really nice condition, as are the door cards, dashboard, and wooden trim. Few cars weather the decades as well as an R107, but this one is very nicely presented nonetheless.

The hardtop’s headlining is good too, and everything we have tried such as the electric windows, fan and heating system, switch gear, and interior lighting all work as they should.

The SL also has the very useful optional draught deflector for ruffle-free motoring when the hood is down.

A very nice Blaupunkt Lausanne CD31 4x40 watt radio/CD player sits in the dashboard. The boot has good carpets and trim, along with a complete toolkit. The first aid kit remains unopened.

Only lightly patinated and wearing its years lightly, we can’t see anything in there that would bother us in the slightest.

The straight-six engine starts and runs beautifully and pulls well. It is also free of smoke but then these are uncommonly well engineered, being reliable and strong if they’re maintained as they should be.

And this one has been very well looked after: Just take a look at the list of service stamps and invoices it has accrued over the years:

• 18.12.1988 – pre-delivery inspection by Malaya Garage

• 08.08.1989 and 2,585 miles – service by Rivervale of Reading Ltd

• 20.12.1989 and 7,844 miles – service by Rivervale of Reading Ltd

• 05.07.1990 and 15,877 miles – service by Rivervale of Reading Ltd

• 10.01.1991 and 23,617 miles – service by Rivervale of Reading Ltd

• 15.05.1991 and 28,725 miles – service by Ensor

• 30.11.1992 and 40,023 miles – service by Tony Hilton

• 04.01.1994 and 43,392 miles – service by Patons of Carlisle

• 17.08.1995 and 47,641 miles – service by Patons of Carlisle

• 11.05.1998 and 54,188 miles – service by Patons of Carlisle

• 14.09.1999 and 59,266 miles – service by Patons of Carlisle

• 24.06.2005 and 65,775 miles – service by AutoTech

• 11.05.2006 and 65,954 miles – service by AutoTech

• 05.04.2007 and 66,333 miles – service by AutoTech

• 07.04.2008 and 66,795 miles – service by AutoTech

• 17.04.2009 and 67,357 miles – service by AutoTech

• 26.03.2010 and 68,532 miles – service by AutoTech

• 06.05.2011 and 70,502 miles – service by AutoTech

• 03.05.2012 and 70,608 miles – service by AutoTech

• 02.05.2013 and 71,943 miles – service by AutoTech

• 16.05.2016 and 74,694 miles – service by AutoTech

• 14.05.2016 and 76,852 miles – service by AutoTech

• 16.06.2016 and 76,885 miles – new camshaft and waterpump seals by AutoTech

• 25.05.2017 and 79,471 miles – service by AutoTech

• 07.06.2018 and 79,613 miles – service and fresh gearbox oil and filter by AutoTech

• 16.07.2019 and 81,562 miles – service by AutoTech

As you’ve expect given the pampering it has had, the automatic transmission is said to be “tight and smooth in operation with no unwelcome noises”. The brakes and steering are also working well and the car drives very well.

The chassis and underfloor are sound and in great condition, and the engine bay is neat and clean without being obsessively so.

The SL’s MOT certificate, which is valid until November 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s actually done a dozen times since the online record began.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, fully stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys.

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

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The R107 Mercedes-Benz SL is a staple of the classic car world for many reasons, not least because of its legendary durability and reliability. It’s also relatively cheap and easy to service and maintain - and the fact that it is so effortless elegant doesn’t harm its cause any.

But, while they will soldier on with only minimal servicing, good ones are getting harder and harder to find, something we attribute to the fact that while we love ‘em, the market has yet to put them where we think they’ll eventually sit in terms of value, which means some folk are reluctant to spend the appropriate amount of money to keep them looking good and running properly.

However, this dilemma also means that even when you do find a good one, one that has been pampered and looked after as well as they deserve to be, it probably isn’t going to cost you a fortune. Yet.

This one, for example, will probably only fetch somewhere between £23,000 and £28,000, which is a pitifully small sum to pay for such a beautifully engineered and maintained car – and one that has, you will recall, been in the same hands for 20 years.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.