1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL

This 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL is a post-update, V8-powered example, that’s been treated to not just careful ownership but also thorough restoration and repaint, with some new parts fitted including a radiator, tyres, etc. This means that the new owner will be able to enjoy a freshly rejuvenated classic. It also has its Mercedes-Benz service book fully stamped. The car has had seven former keepers (excluding the vendor) and has 96,900 miles on the clock.

The vendor, who’s owned the car for four and a half years, says that it’s now in superb condition, and during his ownership, it has always been parked under a cover in dry storage. He has spent £12,000+ to bring it to the remarkable condition it’s in, and it comes with the original Mercedes-Benz toolkit and the original Mercedes-Benz owner’s manual. It has a clear MoT certificate, valid till January next year.

The Mercedes-Benz R107 is certainly not the conventionally pretty looking kind, especially when compared to the W113 Pagoda SL which came before it. But despite that, and even with fairly big shoes to fill, the R107 stands tall. It did so when new, and it continues to do that now. Keep in mind that the car was in production for nearly two decades, and it never got to the point that the R107 seemed boring. For the final run (1986-1989), the visual changes on the car included new 15-inch wheels, a new front air dam, among other things. The good bits, like the ribbed tail lights, remained unchanged.

The stunning condition is because of a complete body restoration during the vendor’s ownership. Not only was the car repainted in its original-spec Signal Red, but it also got a few new parts like the windscreen, offside front wing, rear lower valance panels, rear bumper, windscreen, headlight glass, body mouldings and trims, etc. The wheels were also refurbed. All of this did mean the vendor paid a lot, but one look at the photos and you’d realise that the effort gone into the car’s restoration was worth it.

While the paintwork and bodywork both are understandably clean and age-free, there are only a handful of minute marks: a scuff mark on the front bumper, and two cuts on the hood. The factory hardtop is present too and looks to be in equally good nick as the rest of the car.

On the whole, the R107 is roomier than before, even without the roof up. The quality is the typical Mercedes-Benz affair, and so is the dashboard design. The large, supportive seats up front fold frontwards to allow those willing to give up on the luxuries of the front chairs to clamber into the rear bench. This example was specced with Grey/Black Sportscheck trim, rear seat with optional seat belts, heated wing mirror (driver), graduated tinted windscreen, electric windows, etc., mentions the vendor. It also has a JVC CD radio, and the door speakers and the electric aerial have been replaced, too.

Like the exterior, the interior too has had some work done. From the looks of it, the car has managed to not let age (it’s more than three decades old) affect its interior much, although that’s not to say you can’t figure out that it’s not driven out of the dealership yesterday. The driver seat’s base was re-trimmed in original Mercedes-Benz material during the car’s recent restoration, mentions the vendor. The carpet and door cards (matched with the seat material) look decent, but the wood veneer on the centre console, although not damaged, is far from mint. Headlining on the hood looks all right, and the boot, although fairly clean at the surface, has some signs of rust underneath.

As part of the final update the R107 got, the car was bestowed with improved suspension, brakes, etc. The M116 V8 engine for this model wasn’t just enlarged to displace 4.2 litres but now came equipped with Bosch electronic fuel injection system. The result was a Mercedes-Benz grand tourer that could travel well in style irrespective of where it was: be it pootling in the city or doing motorway speeds. There was 215 bhp to play around with, and it was claimed to have a sub-10-second time to 62 mph.

Apart from the aforementioned, the recent restoration included refurbishment of the bulkhead. The car also got a new radiator, thermostat, hoses and air pipes, exhaust downpipes (original Mercedes-Benz items), new power steering box, new seals, new Continental tyres (all five), etc. The vendor says that it ‘drives perfectly with smooth gear changes’. Talking about the driving experience, he further adds that the SL is ‘more of a grand tourer than sports car. It is very easy to drive, very comfortable, smooth and wafts along with a good turn of speed’. He concludes it with a bit of reassurance for those looking at using the R107 regularly by adding, ‘it is also surprisingly economical for a V8 if driven gently’.

Underneath, it is fairly clean, but there’s just some hint of surface rust if you looked closely. Its cleared MoT certificate (without any advisories) ensures that there’s nothing to worry about. The vendor says that since the car was serviced last in 2018 and hasn’t been driven much since then, it might require a minor service before it’s put to regular use, but otherwise, it’s ‘now in superb condition’.

Mercedes-Benz only made a little over 2000 units of the ’86-’89 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL. That means it’s not just possibly one of the best R107 SLs ever made but a relatively rare one too. According to the accompanying paperwork, its previous keeper and the current one have got a fair bit done to the car, to bring it to its near-perfect shape.

Its eight keepers (including the vendor) have over the last 3+ decades driven it for 97,000 miles. Looking at the records, in the last 15 years, it’s done about 30,000 miles and only about 2,000 miles in the last five years. The MoT record is a mixed bag, but there hasn’t been a serious reason for MoT failure/advisory in the past. The current MoT certificate is valid till January 7, 2022.

It’s no secret that the R107 SLs made between 1986 and 1989 are considered to be the finest. This 1987 example isn’t just a good spec (4.2-litre V8 with 4-speed AT, Signal Red, Sports Check interior), it’s also in great shape. Thorough restoration work has been done, rust has been treated in the past, and it’s had various components replaced. All this means that the new owner won’t have to worry about any of that now. Since the vendor has already spent a fair bit (£12,000+) in overall restoration and part replacement, at £27,000 - £33,000, this ’87 420 SL looks like a lot of car for that money.

And it won’t just be a car that you’ll only use occasionally. It’s a reliable car, the R107, and a well-kept example (like this one) can be used pretty much daily. The V8 engine has more than enough poke for most things modern everyday driving can throw at it, the overall drivability of the car is impressive, too, and then there’s the ease of driving that the automatic gearbox offers. The interior has enough space for two adults and their weekend luggage, which makes it a solid contender as a weekend car, too. Given how svelte it looks, from parked on the poshest drives to being driven in the picturesque Highlands, it won’t look out of place anywhere. No wonder it’s considered to be one of the best Mercs…

Viewing is always encouraged, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and 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’.