1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL

We are pleased to be offering for sale a 1987 560SL, supplied to its original owner in California in September of that year.

The car remained Stateside until 2015, when it left Los Angeles and was imported into Belgium.

Our seller bought the car from a local classic car dealer in October 2018 and since then has used the car extensively. Amongst the many highlights was a 2,000km round trip to visit friends near Cannes. What a prefect car for a long road trip to the Cote d’Azur.

After enjoying the car and covering over 20,000kms in it, advancing years and being told by his wife to slow down, our seller has decided that he now needs to live life in the slow lane.

During our seller’s ownership, he has lavished attention on the SL, making some sensible upgrades and ensuring that mechanically all is well.

Cars emanating from dry American states are usually well preserved and this 560SL is no exception. The Navy-Blue paintwork still has a deep lustre to it, and we suspect it will have been garaged for most of its life. Anyone who could afford the $55,300 list price in 1987, would likely have shelter for their prized cars.

Being a US-spec car, larger bumpers are fitted front and rear and whilst they do little to improve the cars aesthetics, they had a job to do. And that they have done as there are some marks on the rubber but none on the metal from close contact with immovable objects.

Another US edition is the high-level stop light, mounted on the boot lid, not the most elegant solution.

There are a few marks on the paint we should point out, such as the chipped paint on the offside rear wing where it adjoins the boot lid. You will also notice some damage to the paint in front of the lid, doubtless from when the hard top was being fitted. There are also some stone chips on the bonnet.

The original alloy wheels were somewhat tired, so our seller chose to replace them with a new set of 15-inch ‘Baroque’ Mercedes wheels. Each is shod with a premium Michelin tyre, all with plenty of tread. They have covered around 10,000kms only. As we always like to point out, care taken with tyre choice and maintenance is generally a good indication of careful and considered classic car ownership.

The SL comes with its factory hardtop which does have some marks on it.

With the top removed, there is a smart navy soft top which folds neatly away into its own storage compartment for when alfresco travelling is the order of the day. It looks a little creased, no doubt from being folded away for long periods of time when the hard top was fitted. The plastic rear window is also a tad creased and it does have some marks.

We would ask you to inspect the panel gaps and shut lines on the SL. Many modern manufacturers would be pleased to be able to emulate them today, but 35 years on and still looking good is deeply impressive.

The leather seats look in remarkably good condition with very little wear and tear. They have been recovered in soft grey/blue leather. There is some light creasing, and the blue piping has lost some of its colour on the driver’s seat. They are very comfortable.

The car doesn’t boast the rear seats, fitted to some cars. They won’t be missed as they were only really suitable for small children. Instead, the area provides additional luggage space.

Lovely clear instrumentation is a joy to behold, with gauges for fuel level, oil pressure and coolant temperature.

The wood veneer on the dash looks fine, the car no doubt always being garaged when not in use and kept out of bright sunshine.

There is a modern Pioneer CD stereo fitted with a large pop out screen. It boasts a DAB-FM Radio with a phone connection, GPS navigation and rear-view camera. It may not be to everyone’s taste but can easily be swapped for something more of the period, but surely the modern technology is a boon?

The driving position is excellent, the view down the bonnet imperious. Fire up the V8, slip the gear lever into drive and waft down the road.

Our seller has fitted a lovely wooden Moto Lita steering wheel, a delight to hold, though the original item is included in the sale.

The headlining on the hard top looks to be in good condition, but we do note the underside of the soft top looks somewhat tired and grubby, with a little fraying at the bottom.

Carpets are a little aged, but a good steam clean on a Sunday morning may help to rejuvenate them. Lift them up, and the rubber beneath is in fine condition.

The boot is a good size on the SL, ideal for shopping trips and weekends away. There are some marks here and there, and the carpet is worn in places, not unexpected after all these years of luggage sloshing around. There is a proper full-sized alloy spare wheel too fitted with a Pirelli tyre. It is original to the car, and we are told it has never been used.

The SL has also been fitted with a mesh windbreak, removable if not required. With the roof down, this item stops buffeting in the cabin quite effectively, ensuring driver and passenger arrive at journey’s end unruffled and relaxed.

You can always tell a car that has spent the majority of its life in a dry country. Other than road dirt and the merest hint of a little surface corrosion, the underside of this SL is in really great shape. Take a look at the pictures for confirmation.

We would be tempted to apply a protective coating to the sills, having given this area a good clean first. After all, prevention is better than cure.

Lift that sculptured bonnet at that powerful and refined V8 is revealed in all its glory. It all looks very presentable, a good sign that careful maintenance has been the order of the day.

We cannot tell you a great deal about the SL’s American life. The original service book is with the car and does have some dealer stamps from the car’s early days. The owner’s manual is present and correct too.

Of much more interest is the work carried out by our seller over the last few years. The extensive list includes:

· Brakes – complete overhaul with new front discs and pads, as well as new flexible brake lines.

· Steering – replacement of the flexible lines.

· New CV joints to the rear.

· Electrical system – complete overhaul with new distributor, cables, spark plug leads etc.

· Fuel system – an overhaul with a system clean and new fuel pump. The car has a catalytic converter so can run on Euro 95 fuel.

· New ignition lock.

· New rear exhaust pipe.

· New seals all over for both hard and soft tops.

· All fluids replaced – engine, steering, automatic gearbox, rear axle.

· New filters.

There are invoices in our picture section for the work carried out.

The car also comes with an official Belgian ‘Certificate de Controle Technique’ which is valid until 11th January 2024. This is a roadworthiness certificate which proves the car has been tested and that all is well from a technical point of view.

We are big fans of the R107 generation SL. Although most definitely a classic car in terms of age, they drive so well as to be most suitable for everyday driving. Comfortable, refined, and oozing class. Our seller reports that this example runs well, changes gear smoothly and is really rather quick!

Presented in an appealing colour combination and bar a few very minor cosmetic issues, the 560SL looks set fair to bring its lucky new owner an immense amount of pleasure. It could be you, so all that remains is to get bidding right away.

We estimate the car will sell for between €23,000 - €33,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. The car is located in Brussels, Belgium. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. You won’t be disappointed!

Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions'