1997 Mercedes-Benz SL 280

This post-facelift SL 280 is a stunning example. It’s the kind of car that gets showered with clichés: ‘powder puff’, ‘time warp’, ‘genuine survivor’, and for once they’re all justified.

It was kept and sparingly used by its first owner from 1997 to 2012 by which time it had covered 10,836 miles. The second owner, a member of the same family, added 300 miles in the two years he had it, then it passed through a couple of other caring pairs of hands before meeting its current owner two years ago. The vendor loves a wide variety of classic cars and changes his collection fairly regularly - it’s now the turn of this example to find a new home.

It’s showing just 14,620 miles and comes with an immaculate original hard top and all the books and printed history. It presents in mint condition; with the exception of tiny cosmetic blemishes the vendor has pointed out, it has no faults. All electronic, hydraulic and mechanical functions work perfectly, including the roof mechanism.

It’s almost certainly been garaged by every owner, and over the last two years that garage has been heated and dehumidified. There isn’t much more to say - it’s MoT’d until late March 2022 and it has to be amongst the best R129s for sale anywhere.

The colour is Metallic Ruby Red and suits this era of Mercedes production very well - the W124 CE coupés and convertibles look good in it, too. The facelift features of body-coloured bumpers, sleeker lamps and more rounded air-vents help to give the shape that timeless appeal that’s characteristic of SLs, especially with the hood down.

Needless to say, the paint is the factory finish and looks wonderful. The vendor provided us with a list of minor marks, which we’ll include for the sake of full disclosure as they are difficult to see: ‘very small stone chip in offside rear quarter, very small blemish on offside rear quarter of hardtop, very small blemish on the bottom corner of driver’s door, small scratch on front right corner of hardtop, small scratch in the middle of the bonnet. The front end has only two or three very small stone-chips.’

There speaks a past concours competitor - for the rest of us, it’s just in lovely condition. The polished wheels may have been reconditioned or they may just be incredibly clean and undamaged; it’s hard to be sure. They’re currently shod with Michelin Primacy HP radials in 225/55 16.

All the glass is in excellent condition and the windscreen is not showing the milky delamination seen on many 1990s Mercedes. Badges, grille, door mirrors and number plates are perfect.

The black soft top roof is not torn or damaged anywhere and the cream lining is unmarked. Everything operates smoothly both up and down, releasing the clasps on the windscreen rail with a sudden noise that can be alarming but is normal for these cars. The same goes for releasing the hard top.

That, by the way, rides on its correct storage trolley and includes a fitted cover. It’s a significant piece of kit because it changes the car from a roadster into a genuine fixed-head coupé, and if you were rash enough to use this beautiful example through wintertime, it would keep you as warm and dry - and as free of wind noise - as a saloon. A previous owner has created small rectangular magnetic pads to protect the edges of the holes into which the hard-top fixings go; another sign of the level of care this car has enjoyed.

The mushroom leather is lightly creased by age but there’s nothing approaching wear or damage. The same goes for the carpet, which is protected by a good set of over mats. There are also MB colour-coordinated over carpets. The sometimes vulnerable dash plastics and controls are also spotless: no cracks or scratches, everything works, including the climate control. The chocolate coloured slab of dash top is perhaps in the taste of a different era, but that’s part of the appeal. The rear view mirror has a small crack in its casing, but this doesn’t effect adjustment or visibility.

In the boot is a six-CD changer that swings out from behind the left wheelarch to present itself, then retracts again when full of Mozart or whatever you choose to feed it. Also in there is the factory wind deflector, secured along one edge by erecting the emergency rollover bar using the rocker switch on the dash.

The straight six huffs into life as soon as you turn the key, running on the automatic choke for a short while until revs drop to a normal idle. The vendor likes to allow this initial warm-up to take place before engaging gear. The autobox hangs on to first and second a little longer for the first minute or two as the gearbox fluid warms and circulates. So far, so Mercedes.

It’s not lightning fast off the mark but once past 3000rpm the 2.8-litre six comes on cam and the car picks up its skirts. Differences between the 280 and the larger V8 engined models are more apparent at the pump than they are on the road, and anyway, neither is a road-burning sports car. These are proper, long-distance grand tourers, though this one tops out beyond 140mph…it ain’t slow!

Underneath the car could be a year old, and even that must have been an easy year. When the vendor bought it, he drove it home via a friendly Mercedes SL specialist who examined it on a ramp and found even the original rubber suspension bushes to be un-perished. No rust, no flaking underseal, no leaks - it’s as dry and smart as you could wish. The same goes for the engine bay, which if anything is even more impressive. No road dirt or grime worth mentioning and a strong sense of what a six-month old example must have been like when returning for its first service.

The owner’s manual service booklet and instructions for the radio, security and Brake Assist functions are all still in the leather wallet pack. There’s also an interesting international registration certificate issued in Germany that allowed the first owner to collect the car from the factory in Stuttgart in April 1997.

Many receipts and hand-written notes accompany the stamped history, plus of course the V5C and a record of old MoT certificates that confirm the regular but extremely sparing use. Most recently, the vendor has had service work and minor improvements carried out by Silchester Garage, one of the leading names in the country for the Mercedes SL.

They say that anyone can make a car last indefinitely - all you have to do is keep it clean, keep it garaged, keep it serviced and keep it in use. But it’s very rare that you find a car that has enjoyed exactly that regime.

We think this car will sell for between £21,000 and £29,000. As with any mint-condition, low-miles modern classic there is a choice between treating it as a new car and enjoying it to the full, or locking it away as an investment.

We reckon that’s a false choice: even with twice the current mileage, this one would still be exceptional. That allows the next owner to have their cake and eat it…or rather drive it. Just make sure you’ve got a nice dry garage to bring it home to.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us in 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’.