2001 Mercedes-Benz SL 500

Lots of people take good care of their cars, obviously. 

They keep them garaged, put all the right stamps in the book, and make sure that all and any remedial work is promptly seen to.

And then there’s this car.

If we hadn’t seen the odometer and looked at the history, we’d be inclined to think that it had spent most of its life lying on a chaise longue with its feet up.

It looks as if it’s never been outside.

It is as blissfully untroubled by the ravages of either age or wear as any R129 you might reasonably hope to clap eyes upon.

This is a late model car and comes with the (M113 50) 4,966 cc engine. It is a notably high-spec example, offering upgraded wheels, panoramic hardtop roof, mushroom nappa leather (as opposed to the more usual black or grey) and xenon headlights.

We have driven it and can report that it feels tight, taut and properly screwed together. 

It starts, goes and stops precisely as its assiduous builders intended

and any unwanted creaks, groans, squeaks, rattles and whistles are reassuringly absent.

In the tradition of the best Mercs of this era and before, it has the heft and solidity of something that’s been built to last.

There is plenty of grunt on tap from the 5.0-litre V8. It picks up speed quickly and presses on well for what is, undeniably, a large and weighty vehicle. 

We think we noticed a (barely discernable) tendency for the car to tramline and hunt about a bit on its front tyres at speed. We’re inclined to attribute this to either under inflation or the fact that the tyres, although not overly worn, are not perhaps in the first flush of youth. Or it might just have been the product of an over-active imagination on our part.

It comes to us courtesy of a vendor who is passionate about the marque, is well known to us and who has bought, owned and sold more Mercedes-Benz classics than most of us could hope to shake a stick at over the course of a lengthy lifetime. 

He had known this car for a few years prior to buying it.

The car had two owners prior to the vendor. It is obvious that neither of them cut any corners whatsoever in caring for the car and ensuring that it’s stayed in the condition you see today.

The Brilliant Silver paintwork is in really good condition and the finish has an impressive shine and lustre to it. 

Wherever you rest your gaze you will see unblemished panels with excellent shut-lines and door gaps. 

There are no dinks, dents, ripples, creases or folds of any note, save for a small scuff on the n/s wing mirror.  

Even the entirely standard and virtually ever-present road rash on the front valance and below the sills in barely in evidence.

All the trim, badging, xenon lights and lenses are as they should be. 

The upgraded split-rim wheels are in very good condition overall, with barely a mark to show for their 20 years of close proximity to kerbs and the like.

The panoramic removable hardtop roof is in equally fine nick and retains the functional and aesthetic credentials with which it left the factory (including the rather delicate sun blinds which often don’t survive this long).

The tyres, although not new, have plenty of tread left in them. 

The folding black roof is a little rumpled but is otherwise in first-class condition There are no scuffs or loose stitches anywhere that we can see and the rear windows are clear and undamaged. 

The roof raises and lowers as it should, sealing tightly when it’s up and tucking neatly away under the hard tonneau cover when it isn’t.

The lifting mechanism itself is as clean as any we’ve ever seen, which might seem like an odd thing to remark upon but it’s one that, in our opinion, serves as a good indicator of just how well preserved this example really is.

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where you’ll find everything is in pretty much time-warp condition.

The heated leather seats are comfortable and supportive, with only the lightest creasing visible anywhere. They’re in remarkable nick even for the car’s low mileage, let alone its age. 

The door cards, roof lining (both roofs), dashboard and centre console are all in fine condition.

The carpets and mats look pretty much factory fresh. 

The wood veneer on the centre console hasn’t cracked, faded or otherwise departed from how it would have looked when it rolled off the production line at Bremen.

The gear lever is equally good, as is the wood/leather steering wheel added by the previous owner.

The only sign of wear visible anywhere that we can see is on the driver’s door pull-handle. 

The rear seats, unsurprisingly, look as if they’ve never borne the weight of an adult human. 

The wind deflector looks like it hasn’t been called upon to deflect anything much stronger than a light breeze.

You might think this a little strange, but we were taken by the condition inside the door jambs and hinges. There’s virtually always some sort of rust dust, crud, general grime or unidentifiable unsightliness in there somewhere. 

Not on this car. It’s all squeaky clean.

The boot is as good as the cabin. Lifting the carpets here or anywhere else on this car reveals…no rust that we can see.

As far as we can tell, every knob, toggle, lever, flap, button and switch does what it’s meant to do, including on the A/C.

The undersides of this vehicle give no cause for alarm or inducement to raise an eyebrow. 

Quite the opposite. 

The wonder is how on earth they’ve stayed looking so good over the years.

Everything appears to be as solid and sound as it should be. 

Again, there is no proper rust to speak of anywhere, just the standard superficial bloom of rust dust here and there. 

The engine bay is similarly devoid of anything to worry about. 

The only thing we noticed there is that the sound proofing is a bit ragged and patchy in places.

Not exactly a deal breaker, in our humble opinion.

It’s evident from looking at and driving this car that it’s been well looked after and maintained by people with very high standards.

The car’s comprehensive and complete service history backs up this impression. The documents we have with us are duplicates.

Hughes of Beaconsfield – 14,675 miles - 11.3.02

MB Milton Keynes – 24,802 miles - 11.5.04

MB Milton Keynes – 33,655 miles - 15.12.06

MB Aylesbury – 39,995 miles - 12.5.10

MB Portsmouth – 45,713 miles - 18.6.12

Prestige Car Service – 50,569 miles - 4.11.13

Charles Ironside MB – 52,920 miles - 6.10.15

Pentangle MB – 54,845 miles - 12.7.18

Charles Ironside MB – 57,546 miles - 21.10.21

The car comes with 3 sets of keys, various handbooks and manuals, a clear RAC history check and a few bills, invoices and receipts. 

It currently has an MoT certificate, with no advisories, valid until 11.10.21. 

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

It’s difficult to know how this car could have survived its life journey from 2001 to the present day with more integrity.

Aesthetically, mechanically, structurally and functionally, it’s all in excellent condition.

These cars were solid and trustworthy to start with. 

One that’s been pampered and cossetted as thoroughly as this one should give you plenty of peace of mind and the knowledge that what you’ve just bought yourself is an appreciating classic with a fabulous pedigree and plenty of driver appeal.

We like it a great deal.

We have the confidence to offer this exceptional car for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, 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’.