1993 Mercedes-Benz SL 600

The long-term owner of this car, who is known to some members of the team here at HQ from the years he spent living in a nearby village, bought this car in 1995 when it just two years old.

The car is now being sold by his son, through a good friend of his who is in the motor trade.

Today, the car has 128,117 miles on the clock, which averages out just over 4,000 miles per year.

The car’s mileage was recorded as being 114,118 in 2011 so, as you can no doubt deduce, it’s been living a pretty quiet life for at least the last decade or so.

That sedentary existence is evident in the car’s presentation and, to some extent, in the way it drives.

It starts, goes and stops pretty much as you would hope, but it feels as if it needs some gentle recommissioning, some attention to a few cosmetic issues, and one or two small gremlins dealt with.

The most obvious current gremlin is lurking somewhere in the car’s alarm system, which has become rather idiosyncratic and erratic.

For reasons best-known to itself, the car has decided to fire up the sirens if you so much as look at it in the wrong way.

We don’t imagine that this will prove to be a tough problem to solve.

All in all, this car seems to us to be a solid (and mercifully rot-free, from what we can see) example of what was a truly ground-breaking technological marvel when it was introduced to the world some 32 years ago.

In general, the bodywork has endured the passage of time with commendable stoicism and there are no dinks, dents or creases of any real consequence anywhere.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are as crisp and consistent as you’d hope and want, and the doors close with all the weight and authority you’d rightly expect to find in the best Bremen boulevard bruisers of this vintage.

But it’s not perfect.

There are a couple of shallow (and barely perceptible) indentations on the bonnet of the kind that often point the finger of blame at some passer-by who’s used it as a temporary seat.

There are also some cracks along the rear valance and to the o/s/f indicator lens.

Some rust is just starting to make itself known on the bottom, offside edge of the bonnet.

Elsewhere, there are various scuffs and scrapes on the bumpers, a variety of paint chips and scratches on other panels and, on the hard-top and bonnet in particular, a few patches of flat and/or discoloured paint here and there.

The wheels would certainly thank their next owner for a professional refurbishment.

The rubber shroud at the base of the aerial is cracked and some pieces are missing.

Much of what we’ve described could be hugely improved, if not fully rectified, by a decent machine polish and the judicious application of some elbow grease.

In general, the interior has help up pretty well.

Aside from some wear to the outer bolster on the driver’s seat back-rest, the beige leather upholstery is looking good for its age and the car’s mileage.

The seats are comfortable and supportive and those in the rear, perhaps not surprisingly given that they’re only of use to the very small, the very young or the very flexible, are in good order.

The door cards are intact and undamaged, as far as we can see.

Even the carpets and mats look pretty decent.

The same can’t be said for the hard-top headlining, which is hanging down at one end. There’s also some detached rubber trim around the base of the hard-top.

The soft-top is a little creased and there’s the odd nick to the fabric here and there, but it should be both amenable and responsive to some TLC.

The wood veneers on the centre console and door card inserts look to have largely resisted the usual temptation shown by items of this age to crack or shed their lacquer.

The car’s dials, instruments, switches and controls all look fine to us, as do the dashboard, steering wheel and gear selector.

We know from more recent invoices that the car had a new nearside window motor fitted in November 2023 and that in May of the same year over £1,500 was spent on a service and having the engine wiring loom rebuilt.

The very full engine bay is dry, tidy and everything looks to be in its right and proper place.

The car’s undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and nothing we’ve seen has prompted a tut or a raised eyebrow from us.

This car has evidently been cared-for and curated by people who had the inclination, time and money to do it properly.

The service book is bristling with main dealer and specialist stamps up to 2016, and there is a fat wad of bills, invoices and receipts for routine maintenance and repairs carried out since then.

The car’s MoT certificate is valid until 10.6.25.

The car comes with full sets of keys and a collection of original manuals, handbooks and guides.

When new this powerful, exclusive luxury car would have cost the same as a Bentley Turbo R and would have been a very rare sight on UK roads.

Today, you’ll be waiting an inordinately long time before you see another one on a stretch of tarmac anywhere near you.

Yes, there are some jobs to be done to get this example into the best possible version of itself, but we think the underlying quality, pedigree and scarcity of this exalted model should make the time and effort required more than worthwhile.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.