1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 600

This is a remarkable car in a number of ways. For any 1994 car to have covered a mere 7,928 miles from new in the hands of a single owner is newsworthy enough. Add in the fact that this is a range topping V12 Mercedes Benz SL model that would have cost close to £100,000 when new (roughly equivalent to £221,000 today) and it soon becomes clear that this is a rare and fascinating example indeed.

The car was supplied new in May 1994 via Carrs of Exeter (now Mercedes- Benz of Exeter) to the vendor’s late husband, the first and only keeper who immediately registered the Mercedes with his personal registration number T 67. Following his passing, T 67 was removed in July of this year and the V5C updated with the registration number L844 YCV and transferred into his wife’s name.

Without being able to speak to this car’s single owner, much here is suggestive of his character and personality. Firstly, he was clearly a keen car enthusiast with impeccable taste having chosen such a distinguished and accomplished car as the SL600 in the first place. The condition and mileage of the car suggests fastidious and sympathetic ownership of the highest order. The presence of a hand-written logbook, akin to that of a pilot, and the extensive maintenance record only act to reinforce those assumptions. Lastly, the presence of an Institute of Advanced Motorists grill badge suggests a keen, diligent, and skilful driver. Surely the ideal custodian of one of Sacco’s finest.

The SL600 looks both fetching and period correct in equal measure in its bright Malachite Metallic green livery. Its protective panels along its flanks and over its bumpers, the so called “Sacco” panels after our friend Bruno, are finished in a mildly contrasting shade of metallic green. The overall effect is pleasing and eye-catching.

The design of the R129 was quite a departure from the somewhat conservative R107 and instantly cut a modern and contemporary dash in comparison. Much of this was down the almost complete absence of brightwork with only the grill providing a modicum of chrome. On our example the grill is adorned with four classic motoring badges. The AA, RAC and IoAM articles are joined by a fourth by famed emblem makers, JR Gaunt of London.

Being from 1994 this SL dates from a period when huge wheels were yet to be commonplace. As a result, the SL sits on its modest but seemingly original 8-hole, 16-inch alloy wheels. These appear to be in fine fettle all round and are quite possibly untouched given the incredibly low mileage and careful use this car has enjoyed.

Much like 21-inch rims, multi part, origami-esque, folding metal roofs weren’t yet de rigueur in 1994. Consequently, our SL features a robustly engineered removeable hard top which anchors firmly and securely atop the car once the fabric hood is safely stowed under the electrically operated hard tonneau. The paint finish on the hard top appears to be as equally well presented as the rest of the car. The folding fabric hood looks to be in great overall condition and there is no apparent cracking or fogging to the rear windows.

As 6-litre, V12 sports cars go, the SL600 is a discreet and subtle car. There is little here that shouts about the car’s impressive specification and top-of-the-range status. The small “gills” behind the front wheels and accompanying, chrome “V12” badging is about as shouty as it gets. Even the rear of the car is de-badged although the original SL600 badging is stashed away in the boot should the new owner want to be a little more overt.

The interior of the SL600 is an object lesson in premium sports car cabins with few equals. The SL’s of this period were impeccably screwed together, exhibiting military grades of fit and finish. Sitting at the pinnacle of the SL range the 600 was impressively equipped too, with much of the lesser models’ options coming as standard.

In this context our SL600 doesn’t disappoint one bit. The seats are finished in perforated leather in a Parchment shade. Both front seats are electrically adjustable, heated and featuring multi-staged lumber deployment and positioning. There are three setting memory functions for both seats too, a rare refinement for the period. The token rear seats are trimmed in matching leather and fold forward to provide additional and carpeted storage for bags and paraphernalia.

The cream-coloured carpets seem to have been protected by Mercedes Benz carpet, over-mats and present in excellent condition throughout. The dashboard is finished in black, double-stitched leather. The large centre console is finished in a dark wood veneer and the rearmost section houses a seven-cassette tape storage area – very 1994!

Door cards are centred with luxurious ruched leather with accents of dark veneer and carpet. The cream headlining of both hard and soft tops looks to be in a fine unmarked condition. A totally original interior and befitting of a car showing less than 8,000 miles on the odometer. If you want to sit behind a 6-litre V12, and who wouldn’t, then there can be few better environments to do it from.

This ultimate sports tourer is fitted with the sublime, 5987cc V12, M120 petrol engine. This naturally aspirated, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder behemoth was originally rated at 393 bhp and 420 Ib-ft of torque. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a smooth shifting, five-speed automatic gearbox. The under-bonnet presentation appears to be very good and the two banks of six alloy “fingers” make an immediate impression. Even the under-bonnet insulation looks in an almost new condition.

The underside of the car looks to be very clean and original with Mercedes Benz’s industrial strength underseal still in significant evidence. The Michelin Pilot HX 225/55 ZR16 tyres are a matching set and seem to retain an excellent depth of even tread.

Under its sympathetic ownership the car has clearly been very well maintained and its every possible need attended to despite the miniscule mileage which has averaged just a few hundred a year. Much of this diligent maintenance has been attended to by the original supplying main dealer in Exeter.

Touted as the ultimate mile-munching, continent crosser the SL600 blends its V12 refinement, eye-widening performance, and high-specification ancillaries to make it one of the automotive world’s most accomplished premium GT cars, regardless of the era.

This SL comes with an extensive paperwork archive providing some valuable and fascinating provenance. This includes the current V5 and hard copy MOT. The latter is advisory free and valid until July 2023. There are numerous previous MOT’s on hand too, documenting the incredible mileage history.

There are stacks of service and maintenance invoices present covering the car’s entire history. The leather wallet, code card and service book are not present, but the rest of the 'book pack' is.

Perhaps the highlight, however, is the owner’s handwritten logbook. This fastidiously documents his time with the car together with costs and comments. The contents include notable journeys, service work and even fuel costs and fuel consumption calculations. Fascinating.

What a car! Having covered a truly tiny mileage in the hands of a single, diligent, and enthusiastic owner, it boasts a great colourway and a fine, overall and original condition. The provenance appears flawless, and the maintenance and associated expenditure far outweighs what its light use would demand in less attentive hands.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £19,000 - £29,000 in auction.

With modern cars charging headlong into a small capacity hybrid or full electric future then there can’t be too many such attainable opportunities to own, drive and relish such a full-blooded V12 beast. With that privilege comes a lifetime of bragging rights as a member of that very exclusive and rapidly diminishing V12 owners’ cohort. Don’t miss this vanishingly rare opportunity to be one of them.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 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’.