2001 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Silver Arrow

First registered in September 2001, this wonderful Mercedes-Benz SL500 Silver Arrow is in a stunning condition. Still showing under 55,000 miles on the odometer, it’s a stunning testament to its previous owners as well as the folk that assembled it so meticulously in the first place.

In the care of its (equally meticulous) owner for the past couple of years, it’s freshly refurbished and looking very nearly as good now as it did when it rolled out of the factory two decades ago.

At a time when many R129 SLs are limping from one MOT to another, it’s refreshing to find one that’s as minty fresh as this, one whose paintwork is still pristine, and whose interior is still so glorious.

Best of all, because the R129 is still something of an underappreciated classic, it might not cost you as much as you imagine…

The 777 Silver Arrow Silver paintwork looks sensational, and not just because of the way it shines but because the overall fit ‘n’ finish of the coachwork is every bit as good as you’d expect of a company whose name used to be a byword for build quality.

It’s been pampered over the years too, so you’ll find ultra-tight and consistent shutlines, ripple-free flanks, and an absence of the sort of car-park dinks, dents, and other damage that plaque lesser examples.

Even the corners of the bumpers, the bit that many owners use as analogue parking sensors, are all free of blemishes. It really is in a remarkable condition and every bit as good as you’d hope to find on a car as interesting as this.

Because even the paint itself is more interesting than you might think: 777 Silver Arrow is a unique shade and one that only reveals itself fully in person; for this, and many other reasons, we’d strongly urge potential bidders to pop along for a socially distanced viewing in person.

It also meant that when the vendor wanted his preferred bodyshop to touch in a few stonechips and small marks in December 2020, they ended up respraying entire panels just to ensure that the finished job would be nigh-on undetectable. It cost him a fortune (£2,000 to be precise…) but that’s the sort of man he is.

The whole thing was then machine-polished and ceramic coated only a couple of months ago.

The all important ‘Silver Arrow’ badging is in place and in an excellent condition.

The six-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels are free of parking scuffs and scrapes because they’ve only recently been refurbished – and refurbished properly; a previous owner had had them done on the cheap and because the vendor wasn’t happy with the quality of the work (of course he wasn’t…) he had the split-rims disassembled and painted in the correct two-tone finish you wouldn’t have noticed if we hadn’t pointed it out.

They are, of course, shod with matching Continental ContiSportContact 3 tyres all of which have good tread left on them. As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The folding black roof is a little rumpled but otherwise in the same condition now as it’s ever been in. The stitching is still nice and tight and the rear windows are as clear and undamaged because they’ve been recently replaced.

Just as importantly, it 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 on but it’s one that, in our opinion, goes to the heart of how well preserved this example really is.

There’s also a matching hardtop, which doubles the usefulness of the SL, turning it into a genuine four-season sports car should you fancy taking to the ski slopes in it. This is, like everything else, in a wonderful condition and even the fragile twin sunblinds, which provide some much-needed shade from the sun that streams in via the full-length panoramic glass section, are still there and in an excellent condition.

In fact, all we can see to do is to remove some of the green moss that’s hiding around the edges of some of the light lenses (#217).

The machine-turned dashboard finish lifts and already excellent cabin, as does the black and white leather. It’s a lovely place to be and streets ahead of the more usual R129 fare – and that’s not because the standard cars are bad, it’s just that this combination is nothing short of glorious.

Obviously in good shape, too including the unique ‘Silver Arrow’ decal and emblem on the lid of the ashtray. The veneer trim it sits on is not only unique to the model but it’s all still almost perfect. The dashboard’s finish is replicated in the gear-shift surround too and that’s, well, you know what sort of shape that’s in by now, don’t you?

The two-tone front leather seats are only gently creased but this is patination rather than wear. The underlying structure is still as firm and supportive as the day it was fitted, and the matching door cards, gearknob, and steering wheel are all excellent. Of course, given how limited the legroom is in the rear, those in the back are in an even better condition because they don’t look like they’ve been used very much.

Moving back up front, the driver’s and passenger’s seats are electrically heated and adjustable, and it all works as it should.

Oh, and speaking of electrical items, there’s a period cradle in the armrest for a mobile phone and if it were ours we’re not sure we could resist the urge to buy a compatible phone to put in it.

Talking of period features, there is a fitted cassette holder under the tambour door too, which will hold seven cassettes. This is a lovely touch and would be sufficient for us to junk the updated CD player that sits in the dashboard and replace it with a factory original radio/cassette player.

The boot is very clean and neatly organised. It’s home to the spare alloy wheel, tool kit, first aid kits, warning triangle, and the wind deflector. Lifting the good carpets shows only solid metal.

There are a couple of spots of surface rust (#91 and #92) that will need addressing but these look to be cosmetic for now.

Other interior woes are even more superficial. The leather on the gearknob is a little worn (#117) and the veneer is a little cracked on the centre console (#151).

The engine bay is neat and fairly clean without being OTT – and speaking of OTT, the vendor went to the trouble of having the underbonnet sound insulation replaced at vast expense by his local MB dealer because that’s the sort of chap he is. His bank manager must hate him but he’s exactly the sort of bloke you want to buy a secondhand car from, that’s for sure.

The underside is solid and still very well protected by a decent coat of underseal, underseal that has only been recently professionally applied.

There’s plenty of evidence of much expenditure on suspension and steering components too and the only thing that niggles a little is the odd rusty fastener and bolt.

That said, there’s nothing there that would scare us away – and certainly nothing that has ever drawn the attention of any of the MOT testers that have looked the car over - and what little surface corrosion there is on the odd component could be remedied as a lovely little winter project.

The service history is expansive and reads:

• 04.11.2002 and 13,026 miles – service A by Westwood Mercedes-Benz

• 17.03.2005 and 30,110 miles – service A by Greenoaks Mercedes-Benz

• 21.04.2006 and 31,956 miles – oil service by Greenoaks Mercedes-Benz

• 18.12.2012 and 43,643 miles – service A by Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham

• 26.10.2017 and 46,059 miles – service B by Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham including fresh brake fluid and coolant plus a change of spark plugs and a new drive belt

• 31.07.2018 and 46,684 miles – MoT plus some fettling to the bonnet latch and a front nearside suspension spring by Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham

• 26.02.2019 and 47,025 miles – service A plus new front brake pads by Acklam Car Centre

• 10.04.2019 and 47,943 miles - air-conditioning recharged

• 07.02.2020 and 51,236 miles – service B by Mercedes-Benz Bracknell plus an MOT and fresh brake fluid

The SL’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2022.

It also has every single expired MoT certificate, so we can be certain that the mileage is genuine plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years, work that has largely been carried out by the Mercedes-Benz dealer network.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, the stamped service history booklet, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys.

Oh, and the cherished and highly appropriate number ‘ARO 8W’ will stay on the vehicle.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

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

The R129 is as pretty as it is tough - and that’s worth something in today’s troubled times; only two things will survive the apocalypse that 2021 is building up to be: Donald Trump’s election claims and Mercedes-Benz cars built in the eighties and nineties.

And, if you’re going to buy one then none are more desirable than the limited-edition Silver Arrow cars. With just one hundred ever built for the right-hand-drive UK market they’ve attained almost mythical status among those for whom the R129 is the last of the ‘proper’ Mercedes-Benz sports cars.

And this is a very good example of a very rare car. In need of nothing other than some very gentle cosmetic fettling – and then only if that sort of thing bothers you enough to rouse you into action – it’s suitable for either the enthusiast looking for a car to drive or a dedicated collector looking for a centerpiece for his collection.

All of which makes out guide price of somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000 look like a bit of a steal - and, remember the reserve price is even lower, so this might end up being a very cost-effective way of getting your hands on a blue-chip sporting convertible for the coming summer.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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’.