1971 Mercedes-Benz 350SL

First registered on the 1st of July 1971, this wonderful silver-over-black Mercedes-Benz 350SL was owned from 1997 until recently by the same chap, a consultant motor engineer and a marque expert.

Now in the hands of a dealer, it is said to be running “very well” and driving beautifully. In need of only minor tidying, it is being offered with a very sensible reserve price, making it the ideal car for the Mercedes devotee who possesses more enthusiasm and skill than money.

It is also from the first year of production to add extra cache.

The silver metallic paintwork presents well thanks to a recent professional machine polish that has left a good sheen to its finish - and the colour shows off the R107’s classic lines to perfection.

And it is sporting some very good lines because there is an absence of the sort of dents and dings that neglected examples tend to sport; this, along with decent shutlines, good panel alignment, and a well-fitting fabric roof point towards a life without serious mishap.

That fabric roof is in pretty shape, too. Taut and well-fitting, it is easily raised and lowered, tucking away neatly when stowed and being as weatherproof as the best of them when it is up. Sure, it’s had some repairs to the stitching but they look to be good and strong, even if they ain’t the prettiest.

And there’s a matching silver hardtop, adding considerably to the car’s versatility. It looks to be in good shape too, with a nice finish to the paint and chrome.

The rest of the chromework is pretty good too but it is a little pitted in places. Still, a good hard polish would undoubtedly help but we can see that the new owner will want to replace some of it in due course.

Four black mudflaps, a set of front fog lights, and an underslung period AA badge add interest to an otherwise stock exterior.

The 14-inch OE alloy wheels are in a very good condition bar the odd minor scuff on the outer edge of the rim. But, to at least partially offset that minor disappointment, they’re shod with matching Fulda Carat Assuro 205/70R14 directional tyres, all of which have good tread.

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 an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

The bonnet does have some touched-in stonechips, plus a few general marks here and there on the rest of the bodywork. None are serious and, for what it’s worth, we think their presence simply means you’ll be able to drive this one long and hard without fear of picking up the inevitable patina that any well-used car will develop.

In the longer term it’s clear that the finish isn’t perfect thanks to a few small imperfections and microblisters, most noticeably on the tonneau cover.

The clear plastic windows in the fabric roof will need replacing too as they’ve gone milky with age.

The interior is especially lovely; with a lack of wood, the black trim could be oppressive but for the presence of a wonderfully off-beat blue/grey carpet and door card insets. Minimal but judiciously applied chrome, including a wonderful gear-lever surround, add to the car’s understated air.

The overall effect is exclusive without being gaudy, discreet without being gloomy. It’s unusual and all the better for being so; for what it’s worth, we love it.

And the seats are in a great condition with barely any wear or creasing at all. The contrasting centre panels add interest, and they still have that compelling combination of a firm yet springy feel to them that’s unique to Mercedes-Benz of this era.

The rest of the interior is very good as well. In fact, the only work we can see that needs doing is one door card, which has been repaired with tape.

Oh, and the presence of a modern Sony head unit grates a little. Still, both problems would be easy and cheap to sort out.

In addition to routine servicing and maintenance, the 350SL benefits from a Fireball XR700 electronic ignition and coil, a ‘System 4’ unleaded fuel convertor, an immobilizer, a wind deflector, the Mercedes chassis/steering box modification, and a heating system conversion that bypasses the notoriously troublesome heating valve.

As you can see in the video, the car starts easily and quickly settles into an even tickover with good oil pressure. It revs well too and has that gorgeous V8 burble to the exhaust. The vendor tells us that it drives “very well”.

The underside and boot floor both look to be strong, but while the former is neatly undersealed we can see that it could do with touching up here and there in order to continue to maintain in its current condition.

The 350SL’s MOT certificate expires in June 2021 and was gained with no advisories, an impressive feat and one it’s been racking up for the past few years.

It has a large number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the recent work that has been done to it. It also comes with a Haynes’ workshop manual and the V5 registration document.

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.

If you want a well-sorted R107 with an impeccable history then may we respectfully point you towards the vendor’s 280SL, which is listed with us too. It’s a smashing car, and can be driven and shown ‘as is’ without hesitation.

This one, on the other hand, offers the enthusiast the chance to improve it as and when funds allow; it’s not that it is bad, it’s more case of a few minor details let down an otherwise solid and mechanically strong car.

That’s the bad news. The good is that the need for some cosmetic work is reflected in the price: while the price of good examples is someway north of £20,000, we don’t think this one will breach £15,000 and might sell for as little as £11,500.

That’s staggering value for a model that is currently under-rated and overdue for some well-deserved recognition.

Plus, few classics are as tough and easy to work on as an R107, which makes them the perfect classic for the discerning enthusiast who is looking for an elegant and polished place to put their money while they add value.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Shrewsbury; 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’.