1994 Mercedes-Benz SL320

First registered on the 26th August 1994, this wonderfully original and well-preserved Mercedes-Benz SL320 was first used as a demonstrator until being sold to its one and only subsequent owner after six months.

A fastidious woman, she kept it garaged throughout its entire life – and only ever used it in the summer as she lives and works in Barbados during the rest of the year. Still wearing its original Aldamine Red Metallic paintwork, it has no rust, a full service history, and is as mechanically sound as it is pretty.

It also comes with both hard and soft tops making it perfect for the modern classic enthusiast who is looking for an ultra-reliable sportscar to use all year round.

We are used to seeing well preserved classics here at The Market; after all, classics are, almost by definition, a discretionary purchase and so better cared for and maintained than most daily drivers could ever hope to be.

Yet, even we were surprised to see the condition of this SL320, a car that has been a daily driver for the past quarter of a century, at least during the summer months.

And that summer-only use has really paid off because the Aldamine Red Metallic coachwork is little short of stunning. Still featuring factory tight shutlines and perfect panel alignment, there are barely any stonechips to ruin the finish much less anything more damaging or intrusive. We are told that the paintwork is all original too, which must be something of a record for the model and something we’re sure you prize as highly as we do.

The chromework is excellent too, as are the light lenses, badges, and glazing.

The folding soft-top is still taut and fits well and furls and unfurls easily. The plastic windows have gone a little milky and yellow with age, and both of the smaller side windows have rips in them. That said, the rest of the hood looks very good, so having a professional trimmer replace the plastic windows wouldn’t be an expensive or difficult job.

The matching red hard-top is as stunning as the rest of the SL. Still fitting as well as it was designed to, it might take two to fit it but once it is in place the SL is as snug and weatherproof as a full-blown coupé.

The 16-inch alloy wheels are unblemished and don’t show any signs of kerbing or other neglect. They’re shod with Avon tyres on the front and Barum on the rear and while all show decent tread, they’re getting on a bit now so we can see that the new owner will probably want to budget for a set of decent rubber in order to fully appreciate the SL’s finely honed chassis.

Faults? Well, aside from the usual stonechips, minor marks and the odd touched-in scuff on a couple of its extremities, some of the nooks and crannies could do with a deep clean. So, nothing that a couple of hours and a tenner spent in Halfords couldn’t sort.

The ruched leather door cards might be very of-the-period but there’s no denying their condition. Nor that of the wooden trim on the same door trims; in fact, all of the wooden veneer trim is excellent but then you’ve come to expect excellence with this car, haven’t you?

It’s the same story with the black leather seats, which are only very gently creased and in need of nothing other than a clean followed by continued feeding. Electrically adjustable and heated, they work as well now as they ever have and there’s a wind deflector in there for ruffle-free motoring with the roof down, even at speed.

The carpets, dashboard, headlining of both roof coverings, steering wheel and instrumentation are all a joy being simple, ergonomic, and practically flawless; it really is a pleasure to see how little equipment is truly necessary - and to be able to celebrate the fact that what has been fitted was engineered to such a high standard that it almost all still works as well now as it did when it was fitted 26 years ago.

Almost all? Well, the stereo isn’t working, the driver’s door check strap needs attention, the offside window goes down a bit too slowly and occasionally judders, there is a tiny area of colour loss to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat, there are a couple of areas of peeling trim directly behind the B-pillars, and the remote fob is not working.

Oh, and it could do with a good hoover. So, all-in-all, there’s nothing to worry about really, is there?

The SL has been looked after very well, and this work includes the following routine service work:

• 24.08.1994 – pre-delivery inspection by Anderson Mercedes-Benz

• 23.12.1994 and 1,437 miles – service by Anderson Mercedes-Benz

• 07.02.1996 and 3,317 miles – service by Arlington of Northampton Mercedes-Benz

• 16.08.1996 and 9,446 miles – service by Arlington of Northampton Mercedes-Benz

• 01.09.1998 and 17,789 miles – service by Drake & Fletcher Mercedes-Benz

• 26.08.1999 and 20,353 miles – lubrication service by Drake & Fletcher Mercedes-Benz

• 18.12.2003 and 27,120 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Maidstone

• 07.12.2007 and 31,335 miles – service by (unknown)

• 14.07.2011 and 38,572 miles – service by (unknown)

• 08.07.2015 and 39,857 miles – service by (unknown)

• 09.07.2018 and 45,537 miles – service by (unknown)

We are told that the “engine, gearbox and suspension are perfect”, a claim neither its service history nor our brief test drive gave us any reason to doubt.

The engine bay is very clean and neatly presented – but then that’s only to be expected given that regimen, isn’t it?

The underside is so clean and tidy that it still sports paint markings on some of the suspension components. Free of rust and serious rust too, and with only the lightest smattering of surface corrosion to mar an otherwise pristine finish.

The SL’s MoT certificate, which is valid until July 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s done every year bar one – and that was only for “Steering damper slight oil seepage” and “Parking brake lever has little reserve travel” in 2016.

It has a number of expired MoT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet.

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.

NB: The cherished number plate is not included in the final bid. However, it is available via separate negotiation but if a deal cannot be agreed with the winning bidder then the vendor will pay for it to be given an age-related number via the DVLA.

Oh, and the V5 registration document might show two previous owners but one of these is the vendor’s business as it was her company car before being subsequently registered in her private name.

The R129 is as pretty as it is tough - and that’s worth something in today’s troubled times; apocalypse-ready vehicles don’t have to be finished in camouflage green because only two things will survive a post-apocalyptic world: cockroaches and Mercedes-Benz cars built in the late eighties and nineties.

But, you need to buy the right one and few fit the bill better than this. With a perfect service history, minimal miles on the clock, and a mid-range, ultra-reliable engine it also has enough toys to keep you occupied while you’re waiting to go through the police and army roadblocks we can all look forward to when the New Year breaks…

It’ll be fairly cheap, too. We think this one, even with all the benefits it offers – benefits that include no rust, original paint and never having been used in the winter - will only sell for between £9,500 and £13,000.

And, while it’s true that the R129 has yet to receive the widespread adulation we’re sure it will enjoy one day, this slow-burn does mean that you’re probably buying at the bottom of its depreciation curve, so you might even do nicely out of it in the medium- to long-term.

Viewing is always encouraged, 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and an array of regional providers for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.