1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

This exceptional Mercedes-Benz 300SL has been lovingly maintained by its most recent custodian, who has spared no expense during his 10-year ownership.

It is beautifully presented in Signal Red and retains its original factory paint – something of a rarity for this shade. The fact that it has not been resprayed or had its panels removed shows up in the precise factory-spec panel gaps all around. 

Sold new as a right-hand-drive, UK-market car, it features an immaculate Black and Charcoal cloth interior, and its service book features a wealth of original stamps – testament to how well it’s been looked after throughout its life.

During the past 10,000 miles, it has benefitted from regular maintenance by The SL Shop. Along the way, items such as the anti-roll bar bushes and engine mounts have been replaced, and a major service in 2023 included repairs to the exhaust, fresh brake fluid following a pressure-flush of the system, and the steering box being refurbished. 

Later that year, the owner instructed The SL Shop to prepare this 300SL to the very highest standards, after which it was carefully placed into storage and not driven. In July 2024, it returned to The SL Shop for an oil service, meaning that it’s now ready to be used and enjoyed by its next owner. 

Even before its recent show-standard preparation, this was a concours-winning car, having regularly won its class and been awarded ‘Car of the Show’ at an event in which it beat 500 other entrants. It has always been praised by concours judges for its original condition, and only the stereo has been updated. The new Blaupunkt unit echoes the look of the period radio but features modern DAB functionality.

Well sorted and prepared to the very highest standard, this Mercedes-Benz 300SL has been lightly but regularly driven over the past decade and fastidiously maintained regardless of annual mileage. It is now being offered for sale by its enthusiast owner purely due to a house move, and comes with its original warranty card, owner’s manual, service book and the UK-specific sales/service book – as well as the original factory data card. 

A stylish and supremely reliable choice of classic roadster, it must be one of the very best examples currently on the market.

MODEL HISTORY  

The Mercedes-Benz R107 was an elegant and refined status symbol that fell squarely into the ‘reassuringly expensive’ category when it was launched in 1971. It was nearly twice the price of a Jaguar E-type but was beautifully engineered and thrived during the 1970s, despite that decade’s economic upheaval and increasing environmental and safety regulations.

Based on the mechanical underpinnings of the ‘new generation’ W114/W115 models, it was the final model to be signed off by legendary Mercedes-Benz engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut before he retired. Beneath the sharply styled bodywork was double-wishbone front suspension and a semi-trailing-arm rear set-up that was a significant improvement over the oft-criticised swing axles on its W113 predecessor. 

A range of engines was offered, including two six-cylinder offerings in the shape of the 280SL and 300SL, the latter being added to the line-up in 1985. The R107 was also the first SL to be fitted with a V8 engine. A 3.5-litre version of the M116 unit was fitted to the 350SL, before being stretched to 3.8 litres for the 380SL and finally 4.2 litres for the 420SL. Then there was the M117 V8 that was used in the 450SL, 500SL and 560SL. 

If anything, the R107 grew in status as the 1980s dawned and it starred in everything from Dallas to American Gigolo. Most cars were supplied to the North American market and total production had reached almost 250,000 by the time it was replaced in 1989 by the R129.