1986 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

The Mercedes-Benz 420 SL is the rarest model in the popular R107 series, and is recognised by marque experts as being a ‘sweet spot’ in the extensive range thanks to its powerful yet refined V8 engine.

The 420 SL being offered for sale here was sold new by Normand (Mayfair) Ltd on London’s Park Lane, to an owner who lived in Hyde Park Crescent. It was specified with options that included the expensive and extremely desirable air-conditioning, rear seats, and an outside temperature gauge that took the place of the central air vent on the dashboard.

It is superbly presented in perhaps the best colour combination for an R107: Nautical Blue with Beige leather. The front seats are heated, while the dark-blue fabric soft-top is thought to be the original. The car is also supplied with a matching factory hard-top – plus a stand on which to store it when it’s not in use.

This 420 SL has an extensive history file that includes the original maintenance booklet and owner’s manual, both of which are still in their original leather wallet. The maintenance booklet records its comprehensive service history, starting with its pre-delivery inspection at the supplying dealer.

There are also numerous recent invoices from The SL Shop, which knows this car well, having sold it twice since 2012. It’s been used sparingly in recent years and has still covered only 67,000 miles, but it’s been lovingly maintained along the way and performed faultlessly on a trip to Scotland in the hands of the current owner.

Offering a peerless blend of style, versatility and engineering quality, this Mercedes 420 SL not only benefits from the raft of improvements that were made to late-model R107s, but it’s also a well-specified car in its own right, featuring what many people believe to be the best colour scheme and the best engine.

MODEL HISTORY  

The Mercedes-Benz R107 was an elegant and refined status symbol that, as the brochure put it, was for discerning drivers who wanted a sporting car but ‘still expect comfort, convenience, high-quality materials and first-class workmanship.’

Launched in 1971, this latest generation of the famous SL bloodline was nearly twice the price of a Jaguar E-type, but it 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 swing axles on its W113 predecessor. 

A range of engines was offered, and the R107 was the first SL to be fitted with a V8. A 3.5-litre version of the M116 unit was fitted to the 350 SL, before being stretched to 3.8 litres for the 380 SL and finally 4.2 litres for the 420 SL. Then there was the M117 V8 that was used in the 450SL, 500SL and 560SL.

Cars built from 1986 onwards benefited from greater interior refinement, better handling thanks to wider wheels, and an upgraded engine management system. The R107 grew in status throughout that decade, starring in everything from Dallas to American Gigolo, and most cars were supplied to the North American market. Almost 250,000 R107s had been built by the time production ended in 1989.