1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Highlights

• Two owners from new
• 5.0-litre V8
• Standout colour combo of Signal Red with beige leather
• Relatively low mileage
• Comprehensive main-dealer service history

Overview

When a car designer describes his own design as the ‘most perfect car,’ you might scoff. After all, wouldn’t life be great if we all rated our own work? But when it’s Bruno Sacco – a man credited with designing some of the most beautiful Mercedes-Benzes of the modern era – you take note. You listen. What was the car in question? The R129 SL, which makes his hubris wholly justified, too.

Especially as the R129 was a pressure car to sketch. There hadn’t been a bad one previously, you see. Cast your mind back to the original ‘Sport-Leicht’ of the ‘50s, then work your way through the order, and all were sensational. What a legacy to uphold. But Sacco held it and arguably elevated it. Those angular but oh-so-pretty lines of the preceding R107 were racked back to just the right jaunty angle, providing the R129 with its contemporary late-‘90s look that still left bystanders in no doubt about what the car was: every inch was pure SL.

Not only is the R129 a corker in the looks department, but it also represents Mercedes-Benz at its engineering finest. Although the basic format remained – front engine, rear-wheel drive, open cabin – the R129’s computer-aided design gifted it the aerodynamics to slip through the air like a perforated ghost.

It was also a mind-blowing ten years in development, such was its complexity. Complexity that included its fully automated, electro-hydraulic hood and flip-up roll bar, which led its maker to describe the R129 as the safest convertible ever. One ‘thorough’ journalist even tested that theory – by rolling one on the launch at Estoril. And yep, he survived to tell the tale.

This particular R129 has arguably the go-to engine, too. After all, it’s a 500 SL with the big-lunged V8, both in terms of its lavish torque and lovely voice. And topped off with a quoted 320hp, this stately lady can hitch up her frock and scamper off at a rate that would leave a period Golf GTI looking like it was anchored to a tree.

It’s also a two owner example, which the seller informs us is a mother and son, that’s covered fewer than 85,000 since new, which, for an R129, is merely nicely run in. You can see from the photographs how well these cars stand the test of time – inside and out, this 30-plus-year-old car is very nearly as fresh as the day it rolled off the line. And if you’re a fan of the earlier examples, this is a pre-facelift, Signal Red car sporting orange indicators and classic flat-face alloys. It has its hardtop, too, for all-year, all-weather pleasure. The most perfect car? Quite possibly, and this is a great example.

History and documentation

• Registered 09 May 1991
• V5 present in owner’s name
• Two owners from new
• Mileage when pictured was 84,491 miles
• Supplied new by Alan Day, Edgware Road, Colindale
• Very comprehensive, main-dealer-stamped service book up to 2005 and 80,902 miles
• Since 2005 the car has covered just over 3,500 miles
• The seller tells us that the car is accompanied by documented independent service records after 2005
• Full Mercedes-Benz book pack and wallet
• Original factory build sheet
• Collection of previous MOTs, invoices and documents (including a period SL sales brochure)
• Two remote key fobs
• Current MOT expires 21 May 2025
• HPI clear

Interior

• Factory-fitted equipment on this 500SL includes air conditioning, leather upholstery, electric front seats (with memory function), heated front seats, automatically deployable rollbar, cruise control, electric windows, electro-hydraulic powered roof, ABS, electronically controlled automatic gearbox (with sport and economy modes)
• Not only is the design of the R129’s interior as elegant as the outside but, as is often the case, it seems to be made of materials with half-lives that make plutonium seem like a flash in the pan
• For a car that’s over 30-years old and has covered over 80,000 miles, the leather is still in astonishingly good nick
• As you can see from the pictures, the driver’s seat has a light patina but no obvious wear – even on the bolster
• From what we can see, the burr walnut woodwork’s colour is as deep and rich as ever, too
• The exceptionally good condition extends to the dashboard and door cards, all of which appear intact and near-pristine to our eyes
• A set of Mercedes-Benz, colour-coordinated, fitted over mats comes with the car
• The hardtop’s headlining has reportedly sagged slightly
• Fitted with a modern Sony head unit with USB connection and 220-watts
• Additional Phoenix Gold power amp mounted in the boot
• We’re told that all the car’s electrical features are working as they should do
• The owner tells us that while the odometer is recording the car’s total mileage correctly, the trip mileometer has recently stopped working

Exterior

• Bruno Sacco’s elegant, late-’80s reinvention of the SL sits happily alongside its forebears as a recognised and highly prized classic
• This R129’s statement Signal Red paintwork looks stunning and adds to the car’s standout looks
• Overall, the paintwork appears to be in superb condition for a car of this age
• The only bodywork issues of note are some tiny blisters on one front wing, light stone chips here and there, and a light scratch on the near-side corner of the front bumper
• Original 16-inch flat-face alloy wheels appear in near-perfect condition, with no major marks or corrosion evident
• Set of recent Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tyres all round with lots of tread
• Supplied with its original factory hardtop
• The black soft top is in excellent condition for the year, with no standout wear or marks
• The headlights, taillights, indicators and fog lamps all appear free from cracks or UV damage
• The windscreen, side glass and rear screens (of soft and hardtop) look in great condition
• Pictures of the underside show this R129 is remarkably clean for a 33-year-old car, with no major corrosion, scuffs or oil leaks to note

Mechanical

• 4,973cc, V8, naturally aspirated, 32-valve, DOHC per bank, fuel-injected petrol
• Rated at 320hp @ 5,600rpm and 347lb ft at 3,900rpm
• Performance (circa): 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and 155mph (limited)
• Four-speed electronically controlled automatic gearbox
• Front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
• All-wheel, electronic, anti-lock braking system
• This awesome 5.0-litre V8 is never uncouth but still emits a sexy, cross-plane crank, eight-cylinder woofle
• Effortless performance and a sumptuous ride are just two of the reasons why the R129 500 SL is a top-drawer GT car
• The owner reports no mechanical issues with this 500 SL

Summary

Every Mercedes-Benz SL is a special car, but there’s something about the R129 that makes it arguably one of the best. Why? Perhaps no other SL has its blend of old-school, Mercedes-Benz charm and bullet-proof build, matched with the modernity and creature comforts that make the R129 still oh-so-useable today. It’s therefore not just a kicks-and-giggles classic car but an easy-to-live-with, dependable daily, should you wish to use it as one.

Or you could stash it away and watch its value continue to rise – that’s assuming the trend we’ve seen over the last few years continues unabated. And when it comes to a sought-after commodity, what you’ll need is an SL that’s been well-maintained, is in great condition, has relatively low mileage and few owners, and is presented in a striking colour. Well, that’s this car, then. So happy bidding.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Whetstone, London.