1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL

1998 Mercedes-Benz SL320 R129 Designo Special Edition, first registered 1 August 1998 and showing 80,403 miles.

Factory option data confirms P05 – R129 Designo Special Model for Great Britain and 017U Designo Variocolor paintwork. The colour changes noticeably between deep blue and blue-green depending on the light and is one of the features that makes this car particularly distinctive.

The car is powered by Mercedes’ naturally aspirated 3.2-litre straight-six, driving the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic gearbox.

Factory specification includes grey leather upholstery, dark blue fabric soft top, electric front seats with memory, wood/leather steering wheel, wood gear selector, electrically adjustable steering column, xenon headlights with headlamp cleaning system, rear occasional seats and factory Mercedes audio with CD changer.

It also comes with the factory removable hardtop, so it can be enjoyed as an open roadster, soft-top convertible or hardtop coupé.

I purchased the car in 2023 and have owned it for just over three years. It has covered relatively little mileage during my ownership and is now being sold simply because it is not getting the use it deserves.

The odometer currently reads 80,403 miles. A full vehicle-history report shows a consistent recorded mileage progression and also reports no outstanding finance, no stolen marker, no recorded damage history and no record of the car having been scrapped.

The car has a fresh MOT valid until 4 August 2027. The current certificate notes advisory-level corrosion/coating to the brake pipes and minor, non-excessive engine and transmission oil leaks, which are mentioned here for transparency.

The bodywork presents very attractively for its age and the Designo Variocolor paint looks especially good in daylight. The grey leather interior also presents well, with age-related wear consistent with a 1998 car.

Both roof operating sequences have been photographed/videoed, and the factory hardtop is included with the sale.

This is not being presented as a concours restoration, but as an unusual, well-specified and genuinely usable late R129 with factory-confirmed Designo specification.