1989 Mercedes 300 SL
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Guide price: £26,000- £31,000
Highlights
・£15,000 spent in summer 2020
・Two previous owners from new
・Modest mileage for an R107
・New front bulkhead
The Background
Released during an era where safety was affecting the viability of the roadster, Mercedes created a car that highlighted the cars safety aspirations with confidence without compromising its style. Thanks to the body strength, mechanical durability and build quality, the R107 appeal would never be questioned and the car was rewarded with 18 years of production. As a result, it became one of the most iconic cars of the era.
This entry-level SL is structurally close to the condition to when it left the factory in 1989, thanks to a careful ownership profile and regular attention lavished upon it. It has had the benefit of a full-body respray and continuous mechanical upkeep. While it has been maintained by specialists to run as good as possible, the car has also seen a recent front bulkhead replacement. Finished the stunning signal red paintwork, it comes with just two previous owners, a hardtop and the rear seat option.
The History
The owner is a long term Mercedes-Benz fan, having owned at least 6 models over the last 20 years alone. The R107's clean, elegant, and compact lines captivated his imagination when he was younger, and after a specific quest for a red one with a cream interior, he discovered that his desire for this car was too strong to resist. Used as an occasional car, it has been garaged over the 30 months he’s owned it, with evidence that the car has also been kept away from the elements under its previous owners. The car has been placed for sale, as he wishes to embark on a continental driving holiday with his partner. He feels that despite the cars ability to maintain its comfort and reliability, he has decided to use the proceeds of the sale to buy the cars direct descendent, a R231 which would be better suited for his requirements. While preparing the 300 SL for sale, he attempted to contact the cars first mainland owner, as well as Mercedes Benz to collate as much information about the car service history, alas without a great deal of success.
The Paperwork
The car is thought to have been sold new in the Channel island by Jacksons Mercedes, which might well have helped to contribute to its low recorded mileage. The car was bought to the mainland in 1999 and re-registered to a lady owner in the New Forest who appeared to have kept the car for at least 10 years. During this period the car has seen its cooling system renewed, including a sensor, radiator and valve replaced. It was maintained, serviced and repaired at the same local garage during this time. The car was then placed into storage at around 91,000 miles and recommissioned back for use in 2016 and has been lightly used since then. The current owner took the car on in late 2019 and sent the car to have its bulkhead rebuilt at a Mercedes Specialist in Amersham, on top of a full service, brake renewal and an extensive mechanical spruce up to bring the car up to scratch. The car has paperwork for much of the work carried out since 2004 and comes with an MOT to August 2021. The owner has also pointed out that it has an agreed insurance valuation by Lancaster Classic Car Insurance certified at £35,000.
The Interior
The interior is typical of a well-maintained R107 and first impressions are positive with no evidence of dampness or water ingress observed. The seats are in good condition, with typical signs of ageing on the beige leather, but are in rip free condition with minor scuffs. The carpets and mats are in good condition, with limited evidence of wear. The door cards are in good condition with a little scuffing observed. The sill plates are in good order, with no significant marks. The dashboard is good, with no damage of note, the leather padding is in good condition with the burl walnut trim retaining a decent finish. The top of the dashboard shows no signs of deterioration. The handbrake housing is damaged, but the steering wheel is good and the gear level is in good condition with a little wear. The controls and dials are in good condition, all are said to be functional, with the exception of the cruise control, which might be due to an issue with the control box. The air-conditioning unit was installed by an aftermarket company at some point in its life, but the owner decided there was not much point in connecting it back up after the bulk-head rebuild. He logically decided that there was no need, as the car already has the purest form of air conditioning! The car comes with its original Blaupunkt cassette/radio player and has a new electrical aerial recently fitted. The boot is in good condition and the carpet is hardly worn. Under the carpets, there were no signs of significant structural corrosion in the wheel well and no dampness or water ingress.
The Exterior
The car is nicely presented, with no dents or damage observed on the body. The panel gaps are even and true throughout with the body panels fitting flush throughout. The doors hang well with no obstruction to opening and closing. The engine bay is solid having seen a whole bulkhead replacement recently. The underside and floor pan are good with a liberal amount of rust protection applied throughout, with no significant issues in regard to corrosion. In addition to the solid structure, the inner wings, suspension turrets, sills and wheel arches are straight with no visible problems. The signal red paint was one of five colours that remained in production throughout the R107 run, possibly helped by its popularity of a certain TV show of the ’80s featuring the affluent Ewing family. Overall the paint finish is excellent with a decent lustre with a deep shine evident throughout with just a handful of minor blemishes on noted, the main one being a barely noticeable paint crack on the off-side top of the rear wing. Otherwise, the car is free from major stone chip damage.
The alloy wheels are in very good condition, with no evidence of kerb damage. The Taurus tyres are in good condition, with plenty of life left, although the nearside tyres are likely to be over 10 years old. The off-side tyres date from 2016. The glass is good for its age, with the windscreen in good condition without any clouding/misting and is chip and blemish-free. The canvas roof is in excellent condition, with two minor blemishes under the rear screen observed. The plastic glass is good with no cracks or discolouration. The fit is excellent and is said not to leak. The canvas storage well behind the rear seats is solid with no evidence of water collection. The 30-second roof operation of lowering and raising suggests no issues with the latches or mechanisms. The inside of the hood is in good condition with no damage too. The car also comes with a hardtop which is in excellent condition with decent chrome trim and good glass, although the paint itself displays a series of micro blisters. The hardtop is said to fit well with a good seal and no evidence of leaking. The front air dam has a minor crack. The bumper rubbers are good with minor signs of the odd scuff and mark. The chrome bumpers are in excellent condition and appear to have been well fitted. The body trim is in good order with no issues. The chrome work is nicely finished, with minor signs of age around the windscreen trim, light pitting on the boot embellishment and B-pillar fitting. The door and glass rubbers are in good condition, with no signs of perishing. The lights are in good condition throughout, with no evidence of damage or water ingress.
The Mechanics
The engine started up without hesitation, with the 3-litre engine straight-six ticking over nicely once warmed up, no tappet noise or uneven running was noted. The car got up to temperature with oil pressure and ABS light remaining off. As the engine quickly warmed up, the initial condensation disappeared with no exhaust blowing or any significant ‘chuffing’ noises coming from the engine. The fan remained off. The owner reports no knocking or unwanted noises comes from the steering, with no suspension rattles when the car is in motion. The steering is said to be precise and the brakes operate with no pulse or grinding. Electrically the car is said to be fully operational, with no issues reported by the owner. The engine presentation is good, with the ancillaries, pipework and wiring in good condition, there is a fracture on the air intake pipe but doesn’t affect the car’s running. The radiator, as well as the whole of the engine, does not leak.
The Appeal
Despite the 18-year production run, the R107 models underwent substantial upgrades and improvements, particularly regarding the mechanical aspect of the car. As a result, these late edition cars are considered the ones to have, having benefited from new engines, handling modifications, brake improvements and cosmetic interior upgrades, all helping to modernise the car in the process. Thanks to the legendary Mercedes Benz built quality, this late and well preserved 300 SL has an instant impact when you see it for the first time, with the added benefit of a recent structural renovation and a high-quality paint renovation. Cherished by its careful previous owners, it still has years of life ahead of it and as the current owner can testify, it is a real beauty to look at with many an admiring glance in the pub car park!
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1989
- Make Mercedes
- Model 300SL
- Colour Red
- Odometer 92,208 Miles
- Engine size 2962
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Location Berkshire
- Country United Kingdom
42
bids
- to•••• £30,250 26/05/21
- cl•••• £30,000 26/05/21
- cl•••• £29,750 26/05/21
- to•••• £29,500 26/05/21
- to•••• £29,250 26/05/21
- cl•••• £29,000 26/05/21
- to•••• £28,999 26/05/21
- cl•••• £28,750 26/05/21
- cl•••• £28,500 26/05/21
- DR•••• £28,250 26/05/21
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