1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

“ This is a lovely early example and the legendary German grand tourer. ”The R129 is as pretty as it is tough.

BackgroundThe Mercedes-Benz R129 SL was built between 1989 and 2002, a production run of more than a decade that eventually saw more than 200,000 being built. Replacing the much-loved – and even longer-lived R107 – this is the car that probably did more than any other in creating the hewn-from-solid reputation the company used to enjoy.

Using a shortened W124 floorpan, the R129 was technologically advanced for its time featuring electronically controlled suspension damping, a hydraulic roof mechanism, and a hidden rollover bar that could erect itself in milliseconds if it detected an inverted accident was imminent.

Only ever available as a two-door convertible, the SL was nonetheless offered with a decent range of engines whose capacity still bore a direct relevance to the model designation. So, the baby of the range was the SL280 with a 2.8-litre engine and the top-of-the-range SL600 had a six-litre V12 under the bonnet. In between were the SL300, SL320, and SL500.

The subject of constant revisions throughout its life, the SL range ensured there was a car for all budgets and moods, from a straight-six with 190bhp and a manual gearbox all the way to the mighty V12 with 389bhp and more computing power than was required to put man on the moon.

With a minimum kerbweight of 1800kgs, the SL was always more of a grand touring car than a lithe, agile sportscar but it crushed continents with the same disdain as it shrugs off the years; few secondhand convertibles make more sense than this, making the R129 a great buy for the canny enthusiast with an eye to gentle, reliable, and yet very stylish classic car motoring.

NB: cars up to 1993 were referred to as the ***SL, while cars after that time had the model designation reversed, with the letters coming before the numbers. Not a lot of people know that…

OverviewOffered until 1993, the 300SL-24 is powered by the 24-valve M104 inline-six petrol engine that offers the driver 228bhp and 200ft.lbs of torque, enough to see the car hit 62mph in 8.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 149mph.

Classics World suggests its presence should make this one worth an extra £1,000 compared to a similar model without the benefit of this engine, and no lesser classic car authority than Vicky Parrott owns one, which tells you all you need to know about how well they drive.

‘SUI 1566’ is finished in Smoky Silver, paint code 702, a colour so rare the seller has only ever seen three and he notices this kind of thing because he’s a multi award-winning creative director and artist who’s worked with firms such as Jaguar, Ferrari, and Aston Martin; if you remember the matt-white Morning Frost Vantage from its launch, then you’ll have admired his work too.

He’s also been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, been named GQ’s Most Stylish Man, and awarded Menswear Designer of the Year more than once, so when he set his heart on buying an R129, he wasn’t going to compromise on the colour.

He found this one in October 2017 and has covered only a thousand or so miles since. Stylish miles, it must be said, but given how little use it’s had, he’s reluctantly decided it’s time to let it go to a new owner.

Estimate: £6,000 - £9,000

View Current Bid Price HERE