1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Supplied new to a Mr Hudson of Stourbridge in August 1988, this fine 300 SL came our way once before in 2020.

On that occasion, we wrote the following in relation to the then vendor and this car.

‘The vendor bought this wonderful 300 SL from well-known marque experts the SL Shop in March 2018. In his own words, “I probably paid too much”, but he did so knowing that a company with its reputation wouldn’t stock or sell anything but the best.’

Well, with just 3,000 miles added to the car’s odometer in the intervening years, we can report that those sentiments remain true today and that, if anything, the car is even better now than it was then – thanks in no small part to its careful curation at the hands of the current vendor, a retired RAF engineer.

Viewed from any angle, this is a handsome car with a truly timeless and elegant strand of design DNA running through it like a stick of rock.

The design is simple, uncluttered and understated, and the car’s proportions still seem to us to be just about perfect for a long-legged continental GT cruiser.  

The bodywork has held up very well and there are no dinks, dents, creases or other aberrations of consequence that we can find anywhere.

The same good news is to be found when looking at the Signal Red paintwork, which had held on to much of its lustre and shine, and done well to resist the tendency of the shade to fade.

The car’s removable, factory-supplied hard-top is in equally impressive order and has avoiding picking more than just a few light scratches here and there.

In giving the car pretty much the same sound and weather-proofing as the SLC version, it adds whole new levels of useability, flexibility and versatility to the car’s already impressive all-round capabilities.

The black fabric hood is following the same script in terms of preservation and condition and has just a few stowage creases to show for its long service.

SLs of this era were famously over-engineered, and the tightness of the panel gaps and shut-lines on this car suggests that Gunther and Wolfgang were on particularly good form when they waved this one goodbye from the end of the production line at Sindelfingen.

The wheels are in very good order and seem to be largely unacquainted with kerbs or other roadside obstacles.

They are shod in matching Michelin Cross Climate tyres that look to have a decent amount of life left in them.

Flaws and faults are very few and far between on this car, but it’s our job to find something to moan about, no matter how inconsequential.

We spotted a couple of paint chips and some small blisters on the passenger door; a few ripples and lines to the lacquer/paint above the o/s/f light cluster and on the bodywork below the hardtop at the lower offside corner; and some scratches in much the same place on the nearside, there is a small dent on the rear deck where the hard top meets the body of the car, plus a small patch of delamination on the hardtop’s rear screen.

There is a pretty standard number and distribution of stone chips at the front of the bonnet and around the ‘nose’ of the car.

Finally, we noticed that a spot of bubbling can be seen on top of the sill when the driver’s door is opened.

The chrome is very decent throughout, as are the car’s lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings.
 

Again, the over-engineering that characterises Sindelfingen’s output during the R107 years is evident and present wherever you rest your eyes in this splendid interior. 

The beige MB-Tex upholstery has withstood the ravages of time and wear with extraordinary, but not unexpected, success.

We’re not entirely sure what MB-Tex is made of (we’d guess a combination of Kevlar, chain-mail and depleted uranium) but that stuff really is phenomenally hard-wearing and could probably survive most natural (and unnatural) disasters.

Needless to say, there are no tears, splits, unsightly creases or other major blemishes to report on the upholstery.

The optional rear seats don’t look as if they’ve ever hosted anything much heavier than a handbag or a Panama hat.  

The door cards are good, as are the linings of both the hard and soft-tops.

The steering wheel, gear selector and other controls are all in fine fettle, save for a few cracks and splits to the plastic cowling at the base of the handbrake.

There’s also a small hole in the vinyl covering the transmission tunnel between the rear seats.

The wood veneer inserts on the dashboard and centre console have successfully conquered any temptations to crack or fade.

The carpets and mats are broadly beyond reproach and lifting them up reveals only solid metal and nothing to worry about.
All controls, dials, gauges, switches, knobs, levers and buttons look to be in very decent condition and, as far as we’re aware, everything does what it’s supposed to do.
 

The engine bay is impressively full of tried and tested Teutonic over-engineering. 

Everything is notably dry, clean, orderly and tidy. There is how ever a very tiny leak from the power steering pump.

The undersides of the car are following suit and we’ve seen nothing to make us question for a moment the car’s structural integrity, honesty or character.

We know that the car had a new battery in June 2024 and, in 2020, a new rear anti-roll bar link, reconditioned rear brake callipers and new rear brake pads.
 

This car comes with nearly as much history as the Ashmolean Museum and a more impressive collection of stamps than Stanley Gibbons.
The routine service history is fulsome, comprehensive, and recorded as follows: 

• 06.10.1988 and 620 miles – service by Carols of Wolverhampton, Mercedes-Benz agents
• 20.06.1990 and 6,414 miles – service by Carols of Wolverhampton, Mercedes-Benz agents
• 16.03.1992 and 10,840 miles – service by an independent Mercedes-Benz specialists
• 25.07.1994 and 12,694 miles – service by Evans of Leicester, Mercedes-Benz agents
• 15.04.1996 and 20,269 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Evans of Leicester, Mercedes-Benz agents
• 13.06.1997 and 30,407 miles - service by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 13.10.1997 and 35,878 miles - service and fresh coolant and brake fluid by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 13.05.1998 and 41,681 miles - service by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 20.10.1998 and 48,677 miles - service by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 01.06.1999 and 55,076 miles – service by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 03.05.2000 and 60,175 miles – service by Pentagon Mercedes-Benz
• 11.06.2001 and 65,528 miles – service by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 13.06.2002 and 72,905 miles – service and fresh coolant by Cruikshank Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 02.07.2003 and 74,155 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 16.06.2005 and 78,100 miles - service and fresh brake fluid by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 28.07.2006 and 82,113 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 30.05.2008 and 89,058 miles – service and fresh coolant and brake fluid by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 19.03.2010 and 92,829 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 28.05.2012 and 93,899 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 19.03.2014 and 95,625 miles – service and fresh coolant and brake fluid by Mercedes-Benz of Weston Super Mare
• 17.08.2014 and 96,055 miles – service by The SL Shop
• 21.08.2015 and 100,247 miles - service by The SL Shop
• 10.01.2016 and 101,467 miles - service by The SL Shop
• 13.03.2018 and 102,231 miles - service by The SL Shop
• 01.07.2019 and 104,186 miles - service by Halfords Autocentre, Bournemouth
• 14.03.2020 and 104,625 miles - service by Mercedes-Benz of Watford
• 29.6.2021 and 105,724 miles - serviced by the vendor (a retired RAF engineer)
• 10.07.2022 and 107,122 miles - serviced by the vendor
• 11.8.2023 and 107,705 miles - serviced by the vendor
• 31.8.24 and 108,296 miles - serviced by the vendor.

The car comes with plenty of invoices covering parts and spares ordered from, predominantly, the SL Shop, plus all sorts of bills and receipts for other routine maintenance work.

It has full sets of keys, a recent HPI report, its original books and manuals, and an MoT certificate, with no advisories whatsoever, that’s valid until 9th July 2026
 

As we have observed before, it’s really only in the UK that cars with mileages north of 100,000 are treated with such a high degree of largely misplaced mistrust.

Certainly, our friends in Europe or the USA, where continental scale means people have to drive further to get anywhere, don’t regard mileages like this with the same irrational suspicion as we do in the UK.

In any case, this particular car is an R107 Mercedes-Benz SL.

That means it’s been hewn from stone and screwed together by people who took immense pride in just building things better.

If they are well looked-after and properly curated by diligent owners, these cars are as good as bomb-proof in the long run.

And this one has been afforded exactly the right amount and quality of care and attention throughout its life.

We think it is more than ready and willing to give its next fortunate owner many, many years of high-quality, pedigree motoring pleasure.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £18,000 - £23,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.