1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SL

First registered in July 1989, this 300SL was out-shopped in the desirable and upmarket colour combination of blue bodywork over a blue M-B Tex interior, and was supplied new by C Sidney Mercedes-Benz of Bradford, to the first UK keeper.

Purchased as a ‘last chance ’to own an example of the breed from new - the R107 was discontinued not long after the first owner completed his purchase - this stunning 300SL was put to use as a summer commuting car for a number of years, between the then-owners house in North Yorkshire to his office in Leeds.

Fast forward a few years, and re-location of the aforementioned office to North Yorkshire meant that this R107 could rest easy on its laurels, becoming a weekend toy and cherished ownership experience.

Purchased by the current owner from The Market back in May last year from the first and only registered keeper, and since then the car has continued to be pampered, preened and kept garaged, with barely any mileage added to the odometer. In fact, the specific additional mileage is just 220 miles!

Resplendent in Diamond Blue Metallic, the R107 has truly come of age in recent years, and with its 50th anniversary celebrations in full swing, it’s no wonder we’re starting to see more and more enthusiasts taking up their seat behind the wheel of these wonderful SLs.

Looking along the flanks of the bodywork, we can see no signs of impact damage or mis-aligned panels, though no doubt there may be a couple of very small, virtually indistinguishable ‘car park ’dents or marks from the car’s time as a commuter vehicle.

Similarly, the paintwork itself is in wonderful condition, having evidently benefitted from cherished ownership and being garaged since new, in order to preserve its condition. Typically, there are some small stone chips, usage marks and general ‘patina ’commensurate with a vehicle of this age and mileage, but certainly nothing that would stand out unless you’re specifically looking for it.

We should mention that there are one-or-two patches of bubbling noted on this SL, specifically on the nearside of the rear panel and just behind the arch on the offside front panel, ahead of the driver’s door. Whilst we’re pointing out the negatives (though there are very few, it must be said) the rubber trims on both the front and rear bumper have seen better days, with some scuffs and scratches noted, and there are one-or-two other areas that are beginning to show their age.

Elsewhere, the chrome on this lovely R107 is in good order, and the soft top looks to be in very good shape overall, erecting and folding down with ease, though there is an unfortunate crack in the nearside rear quarter window which will require some attention.

The hard-top is present and correct, though the chrome is somewhat more dulled than on the rest of the vehicle, whilst there is an unusual residue/splatter on the inside of the rear screen. The catches for the hard-top release and engage with ease, which is always a good sign on these R107-era SLs!

Inside, the good news continues, as the blue-over-blue interior still looks remarkably fresh to this day, which is a strong indicator of having lived a cherished life.

For example, both seats show only the lightest signs of wear-and-tear such as minor creases and imperfections, whilst there are no signs of any rips, tears or damage to the covers.

Similarly, the carpets and floor mats are in an equally excellent condition, as is the rear load area behind the seats, where you’ll also find the OE first-aid kit remaining in-situ.

Looking at the dashboard, there are no signs of any cracks or sun damage, whilst even high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, shifter, door sill covers and door cards remain very presentable and are testament to the level of care lavished upon this SL by its owners over the years.

Up above, the inside of both the folding soft-top and removable hard-top are in great shape, with only a couple of small stains noted. The aforementioned damage to the NSR quarter window on the soft top will require attention, however.

As far as we’re aware, all systems are functioning as they should be, with no reported electrical faults from the vendor.

Underneath the bonnet of this SL sits a 3.0-litre, single-overhead-cam naturally-aspirated inline-six, which has covered a mere 49,720 miles in its lifetime.

The engine block, bay and ancillaries all look tidy and clean, and there is no sign of any obvious issues that we could see, though there was some oil staining/misting visible on the offside front corner of the block (image 218) and we noted that whilst driving, the coolant level light had a tendency to flash on/off when going around a roundabout.

The most recent MoT exam took place on 22 February 2022, resulting in a first-time pass at 49,501 miles with an advisory for the condition of both front brake hoses.

Included with the sale of the vehicle is a clean HPI report, the current MoT certificate, a brace of older MoT certificates to validate the low mileage, and two keys.

The V5 is currently on its way to us here at The Market, and will be uploaded when it is received.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation present, and this is available to view below.

We love a good R107 here at The Market; The classical styling, Mercedes build quality and wonderfully laid-back driving experience all contribute to a winning formula - no wonder they remain popular to this day with enthusiasts and collectors.

This particular example boasts low mileage and only one former keeper, making this an exceedingly rare opportunity to obtain a 300SL in such condition - not to be missed!

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £30,000 - £40,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.