1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

‘D142 UNT’ is a 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SL finished in Signal Red and fitted with the mighty five-litre V8 engine under the bonnet as well as the useful rear seat option.

The property of well-known, Michelin-starred chef Anton Mosimann since September 2023, it comes with a very good service history and a long and advisory-free MoT – and with only 89,000 miles on the clock it’s barely run-in by R107 standards.

And, it’s being sold with no reserve, so is going to sell from the very first bid. 

If you’ve had a notion to buy a convertible sportscar in time for Easter, please read on because this is an absolute cracker.

The R107 is renowned for its build quality and cars like this one show you why. Even though it’s coming up for forty years old, the panel fit and shutlines are all still excellent.

The metalwork is also free of dents and dinks, and peering along the flanks shows an absence of ripples and other wear.

Signal Red is a great colour for the model too, and the finish on this is sleek and glossy and suitably sporting. 

Speaking of which, a neat small rear spoiler adds another touch of sportiness and its colour ties in nicely with the black folding roof. 

The fabric hood still relatively new and was fitted by Len Shires Motors in March 2018. It is still in an excellent condition, including the three plastic windows, which are still clear. It also rises and falls as it should, fits tautly, and tucks away neatly under a body-coloured tonneau for a sleek, clean profile.

The SL also benefits from having a matching Signal Red hardtop. Whist the locking mechanisms function correctly the chrome strips on the hardtop have become damaged and as such it does not sit well enough for it to be locked into position, and thus this will need to be fixed. There is also a dent to the hardtop on the rear offside area. There is also no hard top stand (probably how & why it became damaged).

The front chrome bumper is enhanced with a chrome badge bar, and there is further chrome on the rear bumper, window surrounds, grille, roof rails, and door handles and mirrors. All of it is in a good condition.

The factory 15-inch alloy wheels are in great shape and free of any kerbing damage. They are also fitted with Goodyear tyres on the rear and Michelin (what else?) on the front. All have decent tread left on them.

As for flaws, the rubber trim on the nearside corner of the rear bumper is coming away a little, the offside front indicator repeater is cracked, the nearside rubber door seal has perished, and some of the centre caps on the wheels are worse than others. 

Trivia, in other words.

The cream leather interior is in an excellent condition too but then you’d probably guessed that it would be, hadn’t you?

The front seats are still firm and springy in that unique Mercedes way, and they’re barely marked much less worn out. They’re also heated, which isn’t an option we see very often, and a removeable wind deflector allows for ruffle-free motoring when the roof is lowered; betwixt the two, top-down winter fun is eminently possible.

The rear seats are in an even better condition, and the door cards and hardtop headlining are all good. 

Ribbed overmats protect the very good carpets, and lifting the latter shows solid metal floors underneath.

As for the walnut veneer trim, it is both extensive as well as being in a very good condition. Free of cracks, chips, and faded lacquer, it adds considerably to the cockpit’s ambience.

A modern JVC headunit is fitted and other modern conveniences include a 12-volt point between the front seats as well as factory-fitted electric windows, cruise control, an external analogue thermometer, and a heated rear window in the hardtop.

The boot carpet is a bit grubby, but the boot floor is solid and the space contains a full-size spare alloy wheel that is fitted with a very good Pirelli tyre. It also plays home to a warning triangle, a comprehensive tool kit, and a selection of spares. Please see the photos for details of what’s included.

As for flaws, there’s  small area of colour loss on the outer edge of the driver’s seat and a small tear on the inner bolster, the headlining of the folding roof is slightly grubby, the nearside rear trim has a small tear in it, the glass in the passenger sunvisor is cracked, and the rearmost section of the centre console has yellowed with age and the carpet within it is stained.

The service history is comprehensive and very well documented:

• 20.05.1987 and 1,123 miles – service by Lancaster Europa
• 26.07.1989 and 8,619 miles – service by Lancaster Europa
• 19.05.1993 and 13,667 miles – service by Lancaster Europa
• 11.07.1996 and 15,922 miles – service by Portmann Mercedes-Benz
• 18.08.1997 and 22,958 miles – service by Drayton of Stoke Limited
• 29.04.1998 and 26,553 miles – service by Drayton of Stoke Limited
• 22.01.2002 and 37,153 miles – service by Drayton of Stoke Limited
• 20.09.2004 and 40,704 miles – service by Chapman Mawdsley & Sons Ltd
• 07.03.2006 and 41,891 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz of Southport
• 24.05.2007 and 43,346 miles – service by Chapman Mawdsley & Sons Ltd
• 18.04.2008 and 43,973 miles – service by Chapman Mawdsley & Sons Ltd
• 29.04.2010 and 45,768 miles – service by Chapman Mawdsley & Sons Ltd
• 24.07.2012 and 47,538 miles – service by Alexandra Motors
• 01.02.2013 and 67,614 miles – service by Roger Edwards (Motors)
• 25.04.2016 and 67,551 miles – service by Len Shires Motors Ltd including fresh brake fluid and rear brake pads
• 20.07.2018 and 75,864 miles – service by Garage Plus of Montreux
• 17.07.2020 and 86,000 miles – service by (unknown)
• 10.10.2022 and 89,301 miles – new battery by Len Shires Motors Ltd

As you can see – and would have every right to expect given the pampering it’s received over the years – it fires into life readily and idles as smoothly as anything we’ve seen. 

It also revs as it should, has a lovely exhaust note, and the automatic gearbox even has a Sport setting, which should pep things up a bit.

There’s also evidence of a recent radiator cap plus what looks like fresh coolant and a very clean dipstick, all of which is comforting.

In addition, its MoT certificate, which is valid until November 2024, was issued with no advisories, just like the previous five.

The good news continues with the fact the engine bay is nicely presented and very clean. Not too clean that it will deter you from using it, it is certainly smart enough that 99% of people would be very happy to show it off as it is.

The underside looks solid and well maintained. No MoT tester has ever mentioned structural rot or corrosion, and even the suspension components are free of the usual surface rust. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Mercedes comes with the book pack plus lots of old invoices and expired MoT certificates.

We are struggling to find a single reason not to buy this delightful Mercedes-Benz 500SL.

It’s got the right engine under the bonnet, is finished in a great colour, has both folding and solid roofs as well as the rare rear seat, and has a peerless service and maintenance record with no mention ever having been made about rot.

It’s also being offered with a sensible guide price of £25,000 - £35,000 and no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid.

Tempting, isn’t it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.