One of the more staggering details about vehicles that end up as projects or barn finds is how much they originally cost. The seller of this R129-series Mercedes-Benz 500SL has the original window sticker and other details confirming the MSRP when this car was new, which is why it’s amazing to see it in absolutely decrepit condition now. However, it’s not uncommon for a vehicle with low retail value once it reaches a certain age to be subject to less and less upkeep over time, and show up here on eBay with a few bids to less than $500 and no reserve.
It’s a shame, too, because these cars have the potential to be great if they are cared for. The R129 is one of the more beautiful vehicles made in the last 50 years, and seems to be aging like fine wine. The design is simple but handsome, and has commanding road presence – when you don’t see one that’s clearly been riding the downward slope of depreciation and disenfranchised owners. The 500SL also come with a wonderful engine known as the M119 V8, a mill with a direct connection to Mercedes’ storied motorsports legacy. That’s probably why it still runs and drives, despite being neglected for ages.
Yes, it’s true: the M119 was the basis for the powerhouse racing engines in many of Mercedes’ iconic competition cars in the early 90s. This includes the Sauber-Mercedes C9 and C11, the CLK LM, and the CLR prototype. The last one was probably the most forgettable in terms of racing experience, but the C9 and C11 cars enjoyed great success. The M119, in other words, is built to take beating after beating in actual, high-stakes competition, which is why it’s of little surprise that the engine in this car still runs. In the 500SL, it produces 322 b.h.p. and 332 lb.-ft. of torque.
The interior is always one of the most tell-tale signs of how a car was looked after. You can have a vehicle that’s been left outside for some time and is now in sore need of a detailing, but the cabin reveals it was well-loved when it was still being driven regularly. When a car looks like this 500SL inside, you can tell the owners clearly stopped caring eons ago. What a bummer – the carpets are filthy, the leather is ripped up and split, and it just generally looks grimy. This is the biggest red flag to me that serious maintenance issues were ignored, but it’s going cheap enough at the moment that it could still be worth the risk.
Passenger seat has been racoon tested, racoon approved.