The Mercedes-Benz R107 is not unlike the C3/C4 Chevrolet Corvette, in my book: they made a ton of them, you can always find one for sale, but a truly decent one is still a car worth checking out. The only issue is, how do you strike a balance between buying an average-quality example that’s been maintained for half the price versus spending a bit more to get the best of the best? That’s a very subjective question, but if I was going to swing for the fences, I’d buy a car in the color combo of white over red leather. Find this very clean 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL here on craigslist for $35,900.

The 560SL is a virtual landmark on the automotive landscape at this point, known by collectors and non-car enthusiasts alike. The shape is compact; when you see one of these luxury convertibles in person, it’s striking how small they are. The U.S. models got a standard hardtop but they also received the ugly safety bumpers that were a huge downgrade from the slim European assemblies. The best part about this particular R107 is the color: you don’t see the 560SL (or any SL of this generation, really) in Arctic White. Even more rare is one with the desirable red interior. White over red is a very attractive combo, which is why it’s a surprise so few cars are spec’d this way.

The seller reports that this 560SL has under 55,000 original miles, which explains why the body and leather are in such great condition. The interior of the R107 didn’t change much of the years, and the only real differences came down to whether the car was a U.S. model or one from the gray market, as the latter had much simpler HVAC controls. The seller’s car looks fantastic inside, with an attractive set of Coco mats and no obvious cracks in the dash. Plenty of these R107s were simply second or third vehicles, parked in a vacation home or reserved for Sunday drives.

The seller has treated this 560SL to loads of recent maintenance, including “….new Pirelli tires, brake hoses, brake fluid, air and fuel filters, steering coupling, resealed steering box, 2 fuel pumps, rebuilt fuel pump relay, hood seal, tie rods, steering damper…” and much, much more. The R107s, along with most Mercedes from this era, have very sensitive fuel systems, so the fact that it’s already been substantially rebuilt is a major win for the next owner. And, if you’re a bookworm, it was supposedly previously owned by author Agusten Burroghs, for whatever that’s worth. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the tip.