What amazes me about the R129-chassis Mercedes-Benz SL is how they still manage to find buyers, even after years of being regular fixtures on the cheap, used European car marketplace. These well-built machines have been commonplace for years, but that doesn’t mean potential buyers don’t want one of their summer cruiser or to park at a beach house. The appeal of these convertibles isn’t so mysterious when you factor in how embedded they are in our culture as a symbol of wealth and success, and the fact that you can experience those feelings for well under the cost of a new Kia. This 560SL listed here on eBay is said to be in good condition overall and is offered with no reserve.
The color appears to be Diamond Blue Metallic, which is nice change of pace from the usual reds and whites. The R107 came standard with the hardtop, so while it’s nice to see it here, it doesn’t really factor into the value proposition. The seller’s car sports two features that are highly indicative of the times in which it was produced, which includes the chrome fender arches and matching chrome wheels. The wheel arch decor tends to freak people out because they are known to hide rust; the wheels themselves are fine, but the silver-painted alloys present much better.
Perhaps the biggest surge of bidder confidence should come from viewing the interior. This 560SL is presentable but certainly not spectacular on the outside; however, the interior suggests it has been looked after, and that evidence comes from leather bucket seats with no tears and plenty of bolstering, along with a woodgrain center stack that still looks quite solid. That center console wood is highly susceptible to sun damage when the roof is left open for weeks at a time, so seeing it in very nice condition along with clean floor mats exhibiting little in the way of fading suggests the top was up and/or the car was indoors most of the time.
The 5.5-liter V8, which produces 238 horsepower and 287 lb-ft of torque, should be plenty for the type of cruising this 560SL is designed to do. These were not high performance machines, asides from the versions built by AMG for competition purposes, and the automatic transmission makes it feel even more stunted. Regardless, they remain popular to this day because they do one thing well, and that’s provide a smooth, affordable experience for top-down driving with all the cache that only the three-pointed star can provide.
r107
With only 2 bids right now it’s at just over $6k. These were quite popular when new but as previously owned (used car is no longer vogue) everyone knows they’re expensive to maintain. A basic tune up can cost between $500.00 to $1000.00. To replace a water pump is major surgery. Still if it goes for under $10k it’s likely worth it.
God Bless America
Along with what you said, is whether you can even find parts for it.
Had a black ‘87. Powerful auto, but problems with electrics. Better have a fat wallet when you get repairs.
this channel has gotten me into 2 cars not on my list oem. They’re this one and the AMX. Helps me wish I followed them when 1st out yrs ago. LOL, a lotta time lost. ANY AMX is of interest to me now.
Only up to the last of ’97 for these but still something to follow (?280? ended the i6 that yr?). (Was ’98 the 1st of the bent8 in MB?) But, “Yes”, I liked the look of the 190 but knew it “a poser’ (nuttin wrong, just nota ‘real racer’, 300sl WAS!). Even the 230, 250, 280 were fine ‘lookers’ for me. After that (with the W114 change) they began lookin like something froma Robin Leach tv show: too much glitz, rhine stones, flash only, etc. Odd, as the performance increased with displacement. But for an ‘extra’ car (vert, sporty, for ego/fun, not daily which needs to do work as well) one can choose whatever they want, no?
“No” as I dont have time/$ for ‘extra’ (at least not in the fashion I’d want to purchase/maintain it). Dreams are nice (& something to live for) and so I come here. Thnx to the writers’n contributors (often cites in the write-up) for giving me that material !
The main reason my 72 350SL 4.5 got passed on was because of the horrendous gas mileage. After two decades of ownership 12-15 mpg and a small gas tank just couldn’t be justified anymore. The workmanship was impressive though.
Glitzy? Honestly I’m not seeing it. It looks tasteful. More chrome than a Grand National maybe but overall a classy package. But the expense of repairs and even routine maintenance would scare me off.
Parts are expensive and still available, but you might have to order them from Germany, LOL! These were a dime-a-dozen in Hollywood back in the day, but parts prices to maintain or restore them keeps selling prices down now.
“Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz / She got a lot of pretty pretty boys she calls friends” – Hotel California, by The Eagles.
The thing about the R107 is there always seems to be a plentiful supply of 1- or 2-owner cars with a full and complete service history for sale for not a lot of dough. Why risk one with high miles and no history?
Could use a respray.
SOLD for $7,300.