1972 Mercedes-Benz R107 350SL with Brown Leather

A car like HHR 30K needs no introduction — one look at its photos and story, and you’ll realise that it has been loved and cared for in the past. No stranger to publicity, having made it to brilliant magazines like Mercedes Enthusiast and MB Gazette, this 1972 Mercedes-Benz (R107) 350 SL is an early-model car with six former keepers and an extensively detailed service record, especially from the year 2000 onwards. It’s also MoT and ULEZ exempt, and while it may appear like a well-kept example (which it definitely is), it’s no garage queen — with an odometer reading of over 120,000 miles.

And in no way does it look like it’s more than half a century old, both on the inside and outside. Mercedes-Benz launched the R107 SL as a replacement for the rather well-successful W113 Pagoda, so it clearly had large shoes to fill. What Stuttgart might’ve not anticipated was that this brand-new SL, with its steel-intensive construction, a wide range of engines, and overall modernity (relatively, of course) would go on to become one astoundingly popular product, on both sides of the Atlantic. Available in both convertible form and also a longer coupe version (the SLC), the 107-Series stayed on sale for nearly two decades. The mix of robust engineering and great — if a touch slab-sided — looks meant that Mercedes were able to shift about 300,000 of these.

Among the V8 SLs, the range started with the 350 SL — a 3.5-litre-engined convertible with about 200 hp to play with. That does give the 107 very decent drivability, and as we’ve experienced, solid reliability, especially with cars that have been maintained well. Which this one definitely is.

This 1972 car is a well-used and equally well-maintained example of the Panzerwagen — quite possibly how it was intended to be. With nearly 52 years since its birth and 122,819 miles on the clock, the car is more than just four wheels and bodywork, it's almost as if its mechanical self is complemented by driving memories. But the way it hides its age without trying too hard is commendable — there's very little to complain about here. The bodywork is undoubtedly clean, if not entirely in delivery mileage condition. The interior too looks handsome, with only the seats giving out a sign that the car has seen some use. The history section below details the work done on the car, and we recommend you have a gander to know the car better. The seller has pointed out a few things that will be of interest to the owner. This includes an aftermarket JVC radio (cassette player) that's been fitted along with modern speakers. You also get the spare keys, and a full-size spare wheel with the jack. The hard top and its stand are included in the sale, and the only two things that needs attention are the onboard soft top's quarter windows which are currently patched, and the air temperature gauge, which isn't working. There's no AC, but the car does get an alarm, retrofitted mechanical cruise control, a trickle charger, etc. Regarding how the SL is to drive, the current owner says that its ride is exceptionally smooth and the V8 makes a pleasant noise. It gets its yearly maintenance at a local mechanic. The sills and the floor pan were found to have some patches of rust and the owner got it rectified — in addition to getting the car undersealed. Apart from replacing the usual consumables, the steering and suspension systems were also refurbed not too long ago, adds the seller.

The great bit about having an enthusiast selling their car is that you can expect detailed information about nearly everything, even without seeing it in the metal. Under the same ownership since 2000, this SL has had its maintenance, repairs, and MoT tests recorded meticulously. Some bits worth mentioning are that this early example was first registered in 1972 and was originally painted Sand-beige Metallic. It was then painted British Racing Green — sometime in the past according to the seller, and even got the matching chrome hub caps (which were replaced with the current, refurbed ones in 2018). The interior continues to be in the original two-tone scheme. It was sent to the SLSHOP in 2015 for a complete check and everything was found to be good. The R107 has been on a number of long drives and has proven to be nothing but dependable. Not surprising, we'd say.

Cars are meant to be used, and the example here shows that. More than two decades of careful ownership under the current keeper has ensured that it's difficult to guess this 107's age without looking at its paperwork. And it's not every day that you get a chance to buy a solid SL that's been on the cover of a much-loved magazine!