Principal Facts:
Delivered to its first lady owner back in 1998, this 420 SL is finished in elegant Blue Black Metallic paint, with a grey leather interior. Fitted with the 4.2-litre V8, its smooth and brisk to drive, with the fitment of a limited-slip differential easing the use of its power and increasing its agility on the road. Since its delivery it’s been very well looked after by its first and subsequent owners, with its condition underlining that as much as the relatively low 55,505 miles that shows on its odometer.
A near perfect drive-away example of this desirable model, in a colour combination that’s both classy and timeless. It may lack the thick sheaves of paperwork that sometimes accompanies cars of this age, but the SLSHOP has been through this car from bumper-to-bumper and attest to its fantastic condition, while its Mercedes-Benz service booklet also demonstrates regular servicing and verifies that mileage.
Condition Synopsis:
In the 36 years it’s been around this 420 SL has evidently been looked after, given the great condition it presents in. The paintwork is still full of lustre, with the metallic paint popping in the sunlight, and while there’s the odd, expected evidence of some repairs for things like stone chips, they’re well done and barely noticeable – certainly not enough to detract from the car. The alloy wheels are all in good condition, too, and have recent (3-year-old) tyres with plenty of life in them. The interior is clean, the seats free from wear and tear, while the fabric hood is pristine – this car also coming with its hardtop.
Under the bonnet it’s a similar story, with the engine bay being very clean and almost entirely free of light surface corrosion. Indeed, it all presents so well it’s a deep detailing off concours levels of condition. It wants for little, save some new wiper blades and, of course, its next owner.
History File:
Unlike many cars of this age there’s no accompanying box file of receipts, though both its clear condition and the service booklet with plenty of stamps demonstrate that this 420 SL has been looked after and maintained as it should be. At the request of its current owner, and to make sure it drives as perfectly as it should do, SLSHOP has changed the steering ball joints and serviced suspension items, the receipt for that work forming the basis for ongoing evidence of care in the hands of whoever owns it next.
SLSHOP Summary:
We’re not short of fine R107s here at the SLSHOP, but this one’s right up there among the very best of them. Its colour combination and condition are very appealing, as is the 4.2-litre V8 engine, which delivers smooth, effortless performance. A car you could drive out the showroom here and use all day every day, or, alternatively, lavish some time on it to turn it into a something that would do well at a concours event. We’d err on the former, as while these cars do look sensational parked up at a show, they’re all the better when they’re enjoyed as they should be and driven.