2001 Mercedes Benz R129 SL280 with Beige Leather (275)

A very rare car, 1 of just 50 Designo Editions and arguably the best example of it’s kind

Rare ‘Designo’ Edition, Metallic Paint, Light 6 Hole alloy Wheels, Burr Walnut Trim, Desig The Mercedes-Benz R129 SL arrived in 1989, launching the world’s best loved open top grand tourer into the 1990s with style. The chrome and black rubber exterior that was synonymous with the previous generation was gone; in favour of a clean, angular design that has stood the test of time. The Bruno Sacco penned silhouette looks as good today as it did when we first saw it in the late 1980s. This new SL offered all of the luxury and panache that SL owners had become used to, with a range of powerful engines, trim levels and options. Built between 1989 and 2001, the final iteration of the R129 SL was available in a number of special editions. These cars combined beautiful paintwork with a range of interior finishes and options, making them some of the most desirable and collectable of all the classic Mercedes-Benz SLs. To celebrate the heritage of the Mercedes-Benz SL range, and as a final hurrah of the R129 in the final year of production, Mercedes-Benz launched three special edition trim levels - The SL Designo Allanite, SL Designo Almandine and Silver Arrow. The Silver Arrow was only offered as a 5.0 litre V8 SL500, where the Designo cars were available as SL280 or SL320. Finished in either Allanite Green with Java Leather or Almandine Purple with Bordeaux Leather, the Designo offered something very special and in limited numbers - only 50 of each combination according to the Merecdes-Benz press release. The car shown here is an SL280 Designo Allanite, finished in Allanite Green Metallic with 6 hole, lightweight two piece alloy wheels. The Designo edition was offered with light cream Java leather as featured here with ‘Designo’ embroidery. Elsewhere there is walnut burr trim, matching velour floor mats with leather lining. Included with the special edition Deisno were a variety of luxurious options, including heated memory seats, rear passenger seats, panoramic glass roof, Becker Mexico stereo with CD player and of course, the Heritage Designo badging. The Designo editions were priced at £51,190 for the SL280 or £53,940 for the SL320.

This 204hp 2.8 litre 280SL is accompanied by an impressive and well organised folder of service and maintenance documents, illustrating a life of careful use and studious maintenance. Included in the file is the original Designo brochure, along with a copy of the original press release from 2001. Every MOT certificate since the first one in 2004 is present, along with a selection of tax discs. It is clear from the paperwork that this car has lead a cosseted life, with consistent but sparing us between each subsequent MOT.

A low mileage example of a very desirable car, in superb condition with excellent documentation… A rare thing indeed that’s looking for a new owner to take over the stewardship of this very special car.