‘Ferraris have been a casualty of the global economy’

Mercedes R129 one of the benefactors of market cooling – if you’re a buyer, that is

The values of most classics are wilting as we stand bewildered, staring into a geopolitical abyss. The price drops on some metal may have been startlingly severe but many now also look like compelling opportunities. Take the R129 Mercedes SL. Not so long ago the clever money was on early mint examples of the 500SL becoming the new evergreen R107s, and on that basis some low-mileage cars even changed hands for over £20k. But that heady optimism has since drifted away into the ether.

In June Anglia Car Auctions sold a spanking ’93 500SL in Almandine Red with four owners, 61,000 miles, 16 stamps in the service book, original bill of sale and all Mots for only £6700. Not so long ago that would have been an easy £12k. And in the same sale a ’97 320SL in Imola Red with black leather, 76,000 miles and 18 services by Mercedes-benz dealers made just £6890. In May CCA sold a mint ’95 warranted 29,000-mile 500SL in Blue-black with comprehensive history file for £10,989 – or roughly half what it would have been pitched at a couple of years ago. Lots of R129s have also gone home from auctions as ‘no sales’ and some highmileage 320s have been struggling to better three grand. Barons recently sold a blue ’96 320 with 186k but FSH and freshly serviced with new tyres for only £2420 while Anglia dispatched a tidy ’95 320 with 154k for only £2120.

VALUE 2012 £9750 VALUE NOW £8000 ‘Lots of R129 Merc SLS have gone home from recent auctions as “no sales”’