1987 Mercedes 500SL £54,995
This is big money for an R107 but, as Richard Mason explains, you’d find it difficult to track down a better example
This is one of the best R107s we’ve driven, even though its basic spec lacks cruise control, rear seats and air conditioning. Here is a car that could be used every day, but in this condition and mileage of only 28k, you might prefer to keep it for special occasions. The healthy battery quickly has the V8 humming. Manual seat adjustment is easy. The driver’s manual door mirror is smooth to adjust, but the passengerside electric counterpart has restricted movement – worth investigating.
The SL sets off smoothly, and immediately the mileage is reflected in the driving experience. It’s sharp, and the steering is responsive with good feel – not always the case with recirculating ball systems of this era. The suspension is pliant and gives a composed ride. Kickdown unleashes a good rush of torque. The brakes are powerful and stop the SL easily in a straight line but the handbrake is stiff, just engaging on the first notch.
The Champagne Gold metallic paint is unmarked. The wheelarches are all solid and there’s no visible rust on the front wings, a common problem. The passenger door seal is worn at the top, although there’s no wind noise from it. All the glass is original and unscratched. The chrome and the bonnet badge are excellent, and the rubber bumper inserts are unmarked. The 15-hole alloys are also unblemished and wear good Michelin tyres all-round. The optional hardtop is in perfect condition inside and out. Because that was bolted on for our test drive, we couldn’t inspect the soft top, but it looks to be in good condition in recent photos.
The seats have only slight fading in places, and the door cards are scuff-free. The dashboard is solid with no cracks – fairly unusual with R107s. The leather steering wheel is in good condition, while the wood veneer is shiny and sound. The Panasonic radio is aftermarket but period-correct. Wipers, indicators and headlamp flasher work correctly, and the instruments display good oil pressure and correct coolant temperature. The electric windows operate well, and the doors open and shut with that bank-vault clunk.
It’s clean under the bonnet, with period stickers, no rust on the slam panel, and the front bulkhead looks reassuringly solid. The sound insulation is new, but the area isn’t over-detailed; you’ll find the usual discolouration of the air filter box.
The hoses and belts look new, as does the battery. The oil is clean with no mayonnaise on the filler cap. There are no signs of leaks, and the fluids look fresh. Tickover is smooth and rattle-free. The timing chain and plastic guides, which can be brittle at this age irrespective of mileage, will be replaced by the dealer before sale. The service book shows 20 services up to June 2020, with documents proving many well-known independents have serviced the car. In 2017, SL Shop conducted a major front bulkhead rust repair costing £3245, followed by an engine and gearbox service and other works totalling £4984. A stack of MOT certificates validates the mileage. It’s flawless, but you’ll need deep pockets.