Lot Ended
Description
Current owner 7 years; huge history file to show meticulous upkeep
from new; bulkhead recently passed inspection; a pampered example of this
sought-after classic in a lovely colour scheme
Looking more
handsome with every passing year, the W107 Series Mercedes-Benz SL was built at
a time when the Stuttgart firm still had a reputation for building the best
engineered cars in the world.
To this day, no
car door closes with a more reassuring ‘thunk’ than a Mercedes SL and everything
about the car contrives to make even granite feel flimsy. Fast, comfortable and
reliable, no wonder it stayed in production fundamentally unaltered from
1971 until 1989 – the longest production run of any Mercedes to
date.
The W107 came in a wide range of engine
sizes in both straight-six and V8 formats, but pick of the crop was the
3-litre six that appeared in 1985. Employing a new KE Jetronic fuel injection
system linked to a modern engine management system, it not only achieved better
fuel economy than the 280 it replaced but more power as well. The official
figures were 185bhp and 188lb/ft of torque, sufficient to propel the 300 to
60mph in just 9.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 130mph. Almost as quick
as the larger V8 models, it was not only more economical but also handled better
thanks to improved weight distribution.
Supplied
new by Dick Lovett of Swindon in April 1987 to a Mrs M Edwards of Bath, this
late model 300SL benefits from all the improvements that were made to the W107
over its long life. Finished in Light Ivory with Medium Red cloth trim, it has
covered 139,350 miles to date and comes with two large files of history to show
meticulous upkeep from new.
The service book has
20 stamps up to 128,857 miles in March 2003 when the book runs out of pages – an
average service interval of 6,400 miles. There are invoices for at least five
more services since then plus many other invoices for work carried out and new
parts fitted.
Expenditure of note over the last
12 years/5k miles includes: new prop shaft flex discs in 2023; boot lid and wing
tops repainted in 2022; new radiator in 2021; new alternator in 2018; new
stainless steel exhaust sections in 2014; new hood, front and rear coil springs,
steering damper, ball joints, Zebrano gear knob and bumper rechromed in 2013;
steering box rebuilt and new front shocks in 2012.
Shortly before the auction the bulkhead was internally examined by
SJB Motor Services of Keynsham and declared to be sound and dry with no evidence
of rust (photos on file).
Our vendor, a
Mercedes-Benz Club member, has owned this pampered SL since May 2018 and
reports that it drives as well as it looks. Kept garaged and used lightly in
fine weather only, it has an MOT until February 2025 with just one minor
advisory (n/s/f tyre worn). The soft top is in excellent condition (having been
renewed in 2013) and a draught excluder and indoor car cover are also included,
as is a stand for the hard top, although this will need to be collected from the
Bristol area if desired.
As you can see in the
photos, this deeply desirable 300SL looks very smart indeed and has been
starting instantly and running beautifully as we have driven it around on
site.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970
309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com