The Mercedes-Benz SL from the R129 generation is a classic car that gets little attention. Many early cars, like this one, had clean lines and could do many different things. This type is the best in its class because it has low mileage and doesn’t need much upkeep. At the end of the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz worked on making small cars instead of their flagship convertible to keep their finances stable. That all changed for the 1990 model year when the brand-new R129-generation SL came out with a massive list of features, a great V-8 engine, and a look that looked like it would never go out of style. After 35 years, these cars are still not quite as valuable as they should be in the luxury car market, even though they cost six figures when they were first made. But you need to make an intelligent choice. This SL500 from 1992 looks like a great example. It’s for sale on Bring a Trailer, which is owned by Hearst Autos, along with invoice-pricing. You can see that it has only 33,000 kilometers on it, and the colors are beautiful. It lived most of its life in a desert because it was used at the original owner’s vacation home. The present seller, who knows a lot about Mercedes-Benz, carefully organized it before the auction. As Mercedes’ bean counters kept a close eye on the finances, the SL became softer and got a lot less equipment over time. For a car this old, this is not the case. This car has all the conveniences you could want in 1992, some of which aren’t even available today, like a power-adjustable rearview mirror that works with electrically changeable seats. For this era of SLs, the V-8 engine is the best. The six-cylinder engine is smooth but not very fast, and the V-12 engine could send the kids of your local repair expert to college. This car’s M119 5.0-liter V-8 engine has variable valve timing and two overhead cams. It has 322 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, and the transmission has four speeds. A car can look slow after thirty years, even if it has low miles and is stored in a dry place. Luckily, almost all of this car’s wearable parts have been replaced, such as the engine bearings and front-end bushings. The gearbox was also serviced to make it snappier. Over time, Mercedes made the SL less stiff, but these early models had stiffer handling, more stable suspension, and a rougher ride. Peak Mercedes driving experiences are often described as having a bit of the quality of building a bank vault about them, and that’s exactly what you get here. The car is in great shape and has an interesting look of midnight blue over dark tan. The car has a hard top that can be taken off and a new electric soft top with hydraulics that have been fixed up. The 16-inch aluminum wheels that came with the car are helpful. This 500SL cost just under $100,000 brand new, which is about $241,000 today, taking inflation into account. This no-reserve auction gives you a chance to get one today at a good price because it has low miles and has been completely reconditioned. There has never been a better dog of this breed, and the R129 will never be forgotten. April 4 is the last day to bid.
