Lot Ended
Description
Only 86,700 miles; recent service including new set of tyres and
new rear brakes; new mohair soft top; few owners, the current since
2016; lots of history; rare model in lovely condition
throughout
Rarest of all
the standard production R107 models, the 420SL was introduced in 1986 to replace
the 380SL and was part of the final ‘facelift’ generation that saw the R107
through to the end of its 18-year reign in 1989.
While Mercedes produced tens of thousands of the 300SL, 500SL and
560SL variants, only 2,148 units of the 420SL were built and it was never
officially sold in America, hence the low production numbers.
The heart of the 420SL was the smooth and
refined M116 V8 engine which produced 218bhp and 243 lb/ft. Allied to four-speed
automatic transmission, it could waft to 60mph in 8.5 seconds on its way to a
top speed of 132mph, making it virtually as quick as the 500SL but with improved
economy and refinement (the 4.2 being widely acknowledged to be a sweeter engine
than the 5.0).
A ‘facelift’ model, the
420SL also benefited from significant late-production upgrades including
improved handling with revised front suspension geometry and the addition of a
rear anti-roll bar; larger ventilated disc brakes and standard ABS; limited slip
diff; headlamp wash-wipe; cruise control; iconic 15” ‘flat-face’ Gullideckel
alloy wheels; deeper front air dam; enhanced rust protection and galvanized
panels, making them more durable than earlier models.
The 420SL thus represents the R107 at its most evolved: a
hand-assembled cruiser from the era of peak-Benz that combines the famous
‘hewn from granite’ feel with modern drivability and classic good
looks.
First registered in Essex in October 1987, this gorgeous 420SL has
been in the current ownership since October 2016 and has effectively had five
owners from new, the first, a hedge fund manager, keeping it for six years (1987
– 1993), the second for six years (1993 – 1999), the third for 16 years (1999 –
2015), the fourth for one year (2015 – 2016) and the current for 10
years*.
It has covered only 86,724
miles to date, warranted by no fewer than 23 old MOTs back to 1994 at 40,330
miles plus spreadsheets and many invoices showing all the work carried out on
the car between 1991 and 2025.
Throughout the late-1990s the
car was looked after by Silver Arrows Automobiles of Putney who unfortunately
lost the original service book after they had serviced the car in May 2001 at
58,576 miles (correspondence on file).
Invoices show that subsequent
maintenance was mainly by Appleford Car Engineering of Abingdon, then by
Mercedes-Benz of Bradford. During the current 10-year ownership it has been
regularly maintained by Mercedes-Benz of Milton Keynes, the last service being
in May 2024 at 86,090 miles which also included new rear brake discs and
calipers and a new set of Falken tyres and it has only covered 700 miles since.
More recently, in December 2025 it was fitted with a new mohair hood
from Allon White of Cranfield which cost £1,448. Flying through its MOT shortly
before the auction, the current ticket is valid until January 2027 with just one
minor advisory for a defective windscreen wiper blade. Under the rolling 40-year
rule, it will become free to tax and MOT-exempt next year.
The keen-eyed
will spot the optional external temperature gauge in the centre of the dash.
There is also a wind deflector stored in the boot, along with a spare pair of
sun visors, some rubber floor mats and an indoor car cover. Two sets of
keys are also present, along with a stand for the hard
top.
As you can see in the photos,
this pampered 420SL looks exceptionally smart for its year/mileage. We are told
that it drives as well as it looks and it has certainly been running beautifully
as we have moved it around on site, with oodles of V8 grunt and notably strong
brakes.
One of the nicest R107s we
have seen, this rare 420SL is on offer here at a sensible guide price and will
be a fine way to cruise around over the long hot summer that lies ahead of
us.
*Please note: While the V5C records seven former keepers, a
letter from the first owner states that he was the sole driver from new until
August 1993 during which time it was registered to the banks that he worked for
– Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com