PRICE £ SOLD!!!
YEAR 1987
ENGINE 4196cc/V8/OHC/Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection
POWER 215bhp@5200rpm
TORQUE 239lb ft@3750rpm
MAXIMUM SPEED 130mph  
0-60MPH 8.0sec
GEARBOX RWD, four-speed automatic
MILEAGE 40,611 miles
MOT One year from sale
CHASSIS NUMBER WDB1070472A064755
COLOUR Signal Red (568H)
INTERIOR Black MB Tex with black/grey Sports Check cloth inserts
WIDTH 1790mm
LENGTH 4390mm 

Finished in one of the great Mercedes-Benz SL colours, this handsome example of a late R107 SL has one of the range’s more powerful V8 engines and boasts a very low mileage for a 35-year-old classic

BACKGROUND
The seventh generation of Mercedes-Benz’s SL sports car was only launched at the end of last year, meaning that the ‘Super-Leicht’ range has now had an unbroken production run of 68 years. Over that time, all the cars have been paradigms of class, quality and performance, following on from awesome W198 ‘Gullwing’ coupe kicking things off in 1954. One of the most enduring of all the series was the the R107, which still holds the record for the longest manufacturing run, staying around for almost 20 years, from 1971 to 1989. Such was its longevity that, for many people, it has become the archetypical SL design.

The R107 replaced the W113 ‘Pagoda’ SL, which had been around for eight years. Had the R107 followed a similar life cycle, it would have lasted until 1979. In reality, it ran all the way through to 1989 and, although it had a few mechanical and cosmetic refreshes and upgrades along the way, it was still looking pretty good almost to the dawn of the 1990s. Since then, it’s become a thoroughbred classic car, more appreciated than ever - as much for its robust engineering as its svelte, glamorous appearance.

The 420 SL was a comparative late-comer to the game, only being introduced in 1985 and lasting through to the end of R107 manufacture. It superseded the 380 SL, upping the spec by adopting a 4196cc V8 in place of its predecessor’s 3818cc engine. It also featured Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection which, unlike the previous all-mechanical systems, featured engine management electronics which controlled idle speed, fuel rate and mixture, thus making what was already a great car to drive even better. The 420 SL is regarded as one of the best of SL bunch.

OUR CAR
This example is both low-mileage and low-owner, showing 40,611 models on its odometer and two registered keepers on its V5C. Its first custodian, who ran a successful poultry business in rural Dorset, ordered it from Caffyns, the local Mercedes-Benz agent in Dorchester, for around £30,000 and took delivery of it in April 1987. It joined his other Mercedes vehicles, a 350 SL and 380 SL; he was obviously a man who knew what he liked and stuck with it.

From a personal letter in the history file that accompanies the car, we know that he owned the car through to May 2018, and always kept it in a garage, only driving it when the sun was out and ‘never in the rain’. He also reflected that ‘Driving through the Dorset countryside in the evening with the roof down was a magical experience - we were able to enjoy all the scents, both good and bad’. The supplying dealership in Dorchester always looked after the car, save for a few incidences when his local garage did the occasional MoT.

Eventually though, old age caught up with the original owner and his wife, and it was felt that the Mercedes should be passed onto somebody better able to enjoy it. And so, in 2018, after around 40,000 miles, it passed to only its second owner, a private collector. He kept it in a dehumidified garage with his other cars, and again only used it in the dry. Although the car had been well-cared for, its new keeper took it to specialist The SL Shop for a full inspection, resulting in, during 2019, bulkhead restoration work by The SL Shop to attend to what is one of the R107’s few Achilles’ heels, rust in the scuttle. This can lead to damp carpets, water in the footwells, temperamental blower motors and unpredictable electrics, plus other issues. The job, costing close to £6000, also included refurbishment of the gear selector wood pack along with a few other bits and pieces.

Although some of the earlier history for the Mercedes was lost when the original owner’s nephews took over his poultry business and managed to misplace some of the paperwork relating to the car, there is the book pack in the correct wallet with owner’s manual, other literature and service booklet showing 18 stamps from its supplying Dorchester dealership up to 2018. The most recent stamp is from September 2021 at 40,398 miles, performed by Mercedes-Benz of Wakefield. There’s also a selection of MoT certificates back to 2005, various maintenance invoices from the 21st century (and a few from the 20th), Blaupunkt radio instruction and the original bill of sale. Plus the factory toolkit is also with the car and there’s the bonus of the hard-top with stand, along with original numberplates, tax disc holder and key fobs.

BODYWORK
Even given that the 420 SL has only covered around just over 40,000 miles, its condition (believed original) is close to superb. Whatever the exemplary build quality of this generation of SLs (and the ability of Signal Red paint to look good well past when other shades are showing their age), for this Mercedes-Benz to still look as great as it does after over 35 years is quite an achievement, and a testament to those who have looked after it in the past. There are very few blemishes anywhere on the body; even stonechips are most noticeable by their almost total absence. The paint itself is still very vibrant and shiny, with no signs of fading or over-polishing, while the sill jacking points, where corrosion often strikes, are very sound and the sills themselves thoroughly undersealed.

Inside the petrol flap, you’ll find the tyre pressure data sticker still in place, and it looks like it’s hardly been in place for 35 weeks, let alone 35 years, such is its condition. All the chromework is excellent and the the rubber inserts on the bumpers have survived without any scuffing, which is something of a miracle on something of this maturity.

Rather than the colour-coded aluminium wheeltrims found on earlier R107s, this example hails from the age of alloys. Its wheels are all very smart with no kerbing apparent, so much so that we feel sure that they must have been refurbished at some point. The tyres match all around; they’re Michelin 205/65 R15 Energy Saver Green X items, date-stamped 2017, so they have plenty of tread left. It looks like they were replaced because of advisories during the 2017 MoT, which means they have travelled under 400 miles.  

The manually-operated black hood can’t have seen that much use, if the car was only used on dry days. It’s still taut and well-fitting, with the black fabric as good as everywhere else on this car. The only marks are dust signs, from lack of operation, and there are no tears, fraying or areas of wear. All three plastic windows are clear with great visibility. The hard-top is similarly excellent.  

INTERIOR
Thanks to the dark-coloured upholstery, which doesn’t show as many marks as lighter finishes, the interior still looks practically showroom-fresh. Signs of any real wear or tear are minimal, with the black carpets protected by rubber overmats, are very good, with little evidence of grubby shoes and, of course, following the bulkhead restoration, no dampness or discolouration. Even the door pulls on the spotless door cards are free from dirt, and the steering wheel rim looks like it’s been turned through far less than 40,000 miles. The walnut veneer is in great order, being lustrous and undamaged, with no lifting or cracking of the veneer. The wood around the gear selector was refurbished back in 2019 of course, but it perfectly matches the rest of the finish. The padded dashboard top has no splits or UV damage.  

A Blaupunkt Melbourne SQR 26 radio/cassette player rightfully occupies the centre console. It’s probably the unit the car came with, and it still functions as it should. All the electrics function as intended, including the clock. These can stop working as these cars get older, but here, it’s still ticking away as intended.

The boot is fully carpeted with the same colour material as in the cabin. It all clean and tidy, with the jack and toolkit in place in the right floor well. The tool roll looks complete, although some of the equipment are no longer the Mercedes-Benz-branded originals.

ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR
The 4.2-litre V8 neatly fills the engine bay, dominated by the substantial air filter. The engine, its ancillaries and surroundings are very clean and well-detailed, and the fact that the red paint in the bay matches that of the exterior does back up the assumption that all - or at least most - of the exterior finish is all-original. There’s no sign of any DIY wiring plumbed in, and after the recent service just over 200 miles ago, all the fluids look healthy and are at the right levels. The soundproofing/insulation material under the bonnet is undisturbed and undamaged, and there are bonus points for many of the original information and warning stickers still being in place.

This car drives just as it should. These V8 engines are capable of stellar mileages if looked after properly; this one obviously has been and 40,000 miles is barely run in for one of these unstressed units. It starts instantly, idles smoothly, and there’s no roughness when cold or concerning noises from within. 215bhp is a very usable amount of power, resulting in a lively and responsive SL throughout the four-speed automatic transmission’s range. This shifts smoothly and appropriately, with kickdown giving a very heady burst of acceleration. The handling is sharp and the brakes very effective; in short, this 420 SL has all the impeccable road manners and behaviour that you’d expect from such a thoroughbred German sports car.    

SUMMARY
This is a superb example of its kind, and it’s all the more special because of its low mileage and originality. In a world of restored SLs and high mileage examples, this one retains its original character and should have many decades of life left, assuming the due care and attention it deserves. A tough, desirable Teutonic classic that represents everything the R107 range excelled at.

While Greenside Cars Ltd has tried to ensure information and assessments are accurate and complete, we are aware that some errors and omissions may occur from time to time. We are not able, therefore, to guarantee the accuracy of information and cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from it. We highly recommend that you examine any vehicle to check the reliability of the information supplied. Please contact us for further details, images, or to arrange a viewing of this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL.

PRICE

£ SOLD!!!!

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YEAR

1987

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ENGINE

4196cc V8

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MILEAGE

40,611

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COLOUR

SIGNAL RED

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To enquire about this vehicle or request a viewing, please contact us via phone or email.