Vehicle Description
35,675 original miles. Beautiful and unusual color combination.
Very well maintained, everything works, recently serviced. Two
tops, full tool roll, original manuals, and first aid kit. A very
nicely preserved late 560SL that looks like a million bucks!There's
a certain prestige that the R107 Mercedes-Benz SL represents that
few other cars can match. They were insanely expensive when they
were new, and as a result cars like this 1988 560SL were toys for
the rich and famous. Today, they're considerably more affordable
yet that image continues, allowing almost anyone to enjoy one of
the very finest machines ever built by Mercedes-Benz. It really was
the last Mercedes that was totally and completely driven by
engineering rather than marketing, and because of that it drives
like nothing else on the road. Wearing beautiful Dark Gray
Metallic, this very handsome SL shows just over 35,000 original
miles and has obviously never been used as a daily driver. That's
100% original paint with no accidents, no touch-ups, and no issues,
and you can clearly see why these cars were so expensive when they
were new. Panel gaps are exacting and everything fits with a
precision that few other automakers have ever been able to match.
The doors swing closed and sound like they weigh 500 pounds yet
they're effortless. And the deep shine on paint that's approaching
its 36th birthday speaks volumes about both the quality of the
workmanship and the car it has received over the years. There's
enough chrome to make it look upscale and the famous Mercedes-Benz
taillights are bright and crisp, not sun-faded and chalky. Chrome
fender trim has probably been on the car since it was new, and adds
a bit of flash, but that's the lone modification on what is an
extremely clean SL.Mercedes wasn't great at creating interesting
names, but the Medium Red leather interior is absolutely stunning
against the dark gray paint. It's a subtle yet elegant combination
that you won't see at every car show and reminds us that Mercedes
was still able to deliver a bespoke automobile to a discerning
customer. The 560 received leather in place of the 450/380's MB-Tex
vinyl, and combined with the deep wool carpets and real wood
appliques on the dash, provides a first-class passenger
compartment. Aside from some very minor wear on the driver's seat
outer bolster, the interior is in excellent condition with no rips
or tears and zero evidence of UV damage on the dash pad, so the car
has been properly stored. Even more remarkably, the wood on the
dash and center console is jus beautifully preserved, a rare thing
in these cars where exposure to the sun causes cracking and
splitting. Nice! The hefty steering wheel feels substantial in your
hands and it's leather-wrapped in the 560SL, another nice upgrade
from the earlier cars. Of note, everything works properly,
including cold A/C, and the original Becker Grand Prix stereo still
sounds great. Two tops were standard on the SL, and with the
removable hard top in place, it seals up as well as a closed car
and the convertible top is easy to operate once you get the hang of
it (the original top tools are included with the car). The trunk is
likewise upholstered in more of that luxurious wool carpet, while
underneath you'll find the original spare tire that's never been
down. It also includes the original tool roll and jack assembly
tucked into the quarter panel.The big news for the 560SL was the
robust 5.6-liter SOHC V8, which was a HUGE step up from the
previous 3.8-liter version. Far more muscular with almost endless
torque, it transformed the SL from a pleasant cruiser to something
more akin to a German muscle car. Now I don't recommend that you go
around doing burn-outs in your new SL, but you can certainly tell
that this was a car bred to run on the unlimited-speed Autobahn. It
starts easily, idles properly, and generally goes about its
business with a minimum of effort, as any luxury car should. But
prod it a bit and it'll drop down a gear and all that torque comes
online at once, launching the roadster forward with genuine
enthusiasm. The 4-speed automatic transmission is smooth and
unobtrusive, and you'll note that it normally starts in 2nd gear
just to keep things smooth, but again, a gentle prod kicks it down
into 1st, at which point you'd better make sure you're holding on.
It's just joyous to drive. The fully independent suspension is
supple yet capable, willing to run down your favorite country road
at 8/10ths or commute on pockmarked freeways with equal competence.
And the powerful 4-wheel disc brakes are ABS assisted on the 560SL,
so it's as safe and sure as Mercedes' reputation. You'll note zero
rust or rot because this car has never seen winter weather, and
that's the original exhaust system, so it has just the right
soundtrack?a gentle hum rather than a raucous V8 burble. Factory
15-inch alloy wheels are unmarked and carry 205/65/15 blackwall
radials of indeterminate age.Extras include the original tool roll,
full stocked first-aid kit, a complete set of manuals, and a
detailed ownership file. If you could have just one hobby car, we'd
make a strong argument for a 560SL. They're comfortable, reliable,
elegant, and fun to drive. They offer great club support and an
enthusiastic group of owners who know all the car's secrets, and
they were made before substantial computerization so they're able
to be maintained by a home mechanic. And everyone around you will
think that you've hit the lottery when it shows up in your
driveway. Don't worry, we won't tell them how affordable it really
is. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes
personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.
