Vehicle Description
When it comes to sports cars, Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition of
forging a unique path. The revolutionary 300 SL pioneered the use
of mechanical fuel injection and tubular space-frame construction
in road cars, firmly establishing the marque as a technological
powerhouse. Important as it was for the company image, the 300 SL
was very costly to build and not sustainable for the long-term. The
300 SL's successor, the R113 (230, 250 and 280 SL), shared a great
deal more components with its sedan counterparts, yet it still fit
the Mercedes sports car ethos; offering the style and performance
expected of a traditional sporting car, yet with surprising levels
of comfort and practicality. In 1971, the 280 SL was replaced by an
all-new flagship sports car, known internally as the R107. This new
SL was designed in-house at Sindelfingen by Karl Wilfert and his
team, who produced an understated yet highly sophisticated design.
Mercedes-Benz's obsession with safety led to a significant number
of subtle design features that spoke to the intense level of detail
the designers paid to every square inch of the car. This new
Mercedes SL sports car was the strongest, safest, most thoughtfully
engineered grand touring car money could buy. Mechanically, the
R107 took a page from its predecessor, riding on a unique platform
while sharing engines and suspension components with its sedan
counterparts. The engine bay was designed to accept an array of
engines ranging from a 2.8 liter inline six to a series of powerful
V8s, all of which featuring Bosch fuel injection. Beginning in the
1986 model year, the 5.6 liter V8 from the mighty S-class sedan was
shoehorned into the SL, transforming this comfortable GT car into a
genuine 150 mph sports car. Despite the welcome dose of
performance, the 560 SL managed to retain all of the luxury and
comfort that clients came to expect of the SL. Today, the 560 SL
stands as the most desirable of the line, with peerless build
quality, a robust chassis, and nearly two decades of technological
refinement. The 1986 560 SL on offer is a beautifully preserved,
one-owner car that has covered just 7,000 miles from new and
presents in outstanding condition inside and out. It is finished in
the lovely color combination of Astral Silver (DB735) over Burgundy
leather (code 277), this beautiful SL was garage kept and used
sparingly as a fair-weather weekend car. The previous owner
purchased this car new at a Pittsburgh-area Mercedes dealer,
initially registering it in their leasing business' name. They
loved the 560 SL so much, they decided to keep it and subsequently
re-titled it for personal use. In conversations with the previous
owner, we learned the Mercedes was always garage-kept and never
used in the winter. Only on rare nice weekends in the spring and
fall did they use the car, and when not driven long distances, it
was regularly started and driven around the block to circulate the
fluids. Even during times of limited use, the regular maintenance
was tended to by the dealer or local specialists. Thanks to the
care it has received, this 560 SL is one of the best we have had
the pleasure to offer. The original Astral Silver paint is in
excellent condition and very consistent with this being a low
mileage, unmolested car. The paint is highlighted by a subtle red
pinstripe which ties in with the burgundy leather interior. The
factory hard top and black canvas soft top are in excellent
condition; however, the plastic rear windows of the soft top do
show a bit of creasing, only from the fact that it was rarely if
ever used. Original wheels are immaculate, wrapped with
correct-specification Michelin MXV tires. Lights, lenses, chrome
and plastic fittings are all in factory-fresh condition, and the
doors shut with satisfying, vault-like precision. The lovely red
interior shows some light wear on the outer driver's seat bolster,
likely from the previous owner's regular trips around her
neighborhood to keep the battery fresh. Aside from that, the
leather, velour carpet, and plastics are all in beautiful
condition. The wood trim on the console and dash is like-new and
free from the typical cracking and peeling that was a common issue
on these cars. The factory-fitted Becker Grand Prix stereo/cassette
player is still in its rightful place, which works as it should in
conjunction with the power antenna. Lifting the trunk lid reveals
excellent original carpeting in red, and the unused spare wheel is
in place, complete with the factory tag still intact. The books and
manuals are included in their original pouch, along with the
convertible top tools, and even an original bottle of touchup
paint. The first aid kit is like-new, and remarkably, the factory
tool kit is still sealed in the plastic bag. Underhood detailing is
honest and in keeping with this being a fastidiously maintained,
gently used original car. The gold-cadmium finishes are in good
condition, and factory-applied labels and tags intact. Some
maintenance and state inspection records are included, which reveal
the car was serviced annually, and that the mileage is genuine. As
expected, it runs and drives beautifully, feeling every bit as
solid as the day it left the factory. Given the practicality,
performance, and durability of the 560 SL, it is rare to find cars
that have covered so few miles. This car has been lovingly cared
for by a single owner, and it represents an excellent opportunity
to acquire a fastidiously maintained, showroom-fresh SL. This
collector-grade 560 SL is outstanding in every respect and would be
a worthy addition to any collection of modern classics.
