Vehicle Description
There are many who feel that the R107 SLs were the last of the
engineered Mercedes-Benz automobiles. After that, the cars were
mainstream, and the engineers were joined by the marketing
department, and the slogan "Engineered like no other car" fell by
the wayside. Incredibly preserved cars like this low ownership 1987
Mercedes-Benz 560SL represents one of the last of the best, a
low-mileage survivor with a strong 5.6L V8 motor that proves why
these cars are still wonderful machines that truly deserve their
time-honored reputations.
If you could afford one of these when it was new, it meant you had
truly arrived in the world, and that you cared about smart
investing as much as making a good first impression. Nautical Blue
Metallic is the perfect color on a grand tourer such as this, and
it is remarkably well-preserved on this 78,893-mile example. It has
clearly led an easy life in the warm Texas climate, and at 33 years
old, it's barely broken-in. Panel gaps are exemplary and the trim
fits with a precision that was typical of Mercedes-Benz quality of
the era, and the "built like a bank vault" term was coined just for
these cars. The heavy chrome and rubber bumpers were an unfortunate
by-product of North American federal regulations, but they, too,
add to the car's appeal with their purposeful look, as if Mercedes
didn't care about appearance as much as function-which was 100%
true. There's also a single pinstripe running the length of the
body in contrasting tan, just to tie it together with the elegant
interior. Sadly, 1987 was two years away from the unfortunate end
R107 model, but at least it received a slender third brake light at
the trailing edge of the deck lid, a big improvement over the
clunky unit found on earlier models.
The luscious tan leather interior is incredibly inviting and looks
upscale even in today's world. The leather used in these cars is
not only lovely to look at, but wears like iron, and the bucket
seats have a comfortable look while still being supportive and
firm. Matching tan carpets look unaffected by the sun's rays or
dirty shoes, and burled walnut trim warms up the interior without
detracting from the all-business controls. A modern Pioneer
AM/FM/CD stereo has been retrofitted in the dash, but it fits
neatly and nothing has been altered in the dash so it could easily
be removed for an original unit if you're a stickler for
originality. Even the trunk is upholstered in plush carpet that's
nicer than the stuff found in the passenger compartments of lesser
automobiles. This car also offers two tops, a solid navy blue
folding roof and a color-matched hardtop.
The final evolution of the 5.6 liter SOHC V8 was designed to run
for hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance,
and with only 78,893 original miles, this one is still very fresh.
With a bubbly, bouncy idle and seemingly limitless reserves of
torque, it moves the two-seat roadster effortlessly without the
high-strung theatrics of lesser machines. The engine bay
practically sparkles like new, while the chassis is clean and
obviously rust-free thanks to a life down south. A 4-speed
automatic transmission swaps gears unobtrusively, and the supple,
all-independent suspension is willing to dance, but is equally
comfortable on long stretches of highway. Traditional MB chrome
wheels wearing 205/65/15 Michelin radials neatly straddle the
ride/performance equation.
Renowned for their engineering, cars like this SL are a reminder of
when the gap between the ordinary and the extraordinary was wide
indeed. This car is documented with lots of maintenance records and
all of its owner's manuals, and since it was new it has always been
very well cared for. Call today!