SL 500 AMG Sport Convertible with hard-top. Great condition. This was my late father's baby & meticulously maintained. Need to sell due to garage space.
The R129 generation SL (1989-2001) represented Mercedes at its engineering peak. The 1997 model featured a robust 5.0L V8 engine producing 315 horsepower, paired with a smooth 5-speed automatic transmission that delivered both performance and refinement. The combination of the powerful yet smooth V8, well-tuned suspension, and precise steering created a grand tourer that was equally comfortable cruising highways or tackling winding roads.
By 1997, Mercedes had eight years to perfect the R129 platform (launched in 1989). All the initial teething problems, software bugs, and component weaknesses had been identified and resolved through continuous improvements and recalls.
This was still pre-DaimlerChrysler merger (1998), meaning it was built during Mercedes' legendary "over-engineering" period without the cost-cutting pressures that would later compromise quality. Workers had mastered the complex assembly process.
The 97' model avoided both the initial growing pains of a new platform and the cost-cutting measures that began creeping in as Mercedes prepared for the next generation. You get maximum refinement with zero compromise.
This is why many Mercedes enthusiasts specifically seek out 1996-1998 R129s - they represent the absolute peak of that design's evolution.
