Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL.
When a car company not only builds, but also are able to sell the same model car, with the only real changes over that time being engine size, for 19 years, you have definitely done something right. The company is Mercedes-Benz and the model is the R107 roadster.
The Mercedes R107 roadster was launched in 1971 as a 1972 model of the 350SL ,and from the beginning it was a hit. Journalists bemoaned that the new SL was more of a luxury car than the sports car like the earlier W113 230-280SL cars were but Mercedes had the last laugh, selling a total of 300,175 of the cars: 237,287 SL roadsters and 62,888 SLC coupes. Compared to the 48,912 examples of the earlier car, the new SL Roadster was a grand slam.
This 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL we are featuring here is an excellent example. It has been owned by the same person for the last 24 years and looks like it left the factory a few weeks ago. It is painted in the original Arctic White paint with a blue canvas soft top over a blue leather interior. It comes from the selling dealer with a body-color hardtop, tool kit, rear wind deflector, owner’s manuals, a clean CARFAX report, and a clear title.
The exterior of this 560SL is described still in its original factory-applied Arctic White paint. Features include chrome bumpers with black trim, a chrome grille with a black insert, dual mirrors, side accent stripes, a manual blue canvas convertible top with plastic rear windows in excellent condition, and a power antenna.
The car rides on a set of its original 15-inch Mercedes Gullideckel alloy wheels that are wrapped in 205/65R15 Michelin radial tires. The selling dealer states the tires should be replaced due to their age.
The interior looks just as nice. The seller states hat the heated front bucket seats and the optional rear seats are upholstered in their original blue leather and are in excellent condition. The car features power steering and locks, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, an AM/FM/cassette stereo with a power antenna, a driver-side airbag, a center console-mounted automatic transmission shifter, and woodgrain trim. The selling dealer adds that the air conditioning was serviced in 2023.
The prices of 560SL cars this nice vary greatly depending on mileage. People put a premium on cars that have extremely low mileage, and to me that is a mistake. The total mileage on this 560SL is 85,859 which to me means it is nicely broken in. The higher mileage means that this one will be priced better than say, an example with 5,000 miles, and it also be a lot easier to use and likely in better condition as cars simply do not like to sit. They need to be driven, and this one has just the right amount of miles to make it an excellent driver.
The build quality of these cars was so amazing that the engineers and designers nicknamed the R107 SL cars “Der Panzerwagen” or in English “the tank.” Most feel that these cars were the very best the company ever built and having owned two myself, I have to agree. If you are looking for a classic car that you can drive every day and only require regular service, this Mercedes is the one.
The auction for this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL ends on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
