1988 Mercedes 560sl 1 Owner 18,252 Original Miles Excellent Collector Quality on 2040-cars

PLEASE USE YOUR BROWSER'S INNER SCROLL BAR TO SCROLL THROUGH THE ALMOST 100 PHOTOS BELOW.

ZERO Feedback? Not to worry... While we have been buying and selling on eBay, personally, for more than a decade, we're just getting started with our "SL-Market" eBay account. Keep an eye out, we plan to add more items soon. Please visit our eBay "About Me" page to learn more about us and the SL Market Letter.

Call me, Dave at (651) 216-1265, if you have any doubts... I'd be happy to talk to you about what we do here at the SL Market Letter and the vehicles and services we offer.

1988 Mercedes Benz 560SL Roadster

Black Pearl Metallic exterior, black leather interior, original black soft top.

This is a one owner car, it was originally purchased at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Owatonna, MN (no longer there) when the car was new. It still resides with the original owner who purchased it new and, amazingly, it has just 18,252 miles as of the day I took these photos earlier this month.

We see LOTS of R107 body SLs, 450s, 380s, 560s, most are just used cars at this point with long lists of needs once you really look at them closely.

This is, quite simply, the nicest, cleanest, most original 560SL I have seen, ever. Get in it today and drive wherever you want.

ORIGINALITY... right down to its original Pirelli P6 tires! Keep those tires if you want to win your class at a National Mercedes-Benz Club Concours, new tires should be put on the car if you plan to really put miles on it, the tread is fine, they're just original to 1988. Nobody cut holes in the parcel shelf for stereo speakers, they never put those horrible chrome fender trim pieces on the car, they never had a pin stripe put on the car, this car is as it rolled off the assembly line! Driver's airbag was replaced on time, A/C system has been regularly serviced and blows ice cold, original Becker radio is still in place and works perfectly. More about the mechanicals below. Absolute one owner, low mile, time capsule.

I ran the CARFAX for the car today, and spoke with the owner about the accident from 2000. The car was lightly rear ended while stopped at a stop sign. According to Carfax 'moderate' damage was reported, perhaps that was due to the cost of a new bumper, because the owner said nothing was painted, nothing happened to the trunk, lights, rear panels at all, the rear bumper was dented and replaced. There is absolutely no evidence anywhere of any accident, there are good photos of the underside of the rear of the car. I inspected the car closely and was surprised to see that on the Carfax as the car looks perfect.

EXTERIOR
The color is Black Pearl Metallic (199), a very dark grey, like a gun metal. A lot of people look at it and think it's anthracite, it is not, it is slightly darker than anthracite. According to the car's only owner it has never had paint work, all paint is original, the hood was never painted due to rock chips, a fender was never repainted from a scratch. It has a couple of very small rock ships on the hood from 18,000+ miles of use, but nothing you can see unless you're REALLY looking, minimal blemishes of any kind. There are some light swirls on the trunk lid from washing with what I imagine was a less than surgically clean sponge, but only the slightest light swirl scratches. It would benefit from a high end detail, clay bar, etc. The chrome is excellent all the way around, no pitting on the bumpers or the trim. The hard top is excellent, the soft top is in excellent condition as well. I was by myself when I took these photos and was unable to remove the hard top, but I did inspect the soft top. There are no rips, tears or worn spots. The back window and quarter windows are CLEAR without cracks or brittleness of any kind! Wheel finish is excellent, there is no curb rash on any of the wheels. Inspect the underside by looking at the photos below, you will still see some of the 'factory check paint' across some suspension parts, bolts, etc. You will see many parts underneath with their factory finish still intact, clean and dry. Rubber bushings and suspension pieces are not dried up and cracked, the rubber is still supple. Rubber around the windows and doors is good too.

INTERIOR
The black leather interior of this car is in excellent condition. The only blemish on the leather, really the only visible wear at all, is on the driver's side seat bolster. It is a small scratch, not really a wear spot, it is very shallow and could easily be touched up by an interior specialist. The wood on the dash and console is excellent, shiny, not milky or faded and there are NO cracks of any kind. The dash looks as new as the day it was on the showroom floor. All switches and knobs work. The radio is original, the A/C blows absolutely COLD, the antenna still goes up and down without noise or complaint. The headliner is excellent, the carpet is essentially perfect, it has had protective mats over the original carpets, I took them out for the photos. The light wasn't ideal when I took the photos, very bright outside with the hard top on, but the interior is as nice at the exterior. There are no holes cut in the back parcel area for speakers, again, absolute originality. The cigarette lighter has never been used, there are no smells in the interior other than vintage Mercedes leather.

MECHANICALS
I put about 60 miles on the car the day I took these photos, earlier this month. It drives perfectly on the highway at 75mph, no pulling to either side, alignment is good. Acceleration is fast, there are no rattles, no play in the steering, no strange noises. The A/C blows very cold, I had it on much of this day, as it was hot and sunny. All vents work, it shifts smoothly, no clunking it's absolutely smooth and fast accelerating up an on-ramp as a 560SL should be. The cruise control also works, I used it extensively.

This car has been largely Mercedes dealer maintained. I do have a copy of the dealer VMI (vehicle master inquiry) showing much of the recent service history. Most recent items include:

May 2013 - Mileage: 18,068 - Engine oil change, filter, top off all fluids, perform safety inspection, replace battery.

November 2010 - Mileage: 17,227 - Engine oil change, filter, replace radiator cap.

March 2010 - Mileage: 14,570 - Engine oil change, filter.

August 2009 - Mileage: 12,675 - Replace fuel injection regulator, injection nozzle, steering damper, guide tube.

July 2009 - Mileage 11,344 - Replace valve cover gasket (leaking), brake fluid flush, oil change.

CONCLUSION
I'll say it again, it is the nicest example of an R107 body SL I have come across. Call me if you'd like to discuss the car.

Call me, Dave (651) 216-1265, if you'd like to discuss the car in greater detail. Clean, clear title in hand. The right Buy It Now offer can end the auction and put this car in your garage today.

I took these photos mid day, not the ideal time, as the sun was so bright, but this car just gleams.

Hard top is essentially perfect.

All lights and lenses are clean, clear and crack free.

Bumper and grille surround chrome is excellent.

Front spoiler is in great condition.

Panels are straight all the way around the car, no accidents ever.

Only some light swirls on the trunk lid. The car could use a high quality detail and buffing.

Chrome is excellent all the way around.

Even the gas cap still has its original finish, perfectly clean.

Have you ever seen a radiator on a car this old look this good?

Undetailed engine bay, just as original.

The original Pirelli P6 tires are on the car, rims are all excellent, to clear coat peeling on any of them, no curb rash.

Original hood pad is in place and in excellent condition.

Door bottoms are perfect, no rust on this car.

Door panels are perfect.

Door sills are in excellent condition, some water on this one from the wash.

Passenger`s seat shows no wear.

Carpets are excellent throughout.

Door jambs are perfect.

Wood is excellent, no cracks, not cloudy.

Dash is perfect.

Miles are actual 18,252 the day these photos were taken. It`s been driven occasionally since.

Minimal wear, no real visible creasing on driver`s seat side bolster.

Only blemish on the interior is this small scrape.

Full tool kit.

Original spare on clean rim.

Rubber suspension pieces are excellent.

Notice red paint from factory where the bolts were checked.

Clean, original and not rusty.

Hardtop headliner is excellent.

No holes cut in rear parcel shelf for after market speakers, carpet is perfect!

Original first aid kit in place.

Books and manuals and two hard top removal tools.

All the books and manuals, hang tags from when the car was on the show room floor, even the metal data plate with original owner info.

VIN plate on driver`s door jamb.

Color code 199 = Pearl Black Metallic.

Car is sold AS IS, WHERE IS, FOB Minneapolis, MN. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. We work with auto transporters regularly, we can refer you to a shipper if you'd like.