1992 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Description

Generally regarded as the worldпїЅs finest 2-seat touring car, the Mercedes-Benz SL class is, and always has been, automotive royalty. The R129 version, of which this 1992 500SL is a member, is probably the last SL that was actually conceived, designed, and built by engineers rather than the marketing department, and the results speak for themselves. It is powerful, fast, stylish, and utterly reliable in the finest Mercedes-Benz fashion.

So the name Pearl Beige Metallic isnпїЅt all that exciting, but that doesnпїЅt mean the car is dull. Quite the contrary, in fact, as the 322 horsepower 500SL delivered a technological knock-out to the rest of the world, and the sleek, chiseled styling still looks contemporary today. Like all SLs, this one gets attention wherever it goes, and showing up in this car means you have well and truly arrived. Fit and finish, even after 20 years, are still quite good, and the vault-like qualities of the doors remain intact. Costing nearly $80,000 when it was new, you definitely got high-quality paint for your money, and the handsome finish on this roadster shows few signs of the passage of time. The net effect is an elegant, upscale car that doesnпїЅt need flashy colors to impress, and that three-pointed star will make you an A-list celebrity everywhere you go.

YouпїЅll definitely FEEL like a celebrity inside, with sculpted tan leather buckets that are simple in design and big on comfort. The leather seating surfaces show only moderate wear, and no damage, and certainly nothing that looks like it has spent 20 years in the sun. Burled walnut inserts on the console and dash warm up the Teutonic instrument panel, and the driver is offered a complete array of gauges, as well as a fat steering wheel that feels great in your hands. A newer JVC AM/FM/CD stereo head unit has been installed, likely a big improvement over the original piece. All the power accessories you can imagine were standard equipment, plus a few neat extras like the pop-up hoop behind the seats that can be manually activated to act as a wind-blocker. The original top, complete with plastic rear windows, remains in good condition and seals up well.

The SLпїЅs real claim to fame has always been performance without sacrificing comfort and luxury, and the 500SLпїЅs 5.0 liter V8 certainly delivers. With 322 horsepower, it moves the technology-laden 2-seater with real authority and the most sonorous exhaust note this side of a Ferrari. ItпїЅs also remarkably durable given its complexity, and with proper service, these engines rarely need major surgery. The only transmission available was a 4-speed automatic that was a good match to the SLпїЅs mission, and the all-independent suspension soaks up bumps and hangs on in corners equally well. Massive disc brakes with ABS live behind traditional Mercedes alloys that wear 225/55/16 performance radials with a lot of life left in them.

This lovely 500SL offers sparkling German performance and prestige at a bargain price. Call today!