Mercedes-Benz SL500

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Few cars on the road turn heads quite like the fabulous W129 Series SL Roadsters. Launched in 1989 they just radiate power and privilege and were always the preserve of the international jet set when new.

Quite apart from their good looks they were also beautifully engineered in the finest Teutonic tradition and have a feeling of bank vault solidity that puts all subsequent Mercs to shame. Low, sharp and aggressive, they pulled off that difficult trick of combining taut handling with a cossetting ride, the pilot cocooned in a cabin of subdued opulence that is uniquely Mercedes.

The flagship of the range, the SL500 marked the debut of Mercedes' four-valve-per-cylinder, dual-overhead cam powerplant with variable valve timing. Its 4,973cc all-alloy V8 was credited with 326hp and 332lbft of torque. Capable of over 150mph and 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds, it was nevertheless a paragon of reliability and could average 24mpg.

First registered in September 1997, this magnificent SL500 has had just two owners from new, the first being a lady who kept it until 2004 at which point the vendor acquired it through Mercedes-Benz Birmingham with just 17,354 miles on the clock at a cost of £24,500 (invoice on file). Over the last 12 years he has used the car very sparingly in fine weather only and it still has less than 19,600 miles under its wheels.

Always properly maintained, it has six stamps in the service book to date, all at Mercedes main agents and the last just a handful of miles ago in September 2015 with numerous supporting invoices. The Imperial Red coachwork is still virtually showroom fresh while the mushroom leather interior is equally impressive with just the faintest traces of use. The electric black canvas soft top works perfectly and the red hard top is unmarked and comes with a stand to keep it safe when not in use.

Shortly after he acquired the car, the vendor fitted it with four new AMG 18” alloys shod with a new set of Uniroyal tyres, although the original wheels and tyres are also included in the sale if desired. It also comes with all its original handbooks in the original wallet, some period sales brochures and an official Mercedes-Benz book about the model. A dozen old MOTs chart the gradual accumulation of mileage while the current MOT runs until October 2016 with no advisories recorded.

The best example we have ever offered and almost certainly among the finest examples remaining, it needs nothing more than a fortunate third owner behind the wheel and would be a worthy addition to any Mercedes collection.

The last of the properly engineered SLs before build quality took something of a tumble in the early 2000s, this low mileage cracker could well prove a shrewd investment at the sensible guide price suggested. Find a better one!

Bidders are advised that when this car was last MOTd and serviced in September 2015, both the MOT and the service book were erroneously stamped 19,949 miles instead of the correct 19,549 miles.