30-03-2025
This 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500SL on Bring a Trailer Looks Primo
The R129-generation Mercedes-Benz SL is an often overlooked classic.
Early cars like this one offer the purest design and a comprehensive features list.
The 500SL is the best of the breed, and this example boasts low miles and welcome maintenance.
At the tail end of the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz had been somewhat neglecting its flagship convertible, focusing instead on developing small cars to keep the books balanced. That all changed for the 1990 model year, when the all-new R129-generation SL arrived with near-timeless styling, available authoritative V-8 power, and an incredible array of features. Thirty-five years later, these cars are somewhat overlooked in the collector-car market, and they offer huge bang for your buck considering they wore six-figure price tags when new. But you must choose carefully.
This 1992 SL500 for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) looks to be a primo example. It wears a stunning color combo and has just 33K miles on its odometer. Originally used at the holiday home of its original owner, it has spent most of its life in dry desert country and has been fully sorted before auction by the current seller, a Mercedes-Benz the course of its life span, the SL softened up and got a little less equipment as Mercedes's bean counters kept a close eye on the financials. Not so with an early car like this. This car has every possible convenience you could expect in 1992 and some that don't even exist now, such as a power-adjustable inside rearview mirror that's tied to the memory seating an SL from this era, you really want the V-8; the six-cylinder is smooth but not especially quick, and the V-12 has the potential to put your local specialist mechanic's kids through college. This car has the M119 5.0-liter V-8, with variable valve timing and double overhead cams. It's good for 322 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which it puts to the ground through a four-speed automatic with this low mileage and dry climate storage, a car can feel a bit loose-limbed after three decades. Happily, this example has had almost all of its perishables replaced, from engine mounts to front-end bushings. The transmission has also been serviced to make it a little snappier. Mercedes softened up the SL over the years, but these early cars are firmer to drive, with heavier steering and an unflappable suspension. People often talk about the peak Mercedes driving experiences as having a whiff of bank-vault build quality about them, which is what you get here.
Cosmetically, the car's midnight blue over dark tan is a bit unusual to see, and it presents in wonderful condition. The car has a new power soft top with rebuilt hydraulics (a known weak point) and a removable hard top. The car sits on its original 16-inch alloy wheels.
This 500SL retailed for a hair under $100,000 when new which, adjusting for inflation, is not too far off a quarter-million dollars today. Given the low mileage and thorough reconditioning, this no-reserve auction presents an opportunity to get a great deal on one today. The R129 won't be overlooked forever, and this is about as good as the breed ever got.
The auction ends on April 4.
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