Feature Buyer’s Guide

Mercedes SL (1971-1989)

It’s affordable, has high build quality, a superb reputation, strong performance and surprising practicality – it all makes a compelling case for buying an SL

When it comes to real-world affordable cars, few are better engineered than a Seventies or Eighties Mercedes. One of the best on offer was the R107 SL, which was produced at a time when build quality was king: engineers ruled, rather than bean counters. However, while everyone clamours for its predecessor (the ‘Pagoda-roofed’ W113), the second-generation SL offers everything the older car does – and much better value besides.

Although these cars were built up to a standard rather than down to a price, you don’t need the wealth of Bill Gates to buy or run one. Indeed, many of the mechanical components are surprisingly cheap as they’re shared with contemporary Mercedes saloons. Simple enough for home maintenance, there’s also a raft of specialists out there to help you keep your SL in fine fettle.

The second-generation SL (third if you count the 190SL and 300SL ‘Gullwing’) survived an incredible 18 years – it holds the record for being Mercedes’ longest running model. Despite being introduced at the start of the 1970s, the car still looked fresh the day the last example rolled off the production line in 1989. Few other designs could stand such a test of time. Even now the car looks great: classy and understated with no hint of ostentation.

So, with relatively low values, peerless build quality, a superb reputation, strong performance and surprising practicality, there must be a catch, surely? Well, no; even the smallest engine offers strong performance, there’s unrivalled parts support from the factory and the SL is fabulously discreet while timelessly stylish. This really could just be the best all-round convertible for the summer.

For the full feature pick up your copy of the August issue of Classic Car Mart