This 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500 shows first registration in Arizona followed by subsequent registration in Washington, then California, where it’s currently registered. This R129 has been slowly transformed into a track ready race car by the current owner over the past 14 years. Finished in Black (040) over an Anthracite (231) and Custom Red leather interior, power is provided by a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter M113 V8 paired to a five-speed automatic transmission. Most of the original features from Mercedes-Benz have been stripped or replaced with upgraded AMG parts including Tillett bucket seats, welded in roll cage, CLK63 AMG brakes, larger wheels front and rear, fuel cell, AMG style body kit including decklid spoiler, front and rear bumpers, and rocker cover panels, Ground Control front coilovers, Koni rear shocks with Eibach rear springs, Remus sport exhaust, and much more. The included Carfax report shows a salvage title where the current owner was rear-ended in 2011, but bought the car back from the insurance company to strip the car for parts, but realized after the car lost about 800 pounds, it was suddenly fast and decided to build a SL race car over the coming years. Recent services performed in 2024 are the EGR valve with all hoses, new hood insulation pad, belt tensioner with idler pulley and serpentine belt. This R129 was featured in the 2017 edition of “The Star” MBCA magazine with a full four page spread. This SL500 shows just under 180k miles on the odometer and is now offered by the owner with a 3.06 rear differential, manual transmission pedal assembly, MB Arts adjustable toe arms, spring buffer pads, service records, a Carfax report, and a salvage California title. 

The car is finished in Black (040) and features an AMG style body kit which includes a sculpted pre-facelift AMG front bumper, side skirts, rear apron, and decklid spoiler. Installed are also early glass headlights and blacked out grill. The hydraulic powered black fabric soft top has been removed for weight savings and is not included in the sale. In its stead is a 43 pound Deeds Performance custom fabricated 4130 chromoly rollcage replacing the original pop-up protects that activate during a crash/rollover. A carbon fiber gas flap replaced the black painted original. The Carfax shows an accident in 2011 where insurance totaled the car due to a rear end accident. The owner bought the car back from the insurance company and slowly began the track car build. A dent below the passenger brake light is the only sign of damage from the exterior. The paint matched aluminum hardtop does show signs of clear coat damage. 

18” staggered lightweight Apex wheels are mounted and measure 18x9.5 and 18x10.5 with Atlas all-season 265/35 tires front and 305/30 rears. This R129 has a modular hub set up to be able to fit 5x112 Mercedes-Benz wheels and also 5x120 bolt pattern setups which is what the Apex wheels are. Stopping is provided by aluminum Brembo made A209 CLK63 AMG six piston calipers at the front and four piston calipers at the rear. Front rotors are two-piece floating rotors measuring 360mm and 330mm rear with modified front steering knuckles and brake lines. Suspension for the front are custom Ground Control fully adjustable coilovers and Eibach springs paired with Koni shocks for the rear. A Wiechers strut brace bar is shown in the engine bay to control chassis flex and MB Arts adjustable camber and toe arms. Current camber specs show -3.5 degrees up front and -1.9 for the rear wheels. The seller got the car corner balanced with the weights shown in the gallery. The rear subframe bushings are noted to be tired and due for eventual replacing. 

The cabin features an Anthracite (231) and Custom Red leather interior with Tillett B6F XL seats made in England which were designed for Caterhams. Carbon-fiber drapes the center console trim, door inserts, and steering wheel. The Tillett seats are non powered and are equipped with Sabelt four-point harnesses for the driver and passenger. A battery kill switch is fitted to the center console. The power soft top was removed and a 4130 red painted chromoly rollcage was custom made and fitted by Deeds Performance. The hard top has been stripped for additional weight savings and can also still be removed.The A/C does blow cold but leaks out over time. An ATL fuel cell with quick-fill plate is installed in the trunk compartment utilizing the original fuel sending unit, filler neck, and original EVAP system so that the car does not throw a check engine light and the original ECU sees the fuel cell as the original fuel tank with no electronic faults. This racing R129 does pass California smog. 

A black and red leather wrapped steering wheel with carbon top and red stitching frames a 160-mph speedometer, 7k-rpm tachometer, and clock along with gauges for fuel level, instant economy, coolant temperature, and oil temperature. The digital odometer indicates just under 180k miles.

The 5.0-liter twin-spark M113 V8 was factory-rated at 302 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 722.6 five-speed automatic transmission. The all aluminum V8 exhales through Remus sport exhaust system. The R129 of this year tips the scales at around 4200 pounds. The seller clocked this SL in at 3413 wet with a 54% weight distribution rear and 46% front. A 3.06 rear differential is included with the sale along with BM Arts adjustable toe arms, spring pad buffers, and a manual transmission pedal assembly. Recent services performed in 2024 are the EGR valve with all hoses, new hood insulation pad, belt tensioner with idler pulley and serpentine belt.