

This 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL was first registered in Knoxville, Tennessee and later moved to Arizona, where it remained before being offered by the current seller in California. The seller is representing the car on behalf of their cousin and reports approximately four years of ownership combined within their family. Finished in Diamond Blue Metallic (355) over Royal Blue Leather (272), power is provided by a 5.5-liter M117 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Factory equipment includes a color-matched removable hardtop, a Dark Blue folding soft top, automatic climate control, a Becker Mexico Grand Prix radio, an automatic antenna, heated exterior mirrors, an outside temperature indicator, and a folding center armrest. The odometer currently shows 58,862 miles. Notable recent service in 2023 included extensive transmission resealing and servicing, replacement of the rear main seal, an A/C evacuation and recharge, and a brake fluid flush. The seller reports that the car runs and drives well with strong air conditioning. This 560SL is now offered with original literature, three keys, factory tools, a spare tire, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Arizona title.
The body is finished in Diamond Blue Metallic (355) and features a matching removable hardtop along with a folding Dark Blue fabric soft top. Chrome trim accents the bumpers, beltline, windows, and exterior brightwork, while additional equipment includes heat-insulating glass, an automatic antenna, and heated exterior mirrors with power adjustment for the passenger side. Cosmetic wear includes a scratch near the antenna, and small paint chips around the door edges and rear driverside quarter panel. The lower chrome trim on the passenger side of the removable hardtop has a slight bend at the end with photos to highlight in the gallery. The seller reports no major rust, and the underside presents well for its age with no significant corrosion noted on the visible body, frame, or critical suspension components. Carfax shows no accidents or other damage reports.
Factory 15” Gullideckel alloy wheels are mounted with Arizonian Silver Edition All Season tires measuring 205/65 at all four corners and showing late-2022 date codes. The wheels display finish wear along their faces along with some minor curb rash. A full-size spare is included in the trunk. The 560SL is equipped with power steering, fully independent suspension, and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. Carfax records replacement of both the front and rear brake rotors at 46,889 miles.
The cabin is upholstered in Royal Blue Leather (272) with matching carpets and door panels, complemented by Burl Walnut wood trim along the center console. Factory amenities include automatic climate control, power windows, a Becker Mexico Grand Prix radio, a folding center armrest, illuminated vanity mirrors, and an outside temperature display. The interior remains in good overall condition for its age, with the seller reporting that the air conditioning operates well. The leather shows light age-related creasing but no tears, while the center-console wood veneer shows some cracking and warping.
The four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel fronts VDO instrumentation consisting of a 170-mph speedometer, 7k-rpm tachometer, analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel economy. The six-digit odometer currently indicates 58,862 miles.
Power comes from a 5.5-liter M117 V8 rated at 227 horsepower and 279 lb-ft of torque from the factory. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Earlier documented maintenance includes an A/C service, antenna replacement, front and rear brake rotors, and an engine oil service at 46,889 miles in 2000. Work in 2007 included a coolant reservoir, distributor cap, fuel filter, radiator cap, spark plug wires, and valve cover gaskets.
More substantial work was completed at 57,984 miles in September 2023. The transmission was removed and received a new pump seal, brake-band seals, dipstick seal, downshift modulator seals, filter, pan gasket, and fresh fluid. The rear main crankshaft seal was replaced while the transmission was out. The same service also included an A/C evacuation and recharge, brake fluid flush, and attention to the hood insulation pad. A battery-service receipt from June 2026 is also included with the records.
The Carfax report shows registration history beginning in Tennessee in 1988. Additional ownership changes are documented in Tennessee before the car later moved to Arizona. Linear mileage updates are shown with no accidents or damage reports.
By 1988, the R107 had been in production for more than 15 years, yet the shape still looked every bit as elegant as it did when the model first arrived. That longevity says a lot about how right Mercedes got the basic formula. The long hood, upright windshield, generous chrome, removable hardtop, and compact two-seat proportions gave the SL a presence that never needed reinvention. The 560SL represents the most developed U.S. market version of that recipe, pairing the familiar R107 chassis with the 5.5-liter M117 V8 and the refinement of the final production years. Even today, the R107 is aging like a fine wine and oozes style and class. This example makes an especially strong case in Diamond Blue over Royal Blue and matching Blue soft top, a wonderfully period-correct combination that suits the car perfectly. With fewer than 59k miles, a clean Carfax, original and well-preserved condition, it presents far better than most surviving drivers. Recent transmission resealing, rear main seal work, brake-fluid service, and A/C attention also mean the car has gone deeper than cosmetics. This is the kind of 560SL that reminds you why the R107 stayed in production for so long in the first place and why you need it in your garage today.
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