This 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL was originally delivered to a dealer in California where the car has remained since new. Finished in Signal Red (568) over Anthracite Leather (271) power is provided by a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Features include a removable paint-matched original hardtop, original Becker head unit, air conditioning with automatic climate control, a black soft top, and an installed Kinder Seat in the rear. The current owner acquired the car in 2021 and has added several hundred miles. This example is now offered by the current owner in Santa Barbara, California with 42,668 miles on the odometer, service records, a fresh inspection, factory literature, an original tool kit, first aid kit, two keys, and a clean California title.
The body is finished in Signal Red (568) and features original body panels accented by a hand-painted black and grey pinstripe. Exterior features include a black soft top, chrome mirror caps, North American-spec headlamps and bumpers, and front fog lamps. The original paint-matched hardtop is included and features original glass with rear defrost. The exterior shows some light blemishes and rock chips which can be seen and noted in the gallery below. The seller notes that most blemishes would be difficult to find if not directed, and notes that portions of the pinstriping are faded.
This 560SL wears original silver-painted 15x7” Gullideckel wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires measuring 205/65 on all four corners. The wheels don’t show any rash or bends and feature original painted center caps.
The cabin is upholstered in Anthracite Leather (271) across the seats, door cards, armrest, head rests, and shift knob. The dashboard shows no cracks and the Burl wood trim has not been refinished. The cabin also shows original black carpets along with reproduced floor mats showing 560SL embroidery. Interior features include converted R134 factory air conditioning with automatic climate control, an Anthracite-trimmed Kinder Seat, and the original Becker head unit. Normal wear can be seen across the interior and the seller will include the original rear deck cover for Kinder Seat removal.
The digital odometer shows 42,668 original miles. Instrumentation includes VDO gauges featuring a 170-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer with a 6k-rpm redline, and an analog odometer with trip function. Additional gauges include fuel level, oil pressure, fuel economy, and an analog clock. The gauges are trimmed with chrome rings and feature electronic warning lights along the base of the cluster. Cruise control is noted to work intermittently.
The 5.5-liter M117 V8 was rated at 227 horsepower and 279 lb-ft of torque when new and is paired to a 722.3 automatic four-speed transmission. The seller has included a pre-purchase inspection in the gallery below in preparation for the auction including a compression test (Cyl. 1: 175 / 2: 175 / 3: 180 / 4: 180 / 5: 175 / 6: 178 / 7: 176 / 8: 175).
Recent services are outlined below:
The Carfax report lists linear mileage updates, ownership exclusive to California, and no accidents or damage. This 560SL is now offered in Santa Barbara, California with 42k miles on the odometer, service records, a fresh inspection, factory literature, an original tool kit, first aid kit, two keys, and a clean California title.
A video below provides a walk around, cold start, and driving footage of the car.
1988 560SL Start-Up/Driving from TomFuelery on Vimeo.
While the R107 continues to solidify its legendary status among a lineage of SL's, examples like this 560SL stand out in our eyes for not only the original condition of the body and paint, but true enthusiast-quality representation that tells us the car has been taken care of over multiple owners and several decades. For this 560SL, it evokes images of the late 80’s and all the film-featured R107’s from the era in a stunning Signal Red over Anthracite leather interior. Bidders should feel confident in this purchase and seller. The winner owes it to themselves to watch Beverly Hills Cop as soon as this SL is delivered and a long coastline drive would also be advised.
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
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14 Comments
Thank you for a great auction, @tomfuelery. I am ecstatic to own one of these again and it will be going to its new home in Anchorage, Alaska where I anticipate it will be the nicest R107 in the entire state. Don't worry, she'll be well preserved and stored in the winter months (which is most of them LOL).Congratulations @AKEsquire! Thanks to all who bid and to @thembmarket!The car will be going to a new home!$34,500 bid placed by @AKEsquire
$34,000 bid placed by @serkar
$33,500 bid placed by @Chip1
$33,000 bid placed by @returnofthemark
$32,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$32,000 bid placed by @AKEsquire
$31,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$31,000 bid placed by @returnofthemark
$30,500 bid placed by @AKEsquire
$30,000 bid placed by @returnofthemark
$29,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$29,000 bid placed by @AKEsquire
$28,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$28,000 bid placed by @Horsepwr4me
$27,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$27,000 bid placed by @Chip1
$26,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$26,000 bid placed by @Steelman23
$25,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$25,000 bid placed by @Steelman23
$24,750 bid placed by @Chip1
$24,500 bid placed by @Steelman23
$24,250 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$24,000 bid placed by @Steelman23
$23,750 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$23,500 bid placed by @tsaracco
$23,000 bid placed by @Steelman23
This is a beautiful example of the R107 and reflects care and excellent maintenance. California provenance likely means rust is not an issue. In a few years, these cars will be approaching six figures as the W113 Pagoda does now$22,750 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$22,500 bid placed by @Horsepwr4me
$22,250 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
Does the kinder seat have belts? never mind...my old eyes didn't see them at first and I can't delete my comment. Lovely car.$22,000 bid placed by @jpomerenke
$21,750 bid placed by @cmscollect
$21,500 bid placed by @BigDinTexas
$21,250 bid placed by @Horsepwr4me
$21,000 bid placed by @jpomerenke
$20,560 bid placed by @Dhaliwal
$20,000 bid placed by @Hangtime
$19,500 bid placed by @jpomerenke
$19,000 bid placed by @Steelman23
$18,750 bid placed by @Horsepwr4me
$18,500 bid placed by @Hangtime
$16,250 bid placed by @Benicia
@alexh914 - Kurt and Carter Kimball at Granny's Garage.Can you say who has been maintaining in your local area (ie, and who has done the local service work)?$16,000 bid placed by @cmscollect
$15,750 bid placed by @Horsepwr4me
$15,500 bid placed by @cmscollect
@TomFuelery Thank you for the the response, I understand why it was done....@Benicia - The power steering gear box was leaking - not egregiously, but it was only going to get worse and the mechanic recommended it.I am surprised that the steering gear box had to be rebuilt at 42,000 miles. What were the symptoms that caused the repair?$15,250 bid placed by @Benicia
$15,000 bid placed by @cmscollect
$14,000 bid placed by @serkar
$13,000 bid placed by @cmscollect
$12,000 bid placed by @serkar
$10,250 bid placed by @AKEsquire
$10,000 bid placed by @Hangtime
Thank you TomFuelery, beautiful car.@Highheat - I assumed the car was all original when I bought it (and was told that anecdotally by the prior owner, who was told that by the prior,...etc.), but I borrowed a paint meter, and while the mils range on the rest of the car reads in the 4s, 5s and 6s, the driver side door registers in the 11s and 12s. There's nothing about the door that I can see that indicates paint work (no bondo, no tape lines, no overspray, etc.,), nor can I discern any color variation when looking at it in person.Really good looking SL! Pinstripes always Look good on these. GLWTA!Painted?$5,000 bid placed by @AKEsquire