Generally regarded as the world's finest 2-seat touring car, the Mercedes-Benz SL class is, and always has been, automotive royalty. The R129 version, of which this one-owner 1992 500SL is a member, is probably the last SL that was actually conceived, designed, and built by engineers rather than the marketing department, and the results speak for themselves. It is powerful, fast, stylish, and utterly reliable in the finest Mercedes-Benz fashion. Bright red paint on your 2-seat sports car seems appropriate, and the Mercedes SL has always worn it with pride. Many think of these cars as soft, but it's quite the contrary. In fact, the 322 horsepower 500SL delivered a technological knock-out to the rest of the world, and the sleek, chiseled styling still looks contemporary today. Like all SLs, this one gets attention wherever it goes, and showing up in this car means you have well and truly arrived. Fit and finish, even after 25 years, are still quite good, and the vault-like qualities of the doors remain intact. Costing nearly $80,000 when it was new, you definitely got high-quality fit and finish, and the 5-year-old paint on this roadster shows few signs of the passage of time. The net effect is an elegant, upscale car that was built to impress both the driver and onlookers, and that three-pointed star will make you an A-list celebrity everywhere you go. You'll definitely FEEL like a celebrity inside, with sculpted tan leather buckets that are simple in design and big on comfort. The leather seating surfaces show only moderate wear, and no damage, and certainly nothing that looks like it has spent 25 years in the sun. Burled walnut inserts on the console and dash warm up the Teutonic instrument panel, and the driver is offered a complete array of gauges, as well as a fat steering wheel that feels great in your hands. A newer Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo head unit has been installed, likely a big improvement over the original piece. All the power accessories you can imagine were standard equipment, plus a few neat extras like the pop-up hoop behind the seats that can be manually activated to act as a wind-blocker. The original black canvas top, complete with plastic rear windows, remains in good condition and powers up and down with all new hydraulics. And like most SLs of the past, this car includes a color-matched hardtop as well. The SL's real claim to fame has always been performance without sacrificing comfort and luxury, and the 500SL's 5.0 liter V8 certainly delivers. With 322 horsepower, it moves the technology-laden 2-seater with real authority and the most sonorous exhaust note this side of a Ferrari. It's also remarkably durable given its complexity, and with proper service, these engines rarely need major surgery. The only transmission available was a 4-speed automatic that was a good match to the SL's mission, and the all-independent suspension soaks up bumps and hangs on in corners equally well. Massive disc brakes with ABS live behind cool multi-spoke alloys that wear 255/40/18 front and fat 285/35/18 rear Michelin performance radials with a lot of life left in them. A full set of manuals are included and with just one owner, you know this is a special car. This lovely 500SL offers sparkling German performance and prestige at a bargain price. Call today!
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