1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL

Description

There are many who feel that the W127 SLs were the last of the engineered Mercedes-Benz automobiles. After that, the cars were mainstream, and the engineers were joined by the marketing department, and the slogan "Engineered like no other car" fell by the wayside. This 1989 560SL represents the last of the best, a low-mileage survivor that proves why these cars are still wonderful machines that truly deserve their honored reputations.

If you could afford one of these when it was new, it meant you had well and truly arrived, and that you cared about smart investing as much as making a good first impression. Bright white paint is the perfect color on a grand tourer such as this, and it is remarkably well preserved on this 60,311-mile example. It has clearly led an easy life in a warm climate, and at 26 years old, it is only just now getting broken-in. Panel gaps are exemplary and the trim fits with a precision that was typical of Mercedes-Benz quality of the era, and the "built like a bank vault" term was coined just for these cars. The heavy chrome and rubber bumpers were an unfortunate by-product of federal regulations, but they, too, add to the car's appeal with their purposeful look, as if Mercedes didn't care about appearance as much as function, which was 100% true. Sadly 1989 was the last year of the W127 model, but at least it received a slender third brake light at the trailing edge of the deck lid, a big improvement over the clunky unit found on earlier models.

The luscious burgundy leather interior is incredibly inviting and looks upscale even in today's world. The leather used in these cars is not only lovely to look at, but wears like iron, and the bucket seats have a comfortable look while still being supportive and firm. Matching burgundy carpets look unaffected by the sun's rays or dirty shoes, and burled walnut trim warms up the interior without detracting from the all-business controls. A modern Alpine AM/FM/CD stereo has been retrofitted in the dash, and I don't think you'll miss the original Becker unit, which undoubtedly had a cassette player. The 560s also got an unusual little VDO temperature gauge in the center vent in the dash, an addition that left a lot of folks scratching their heads even though it's cool to watch. In back, the trunk is upholstered in plush carpet that's nicer than the stuff found in the passenger compartments of lesser automobiles and this SL offers two tops, a nice black canvas folding roof and a color-matched hardtop.

The final evolution of the 5.6 liter SOHC V8 was designed to run for hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance, and with only 60,000 or so original miles, this one is still quite fresh. With a bubbly, bouncy idle and seemingly limitless reserves of torque, it moves the two-seat roadster effortlessly without the high-strung theatrics of lesser machines, more like a German muscle car than an effete sports car. The engine bay shows signs of proper care over the years while the chassis is clean and obviously rust-free thanks to a life down south. A 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission swaps gears unobtrusively, and the supple, all-independent suspension is willing to dance, but is equally comfortable on long stretches of highway where it consumes pavement with ease. Traditional MB alloy wheels wearing 205/65/15 Michelin radials neatly straddle the ride/performance equation.

Renowned for their engineering, cars like this SL are a reminder of when the gap between the ordinary and the extraordinary was wide indeed. Call today!