Refined drivers from Dallas to Darlington who wanted a brisk reliable convertible adored the Mercedes-Benz R107 SL range. Accustomed to the histrionics of Italian offerings and the lack of a proper sports convertible by rivals, customers flocked to the well-equipped SL range, with engine variants and trim levels to suit all tastes. A major facelift in 1985 enhanced the SL's looks and more importantly, the drive train and brakes, amongst other components, were brought up to current S-Class standards of the era. The factory hardtop was perfect for the vagaries of British weather, ensuring, perhaps inevitably, that UK-supplied R107s in rust free condition are incredibly rare.

 
Production ran from 1971 to 1989 and the range-topping, V8-engined 420SL and 500SL were produced in far fewer numbers for the UK-market, with the 420SL being the rarest production model of any R107 with just 2,148 examples worldwide. The R107 is a well and truly established member of the classic car club, but it also remains one of the most usable modern classics offering a comfortable driving experience and modest maintenance bills. Low ownership sports cars are rare in today’s market, most are bought new to tick a box, sold swiftly due to impracticality, high maintenance costs or flamboyant styling and very few are kept for over thirty years in single ownership with fewer still maintained by main dealers from new.
 
On 18th September 1987, this Mercedes-Benz 420SL was bought by the car’s first and only registered keeper, in the sophisticated colour of Blue-Black metallic (DB199) with a matching hard top, beige leather (275) and black soft top roof. Virtually all factory optional extras were included such as Behr air conditioning, outside temperature gauge, Tempomat cruise control, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, headlamp wash-wipers, rear seats and an orthopaedic seat for the driver. 
 
With homes in East Anglia and London the car was serviced and maintained, where convenient, at the following intervals until 2017 and the most recent service has just been carried out by Mercedes-Benz of Beaconsfield.
 
12/07/1987 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich PDI at 559 miles
23/03/1988 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 4,956 miles
05/09/1988 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 10,118 miles
22/03/1989 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 14,083 miles
13/03/1990 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 20,391 miles
28/01/1991 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 26,399 miles
22/08/1992 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Ipswich at 27,995 miles
23/11/1992 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Bow, London at 28,677 miles
09/06/1994 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Bow, London at 36,700 miles
25/06/1996 Lancaster Mercedes-Benz, Bow, London at 43,829 miles
15/05/1998 Jim Russell Mercedes-Benz, Norfolk at 50,070 miles
03/01/2001 Jim Russell Mercedes-Benz, Norfolk at 52,479 miles
24/06/2005 Mercedes-Benz, Canary Wharf, London at 57,376 miles
12/06/2006 Mercedes-Benz, Stratford, London at 61,027 miles
28/06/2013 Mercedes-Benz, Stratford, London at 61,683 miles