The fifth generation Mercedes-Benz SL, the R230, was manufactured between 2001 and 2008. With all the fun of the open air allied to what is effectively a proper hardtop coupe for those times when the weather was a little unpredictable, the car featured a fully retractable hardtop that was marketed as the Vario Roof, a first for the SL class although it had been available on the smaller SLK model since 1997. Stuffed full of high-tech safety features, its most significant was perhaps Active Body Control, or ABC, which used hydraulic accumulators to regulate and vary the height and stiffness of the suspension. This system gives the best of all worlds; a pillowy soft ride when you want to gently cruise around, and a hard-edged sporting bias to the handling when you want to drive a little harder.

This example presents very well in black with a dark grey interior, AMG wheels and the highly desirable panoramic roof and heated and cooled seats. Having covered a very modest 58,000 miles, this would make an excellent continental cruiser or even city car, especially as it is ULEZ compliant. The service book shows continuous maintenance over the years, with six stamps in the service book and an invoice showing a service was carried out along with fitment of a new water pump in 2023. This generation of SL is starting to look like fantastic value and this example is no exception. The bodywork shows very little sign of ageing with gleaming black paintwork and the interior could easily pass as a car with half the mileage. Consigned by Fraser

Lot details
Year: 2004
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: SL350
Registration: WM54 KRU
Chassis No: WDB2304672F090345
Odometer: 58,451

* ULEZ compliant
* Panoramic roof
* Strong service history