1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL

One of the greatest crimes in automotive history were the 5 mph bumpers mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1973. As a result, our favorite cars from Europe went from being great designs to cars with massive underbites. Arguably no car was hit harder by this mandate than the Mercedes-Benz R107. A great, boxy design was totally transformed because of these massive bumpers. Thanks to another ridiculous rule at the time that required sealed beam headlights, the R107 design was basically decimated. Thankfully, there are enthusiasts out there who told the NHTSA where to go and swapped back on the slim bumpers and non-sealed beam headlights. This 1986 560SL up bid in California is one of them. Thank goodness.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL on eBay

Year: 1986
Model: 560SL
Engine: 5.6 liter V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 143,000 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

1986 Mercedes Benz 560SL Euro
Vin Number: WDBBA48D1GA053216
California Car
Clean Title
Rust free
Accident Free
143,000 documented miles (All documents show consistent mileage increase since new)
Recent high quality respray in its original color of blue green also known as petrol (color code 877 G)
Fitted with genuine European bumpers and European headlights
New tires
Rims are like new
Dash is in excellent condition
Original glass through out the car
Car is all original down to the radio and even soft top
Every book and manual is included along with the metal order plate
Over $25,000 in records dating back to 1986
AC converted to r134
$2000 dollars spent this month to get the car running properly (it sat for a few years)
Original window sticker and delivery slip
This is a very nice example which has been retrofitted with euro lights and bumpers to give it the sleek European look. Recent work includes new fuel lines, new fuel pumps, new fuel filter, and new master brake cylinder. This 560 drives and shifts great. With $25,000 dollars in records in has received everything from a transmission rebuild to the timing chain being replaced. You name it and this car has received it. It also retains everything from day one, every book and manual has been kept with the car. The maintenance book shows the car was frequently serviced at Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad for the first 10 years after the car was sold. All other records show it was serviced by Dieters in San Diego, CA for the rest of the cars life. Feel free to contact me with questions. International buyers welcomed.

This car looks like a real winner. All the heavy lifting with the timing chain and transmission rebuild has already been done and it even looks like a fairly nice repaint in the factory Petrol Blue Green Metallic that you don’t see too often. Inside, this R107 is fairly nice. It’s not exceptional by any means but you don’t see any busted up wood or cracking dash that can be present in these cars. One negative to point out is that the soft top does have a tear in it. Not the biggest deal ever, but probably needs to be addressed if the car is driven in any kind of negative weather. With this mileage and condition, this is a great example of driver that you can enjoy.

This is running as an auction as it sits but it was listed before with a Buy It Now of $21,000. For that price, I’d say it would be well bought. There are plenty of other 560SLs out there that don’t have the European upgrades and major services done for much more money and I’d have no problem plunking down the money for this example. Yes, the soft top needs to be replaced sooner rather than later, but I’d rather do that job over a timing chain job. Overall, a nice example with some attractive upgrades that I think totally transform the look of this car.

– Andrew