Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
I’m always curious about how much of a “project” people are willing to endure. Naturally, this becomes just a math problem really fast with almost everyone undervaluing their time. However, sometimes our ego gets the best of us and we think we can fix things much easier, and a lot of times cheaper, than it actually ends up being in reality. Today’s car, a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 up for sale in California, is one of the “projects.”
Last week I laid out why I think right now the R230 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is probably the best value in the Mercedes-Benz world. It has the perfect combination of very high production numbers and the perfect timing of too old to be modern but too young to be a classic. Today, we have the previous generation that had a similar production run, which means it can still be had for very little money given how many are out there floating around. Of course I’m talking about the trusty R129, and more specifically an early 500SL.
This example up for sale in New Jersey is finished in one of my favorite colors of Spruce Green and just has shy of 51,000 miles. The best part? The asking price is only $10,900. Of course there is a catch.
This R129 sold for $13,000 on 3/6/22. Looks like it was a decent deal!
We made it to March and for some areas of the country, sSpring is in the air. For those who don’t have winter, congratulations: I envy you. That means that our cars are beginning to see the light of day and we are heading into buying and selling season as we prepare for driving again, and for some, that might be looking for a convertible. The easiest and one of the most cost-effective ways is to grab a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class as you basically have your pick from every budget level. In terms of bang for buck, the R129 is the way up there, and today’s car is something you don’t see everyday.
This Euro-spec 1992 500SL up for sale in San Diego has a little different look if you might have noticed. That is because it is wearing the handsome AMG body kit as well as some cool white AMG gauges. Don’t get too excited, as there isn’t a punched-out 6.0-liter under the hood, but rather the standard 5.0-liter M119 V8 we all know and love. Still, this one might be worth it.
Fresh off the craziest Porsche 911 color combo I’ve ever seen, today we have a Mercedes-Benz that is ready to join the party. This 1993 600SL looks innocent enough on the outside, but once you open those doors, the 1990s slap you right in the face. The dealer in Germany is claiming this is a one-off pre-merger AMG and while I’m normally skeptical of any dealer claim, I think I am buying this story. Although that is the only thing I’m buying once you see the asking price. Hold on.
Andrew talked about the R129 quite recently with his SL600, but I’ve also had my eye on these.
My particulate favorites are the pre-facelift early R129s. Whether they’re 300SLs or 500SLs, I really like the two-tone chunky bodywork and the simplicity of the early design. Perhaps it’s because I remember walking around one in a showroom when it was new, but the early R129s have always held a special fascination for me. As a bonus, early cars tend to be more affordable if you can find a decent one. In fact, they’re some of the most affordable “classic” Mercedes-Benz products out there. So let’s take a look at this lovely ’91:
