1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (R107) |

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (R107)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£14,840

Mileage~111,328
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine3.5L
LocationThame

SOLD

1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (R107)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

A continental tourer with space and refinement, beautiful, and a quality act, the R107 is a popular classic for many a reason.

The well regarded and long-lived R107 Mercedes roadster characteristics are defined by its handling and road holding, with emphasis on comfort and refinement. When first rolled out to the public in 1971, the series of luxurious tourers were not cheap, and while they were not considered particularly sporting cars, offered plenty of space, practicality and almost peerless build quality. These valuable assets endeavoured the R107 as the brand's flagship convertible for an impressive 18 years.

Registered in late 1971, this well-restored 350 SL is likely to be one of the earliest RHD cars in the UK. Fitted with the desirable rear seat, it has been the recipient of over £17,000 pounds worth of work in the last 6 years. The exterior has been finished to a high standard, with a solid structure and its trademark smooth V8 engine carrying the car with typical poise and grace.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Peter the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I’ve always liked these cars since I was a kid, and I particularly wanted a red one!

Peter has established himself as a professional mechanic and has an eye for potential projects. The original idea was to use and enjoy the SL, following its lengthy and costly rebirth, but a change of heart and the arrival of a new project has meant that the car is now for sale.

He admits, in his eyes, it's not quite finished to perfection, but this SL's positive mechanical and body finish will attract a potential buyer who would be willing to complete the minor aesthetics. Peter is also a member of the Mercedes-Benz owners club. He'll be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Peter

Vehicle Owner

Peter saved £2,520* when they
sold their Mercedes with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Its eye-catching red paint and flawless lines betray the age of this car.

Wheels and Tyres

Being a very early example of the R107, this car features the steel wheels with hubcaps rather than the "Mexican Hat" wheels that most pre-facelift examples feature. The hubcaps look unmarked and have been re-chromed and restored, they look very attractive and in very good condition. The car is fitted with a set of 2019 dated Rivera Pro tyres.

Bodywork

The bête noire of the 70s R107s is the dreaded reputation for corrosion, so the good news is that this car has seen an extensive amount of work. The main hotspots, such as the sills, areas around the headlamps, boot floor, floor pan, doors, wheel arches, and deeper inside the structure, like the bulkhead, suspension mounts and front subframe are solid.

The passenger doors open without creaking and both the boot and bonnet close and open without issues. The panel fit and gaps are very good, with a cohesive flow. The lower rear panels have been replaced and are in very good shape. The only noteworthy body blemish was spotted on the off-side rear wing, close to the right-hand side bumper. The hood well is in good shape and solid, with no water build up noted.

Paint

The paint finishing has been recently carried out to a very high standard and it’s evident that the car has seen stripped down and repainted. The owner can provide a series of images, upon request to show the process and preparation of work.

The results are positive, with a decent deep and even gloss throughout, with a handful of minor imperfections noted on the scuttle plate and one minor chip on the off-side front edge of the front wing, otherwise, the car is free from any road chips or wear.

Glass and Trim

The chrome work is in very good shape, with the bumpers and windscreen pillar looking good. There are a handful of tasks for the next owner, such as replacing the B-post metal plates embellishments, both have minor fractures.

The glass is in good condition throughout, with decent seals and rubbers. No issues were noted on the headlamps or rear lenses. There are a few imperfections observed on some of the trim items, such as the front bumpers rubbers and the fog light mounts, but these should be considered nothing more than minor cosmetic wear.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The seats have been retrimmed in leather, adding an extra plushness to the cabin.

Seats and Carpets

The seats have been refurbed in recent years, and the original materials have been recovered in soft Italian leather with perforations. As a result, they are all in good shape, with no damage or wear. The rear jump seat mount has seen a DIY catch installed, which is effective in keeping the seat up. The carpets are recent items and are in good shape, all are free of dampness.

Dashboard

The dashboard and the centre console are complete and in good condition, the top of the dash not suffering with any warps or cracks. A few of the plastic components do show signs of age but are overall presentable. The owner has pointed out a handful of items needing replacement, such as the window winder trim.

The car has seen a Xomax MP3 DAB Bluetooth player fitted. The binnacle, dials and controls are in good shape, with all of the dashboard functions said to work with very effective heating. The door cards are complete, they show a little age but are generally in good condition.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel displays wear roughly in line with the age of the car but is in good shape with no damage. The gear lever is in good condition too.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The mechanics have seen a complete overhaul, and now the V8 runs superbly.

Engine and Gearbox

The car has seen a substantial amount of attention to the engine, and as a result, the visual presentation backs this up. The hoses, ancillaries and wiring are all in good shape. The car did not show any signs of unwanted noises or rattles as the car started up, there was a little smoke on start-up but this clears up once the car warmed up.

The dashboard lights remained off, with no reports of oil pressure or high engine temperature issues. The exhaust is in good condition, with no leaks. The car also appears to be free from leaking fluids.

Suspension and Brakes

The component's visuals look good, with a recent MOT confirming the good state of the braking, steering or suspension components, with just a hose needing replacement. The car's brakes are effective with no squealing, vibrations or grinding noted. The dampers are compliant in action.

The Drive

One of the R107’s many attractions is the comfortable ride. The car drives well, with no excessive rolling around the curves. Feeling stable at all times, there was no knocking or creaking heard at lower speeds.

The torquey V8 works well in conjunction with the smooth gear sections, with no issues with kick down. The engine sounds unstressed and punchy at lower cruising speeds.

Electrics and Other

The canvas roof is a relatively new fitting and is in good shape. It raises and lowers without any problems. The original hardtop has long gone, as it has succumbed to age, however, the owner retained the valuable chrome trim and glass, which comes with the car along with other spare parts. The bonnet release cable will need replacing but can still be opened from the outside and the exterior passenger door handle is temperamental.

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History and Paperwork

After spending over £7,000 and several weeks of engine investigation, the car now looks and runs nicely

Peter first noticed the SL in the courtyard of a Mini specialist, who had received it for repairs from an elderly lady. The intention was to restore it but it remained there for a number of years. Peter, being a fan of older cars and not afraid of a challenge, spotted the potential and set upon getting the car up to scratch again.

The car has a handful of old MOTs up to the late 90s, which might offer a rough indication of how long the car had been unused. After taking on the car, the first task was to diagnose a misfiring issue, which after £4,000 worth of investigation including a new fuel tank, fuel lines, clean injector heads and then new injectors at Mercedes specialists Edward Hall the issue was still not resolved. A second round at the same specialist, at the cost of another £3,000 finally solved the issue and the car has run seamlessly ever since. Over the 6 years Peter has had it, he believes he has spent £17,000 on it, including repairs done by himself as a professional mechanic. As already mentioned, he documented the restoration of the car via a series of photographs.

The car comes with new carpets, refurbished wheel trims, a new hood and a considerable amount of new metalwork, including the rear lower valance back and skirting, the front bulkhead and floor pan beneath it as well as a total respray. The car also comes with two keys, an MOT to March 2023, a service carried out less than 3,000 miles ago and a dateless registration plate.

We’ve done all our usual checks; seller ID, V5C, HPi.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
18-03-2022	MOT	111,311
28-02-2020	Service	108,504
06-06-1997	MOT	107,893
03-06-1996	MOT	104,642
02-06-1995	MOT	100,128
17-05-1994	MOT	99,400
27-04-1993	MOT	97,156

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Key Details

Model350 SL (R107)
TransmissionAutomatic
Reg. Date12-11-1971
CC3,499
Mileage~111,328
HistorySome
ColourRed
Interior ColourTan
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #10704322003090
Engine #11698422000660
Last Service28-02-2020
RestoredYes
MOT17-03-2023
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
Former Keepers12
Tyre BrandRivera
Tyre Age2019
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~6 years
Key FeatureMechanical and body restoration

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Vehicle Sold

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This vehicle has now been sold - click 'I Want One' below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

I WANT ONE

Ask Questions

Seller : PeterS Sale Date 26.04.2022

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

2 Comments

PeterS

Seller

2 years ago

Hi, in my opinion just a few interior bits need tidying up, speaker covers, better door trims, some centre console touch ups. generally good but to make it really nice then some interior bits. its 50 years old. look at all the interior shots and video see what you think

green99

2 years ago

What does it need doing to it?

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