Truly a timeless cabriolet, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (R129) is a classic car that has all comforts one could expect from a modern car.

The first design studies started in 1981, with production starting in 1989, when it almost won the European Car of the Year award, coming in second. A masterpiece of Italian designer Bruno Sacco, it had a really modern shape for the time, and its equpiment was equally futuristic, featuring solutions such as the hidden, self-extending automatic roll-over bar.

Its launch trim was the "500", as the specimen featured in this auction, with a 5.0L, V8 engine capable of delivering 326 HP. The first few model years were named "500SL", while from 1993 onwards the naming changed to "SL500" in a brand-wide effort to standardize model names.

This car comes in a rare Nautical Blue over blue leather interiors, and is in really wonderful mechanical conditions as it was always serviced by official Mercedes-Benz dealers over the years, as the invoices can show. Recent maintenance included, besides the regular inspection, new dampers and capote.

Interiors and exteriors appear in great conditions, and given its perfect conservation status the car was awarded the "Targa Oro" (i.e. the highest certification) by the Italian ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano, the Italian registry of classic cars).

The car is auctioned together with its original hard-top, used very lightly and hence in great conditions just like the car.