1997 Mercedes SL500 Roadster

1997 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster Description

It was a rainy winter day when I took these photos and they do not show the car well -- but this is a 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 and a very good example of one of the best and most attractive cars Mercedes has ever produced. This car has given 120,000 trouble-free miles and has been an extremely dependable and beautiful car. This series of 5-liter V8 engines, which changed to a different engine the next year, are considered half-a-million-mile engines. It has over 315 horsepower and is extremely and powerful. It is a superb road car and very comfortable on long trips.

This car is Polo White with beige leather interior and both exterior and interior are in very good condition. It is often mistaken by valets as a newer car because the paint is still shiny and unmarked, with the exception of a few spots. It is original paint and interior, of course, and comes with most Mercedes options and refinements offered in 1997.

It has ABS, traction control, stability control, cruise control, automatic climate control, power everything including memory seats, mirrors, and door locks – all of which work as they are designed to do. I still have the original books, window sticker, tools, jack and spare in the trunk.

The only items that don’t work are the reading lights and the power top, which only needs to have the cylinders rebuilt. There are people on eBay who will perform this service for as low as $55.00. The hardtop is in very good shape, the headliner is perfect and it can be removed manually if one desires. I haven’t seen the soft top in years so do not know its condition, but it was fine the last time I looked.

I have driven the car for years and it is time to sell it and move on as I have bought a new Mercedes and do not have room for two cars. Otherwise I would keep it and enjoy the inevitable appreciation which is almost guaranteed to come as all Mercedes SL’s are desirable and do appreciate.

This car was considered by its designer as the most beautiful car with which he was involved, and most people still feel that way.

It has just had a major service with all fluids and filters changed, new power steering pump and the tires are brand new with only a few hundred miles of wear. This car is ready for its new owner and will give years of faithful service. As an example, prior to fitting new tires, I drove it to Pittsburgh and back last fall, got over 27 miles per gallon and never had a whimper of trouble with it. The air conditioning cools, the heat heats, and the original radio and CD Player are still there.

All the Christmas tree dash lights work properly and there are no warning lights of any kind. There is nothing amiss with this car but for the top, and that is an easy fix, if taken to a knowledgeable mechanic. There are even videos on YouTube of how you can perform the service yourself. I simply don’t have the time to do so. I put in a new top switch but did not have time to rebuild the cylinders that actuate the locking and unlocking mechanisms.

I have set a low reserve on this car and you can drive and own one of the best automobiles Mercedes has ever built -- while you enjoy the appreciation potential. You can fly in and drive this car home with no worries. The trunk looks brand new. The car has custom Mercedes floor mats protecting the carpeting.

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