‘Most Mercedes For the Money?’ We Think The R129 Deserves That Title.
Bruno Sacco called it his ‘most perfect car,’ and we think it belongs on your shopping list.
The peak of Mercedes engineering can arguably be narrowed down to the W140 and the R129. Both are incredible in their own way, but the R129 had the most amount of work. As a follow up to the R107, development for the R129 had taken place for nearly 10 years before the car was officially launched.
So, with that kind of sturdy Mercedes engineering backing it, we already know its a great car. For those of us in the United States, you’ll find some options. Pre-face lift cars will have M104 and M119 power, and later post facelift versions will have the M112 and M113. There’s a 600 SL/ SL600 if you’re feeling spicy and can find a V12.
All have their strengths and weaknesses. The M104 and M119 are arguably more powerful, and the high revving nature of the M104 makes it a sweetheart of an engine, even if it is a bit under powered. The M119 is a great engine, but you might have some issues coming across parts to keep it running. Later V6 and V8 engines are essentially bulletproof.
What becomes very interesting for the market is the varying condition of cars. The market has plenty of excellent condition cars to choose from. But if you’re feeling a bit zesty, some dilapidated examples can be found for a song. We’ve found this to be especially true for the 300 SL. But 500 SL models in need of TLC create a tempting opportunity to get an iconic roadster.
This got us thinking, what could we find if we took a quick look for ourselves? Well the blue one you see here was found on the good ole Facebook Marketplace. The description was short and simple – “runs good, low miles.” At $4,800 it may be an exceptional deal and not the norm. But finding a car like this for well under $10,000 is easy. That’s an amazing deal when you consider that, adjusted for inflation, a car like this would be $150,000 or more.
And with the newest ones now all being considered classics, we think the R129 would be an appreciating asset in the years to come. As more and more classic engines get replaced with electricity, the appeal of a V8 rumble will be far more than just a novelty.
Photos: Facebook
Join the MB World forums now!
You must be logged in to post a comment.