Rare 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Costs More Than a New S-Class

By Erik Sherman - February 22, 2026

Rare, 1-of-24 Yellowstone R129 Mercedes-Benz SL is a ‘90s treasure going for some serious money.

Boxy, dated, and yet absolutely brilliant, the R129 is a testament to renowned Italian designer Bruno Sacco’s tenure with Mercedes-Benz. But even with arguably undeniable 1990s charm, you can get an SL 500 or SL 55 AMG without breaking the bank. Wiebe, a German specialist with a particular focus on the R129-generation SL, presented the rare vehicle earlier this year.

So, why so valuable? For starters, the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 wears a Lamborghini-esque shade of Yellowstone paint. According to the seller, it’s one of just 24 copies Mercedes-Benz rolled out in the eye-catching saffron shade. Moreover, the SL has just 44,851 km on the clock.

That’s a mere 27,869 miles. This is one babied example of an R 129 Mercedes-Benz SL 500.

For what it’s worth (and the seller asserts it’s a lot), it’s also a desirable spec. Under the hood, the R129 SL packs a 315-horsepower M119 5.0-liter V8. The bright-yellow SL is also sitting a bit lower than other R129s, thanks to its AMG Sport suspension. Better yet, the painted hardtop comes with the car, and the soft top is freshly serviced. Throw in a set of brawny 18-inch AMG alloy wheels and an AMG styling package, and the brutish banana is all the more charismatic.

This Rare 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Costs More Than a New S-Class

More Spendy Than a New AMG SL55

When CarScoops reported on the auric treasure, it was listed for €129,900. For those who aren’t up to the moment on the exchange rate, that’s about $154,236.

Woof.

To give you a little perspective, a new 2026 Mercedes-Benz S580 starts at $131,850. If that wasn’t enough, a brand new Mercedes-AMG SL55 will set you back around $146,400– still not on par with the 29-year-old roadster.

That said, if you’re interested, I have some bad news. There’s a good chance you missed the magic on this one. Wiebe is down to two R 129s for sale on its website: a one-owner, 66,169-mile SL500 and a higher-mileage, Emerald Black Metallic SL320.

This Rare 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Costs More Than a New S-Class