1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 Series 560SL One Owner, Docs, 77k

Price: - Item location: Local pick-up only
Description:

1988 Mercedes-Benz 500-Series 560SL

1988 Mercedes 560SL One Owner & Complete Documentation Original & Unmodified Rust-Free 77,646 Miles WE SHIP WORLDWIDE! VIN: WDBBA48D5JA086632 Build Sheet Decode (see image provided of built sheet): Paint: 147 - Arctic White Upholstery: 274 - Palomino Leather 240: Outside temperature indicator 262: Elimination of rear-end spoiler 442: Airbag in steering wheel 461: Instrument cluster with mileage reading and English lettering 491: USA Version 506: Electronically adjustable and heated rear view mirrors 519: Becker Grand Prix radio with electronic cassette 524: Paintcoat preservation (clear coat) 531: Automatic antennae 543: Sun visor with illuminated mirror 551: Anti-theft warning system 570: Folding armrest 581: Automatic climate control 592: Green heat-insulating glass all around, heated rear window 639: Elimination of first aid box and warning triangle 664: 10 liters of fuel and mode of packing VE III 746: Dark brown folding fabric top 808: Change of model year, last figure shows new model year Evolve Motors & Chicago Car Club are pleased to present this Mercedes-Benz 560SL! We purchased this car right here in Chicago, where it has remained since being sold new at Laurel Motors of Westmont, Illinois. We bought the car from the wife of the original owner, who had passed away in late 2015. The owner was the founder of a Chicago-based worldwide petroleum and auto parts wholesaler, and had an interesting, eclectic collection of cars. We actually purchased a '72 Titan MK6 racecar and a '53 Plymouth Coupe out of the same collection; like I said, eclectic. The original owner kept his collection in a dry warehouse in Chicago, though this 560SL got 2-car garage privileges as his wife took a liking to it. The owner held onto all of the car's paperwork - manuals, window sticker, periodic inspection reports, service booklets, etc. Since taking the car out of storage we've given it a thorough inspection, tended to a number of items, and begun to rack up the mileage. We've fitted a set of refurbished-to-as-new 560SL wheels as well as new Pirelli P4000 tires all around, evacuated and recharged the R134a air conditioning as well as replaced the condenser, replaced the oil pressure sender, replaced the battery with an Advance Gold unit, and resprayed the front valence at our body shop, Albany Auto Chicago. While this car has just over 77k miles, it is quite possibly the cleanest 560SL we've ever come across. Inside, out, and underneath, this car is in show-level condition. We've had a blast taking the hardtop off and taking it out for coffee runs on a routine basis. The Exterior: Original paint is in excellent shape. As confirmed with an elcometer, paint is original throughout, with the exception of a portion of the driver front fender, which was resprayed a number of years ago in order to correct a small scratch. Paint was done right, there is absolutely no sign of the respray (unless you have an elcometer). We opted to respray the front valence, as there was some minor chipping and we just felt obligated, as the rest of the car is so phenomenally clean. There really aren't any blemishes to note, other than some microscopic chips below the headlights, which are only visible upon a very, very close inspection. The body is perfectly straight, there are no door dings or scuffs of any sort. Chrome is mirror-like and oxidation-free throughout. Black US-spec bumpers are in as-new condition, with no sunbleaching, scuffs, or discoloring. It's obvious that this car has been garage-kept and babied by its one and only owner. It's truly as nice in person as it appears in the photos. The Interior: Tan leather interior looks fantastic against the bright white exterior. Interior is in close-to-new condition. The only imperfections to note are a hairline crack at the bottom of the center console, coming from the bottom of the passenger window switch, as well as some wear on the original floormats. There is also a tiny, tiny spot of surface rust in the forwardmost bottom corner of the door sill. It is extremely minor, and could be made invisible with a couple drops of touch-up paint, but we like to be completely transparent about the condition of the cars we sell. Carpets are free of any stains or fraying. Dash is excellent, no cracks or fading. Seats are in excellent condition as well, with only some very minor wear on the driver's outer seat bolster. Seats are not cracked, scratched, or overly cushy and worn. All gauges, the Becker radio, all lights, and powered windows are functional. Air conditioning is ice cold, and that glorious car phone even turns on. Removable hardtop is in excellent shape, with no scuffs or damage whatsoever. Brown soft top is in as-new condition. Under the Hood / Under the Car: This car runs and drives extremely well. The 5.6L V8 and automatic transmission provide smooth, effortless acceleration. The car is an excellent GT car; it's comfortable, extremely stable at speed, and the suspension is nice and supple. For a long cruise on an open road, it's hard to imagine something being much better. Please take a good look through the underbody, as the car is documented in detail. There is absolutely no rust or damage on the underbody. Brake rotors don't even have any oxidation on them! Bilstein shocks provide excellent ride quality, and still have clearly visible part # stickers. On the road, there are no tendencies or noises of any concern whatsoever. The car is nice and quiet, and the muffler is new. The car is just as happy idling in traffic on a hot day as it is cruising down the interstate at 65mph. I would have no hesitation flying in and driving the car home, no matter how long the drive. Final Assessment: 560SLs this nice surely don't come along often. We have had a number of them over the years, and this is likely the nicest one we've ever come across. We have a real soft spot for all of the 80s German GT cars, and have seen the values of most of them slowly creeping upwards. We're feeling fairly certain that the 560SL is the next model to experience a "bubble", or a sudden uptick in value. It won't be long until one-owner, original examples like this one have appreciated out-of-reach. With all of the 560SLs we've had, we've had a phenomenal amount of interest from collectors based in Germany. These cars are heating up quickly in Europe, and for good reason - the 560SL was a range-topping spec, designed specifically for the North American market. These cars came equipped with all the bells and whistles, as well as the bigger-than-what-Europe-got 5.6L V8. This car, if the next owner continues to treat it with care, is surely a safe and fun investment. With any further questions, requests, or to discuss purchasing, please reach out to Jake at 773-303-6122. Buy with confidence; I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is one of the good ones.