1987 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

560 SL Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

WDBBA48D1HA072172

Gasoline

When you take pride in something you do, it's not work, for it literally becomes an extension of whom you are. I say this because this is true about most everything in life including owning & maintaining your beloved car. For years, I was a Seller's Agent for individuals who lovingly took great pride & care for their respective cars. What a huge difference there is representing &/or buying a car from the individual owner as opposed to a Dealer or Broker. You get a feel, an understanding of how the car was used, maintained & stored as opposed to hearing the typical salesman story that the car was owned by an old lady who only drove to the local market & theatre. Please! Approximately 9 years ago, while I was a Antique & Collectible Car Seller's Agent, I was visited by a retired couple here in South Florida who were recommended to me via a couple of whom I had previously sold a car for. They informed me that they were 'thinking' about selling their 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL & wanted to know about the particulars including what price range they could get & etc. So they left with the notion that they would 'think' about it & possibly get back to me. About a month or so later, the Wife had returned & told me they were ready for me to sell the car for them, although there was one catch...Would I be kind enough, the lady asked, to go outside to the car & console her Husband. She explained that the car was his baby & he had taken so much pride & satisfaction in keeping it all these years. So here I am walking to him as he sat in his SL & as I got closer it was clearly evident that he was more than a bit sad. As I approached I could see that this was not just a case of shedding a few tears. Oh no, this was a stream of tears running down his cheeks...A steady stream just the same. I appreciated that moment, & still do so today. I simply consoled the gentleman by relaying how wonderful it is that he got so much joy with the car & how appreciative the new prospective owner will be. Well, I never wound up selling that 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL, for I purchased it for myself, have enjoyed it immensely for 9 years now, and with all due respect, I take enormous pride in my baby. I can recount to you the countless weekends spending in my garage as I cleaned, sealed & polished each panel by panel, crevice & nook & cranny. I recall all those times when I was driving & suddenly had to avoid a errant lawn sprinkler, or hesitant to take her out due to the likelihood of rain. The never ending making sure I had fresh car towels & cleaning supplies tucked away in the trunk in case of a bird dropping or some other foreign matter. Oh yes, she was my baby & I took great pride in her too. Mechanically, I was certain to continue the preventive maintenance which basically came down to changing the oil before every 3K Miles, & always checking fluids, maintaining proper tire inflation & keeping those wheels perfectly high speed aligned. I'm a firm believer in preventive maintenance & have always urged others to do the same. My advice has always been to find a honest, reliable & initial diagnostically correct mechanic by asking those in your area who have the same or similiar vehicle as to whom their car guy is. When you form a consensus, you obtain the right person to take care of your baby, & that's exactly what I did. Oh sure, I was & am fanatical, & yes I was the target of the kidding remarks that if I keep cleaning her they way I do I'll wear down the paint, but I was also the receiver of sincere compliments. I recall most recently pulling up to a new SL at a light & the woman asks me 'do I want to trade cars?' when I laughed & said 'no thanks' she smiled & told me she loves my car. Most of all, the best satisfaction I have enjoyed is that wonderful feeling you get when you approach your car in a parking lot for example. That initial spotting of your car & you say to yourself 'there's my baby', nothing like that feeling... Nothing at all. Anyways, I can go on & on here but perhaps I should simply stop & specifically detail for you what you need to know. I am available, however, to answer any & all questions you have by simply emailing me via eBay's message system &/or by calling me directly @ 561.212.9021. Feel free to contact me at your convenience for I will only be too happy to be of any assistance you may require. Ok here goes... Here's what else you need to know; The car is in immaculate condition & free of any erosion. You can literally eat out of all the compartments including where the soft top gets tucked in & the convertible lid, trunk lid etc. You may enjoy your favorite beverage out of the gas compartment, although I wouldn't recommend that. The floor & trunk boards are in pristine condition. All areas including those & door jams & crevices are erosion free, clean, sealed, waxed & polished. The rubber seals to both doors & trunk are moist & pliable as they should be. The Convertible Top is the genuine German make not the cheaper version. It is only a few years old, has no tears, no issues & it's rear window is clear as clear can be. The original Hard Top has been stored on it's stand up on wheels caddy, with it's original breathable cover & kept in a climate controlled garage. The windshield wiper brackets are the original Bosch equipped ones which are rare these days. The windows are 3M medium tinted & are in perfect condition. The Becker AM/FM Cassette Radio is original & works perfectly. The tires are perhaps 4 months old & are V rated steel belted radials and were high speed aligned upon installation. The transmission is new, having been fully overhauled & is fully warranted till July 2011. The car runs & shifts smoothly & effortlessly & is literally a finely tuned thoroughbred on the open highway. The battery is a year old & is the top of the line Interstate battery known for it's durability & endurance. Now a word about my baby's mileage... Please know that the biggest delusion is that the lower the miles the better it is. That is so contrary to the fact that SL's from 1986-1989 were & are the type of cars that are commonly known as 'Drivers'. They literally operate better when driven somewhat regularly. The reason is simple; When they are of low mileage & consequently not driven for extended periods, the seals & gaskets tend to dry up & consequently cause problems. The 187K miles equates to a annual average of just under 7,800 Miles per year which is 600 miles per month. Hardly overused & certainly not improperly used at all. So diskguard that myth & be assured that this 560 SL has & is well maintained & poised for many years to come. Please know that the lucky, & I mean very lucky prospective Buyer will receive the following items which are included in the sale; Original Artic White Exterior, Blue Leather Interior Hard Top with the Original Hard Top Stand Up On Lockable Wheels Caddy & Hard Top Breathable Fabric Cover, 2 sets of Soft Top handles which include the original & Chrome sets. 2 Car Covers which include a super soft dust cover for garage purposes & a breathable rain resistant cover for those times when she's outside. All Original Manuals, Booklets & documents. All Service & Maintaince records including the New Transmission Warranty. Also included is the original Mercedes Benz Dealer issued Rubberized Black Trunk Mat, & 2 sets of interior carpet mats; one is a high density thick pile carpet & the other is the thinner pile with the Mercedes Logo. Lastly, but equally important, you will receive all the cleaning, sealing, waxing & polishing supplies that I have used & I trust you will as well. Good Luck & Happy Bidding! Mark~ ps; Due to my long standing wholesale relationships with reliable, reputable, insured & bonded transporters I will gladly assist you in coordinating & expediting your shipment.