The 90-02 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R129 is Both Undervalued and Collectible, and it's the Time To Buy.

SOLD The R129 had very big shoes to fill - the R107 SL-Class, which it replaced, had run from 1972 through 1989, and was one of the most successful SL models ever made, and a star of TV and the movies. It was synonymous with success in the 1970s and 1980s, and faithful to the oldest and truest of Mercedes-Benz nomenclature.

The SL-Class itself is iconic, in the same way the Porsche 911 or Ford Model T is - something known to people who care nothing about cars, transcending automotive interest and in to popular culture. Any new SL has to be a very good car, brimming with quality and performance, not to mention curb appeal.

The R129 hit the mark. It introduced an all-new fully automated hydro-electric top, and pioneered safety features like ESP traction control, side airbags, and seatbelts contained withing the seat assembly itself. Like the SLs dating back to the original convertibles, it was a hard top/soft top system that came with a removable hard top intended for winter use. It was also ovvered with several different 6, 8, and 12-cylinder engines throughout its run, and could have both an automatic or manual (rare) transmission.

These cars were heavy, powerful, and expensive. Sticker prices in the $80s and $90s were common, and the car had a build quality and equipment list to match. Bruno Sacco, one of the most legendary Benz designers, called this his most perfect car, and I think it beautifully bridges the gap between old and new Mercedes-Benz, retaining enough of the old style to be charming, while sill having enough modernity to be safe and easy to own. Prices on the used market have been depressed, but are rising as the car becomes more vintage. There has never been a better time to buy a clean and well kept example of the R129 roadster - a collector car that's fun to drive, fun to be seen in, and can be maintained by people without the fattest wallets. SOLD