Over the past weekend at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance in Pennsylvania, I was given the opportunity to drive my friend Tim McNair’s Mercedes-Benz SL500. That was exciting to me because up to that point, I had only spent about 10 miles behind the wheel of one. I had heard about how good they were, but I had yet to really experience one. The SL500 Tim owns is an excellent example with only 25,000 original miles and the benchmark for how an excellent SL500 should drive.
I have to tell you that the SL500 is a near-perfect 1990s GT car. It is the kind of car you can take to local shows, a Mercedes club event, work, or even drive cross-country. The fit and finish are nothing short of perfection and these cars drive every bit as well as their fans would lead you to believe they do. If there is a better deal for a high-end drop-top European GT car from the era, I can’t think of what it is.
Our Pick of the Day is one of these cars, an all-original 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500.
The selling dealer states that this car looks simply brilliant in its original Glacier White paint. The car has covered only 39,101 miles from new, making it an example with decades of life left before it will need any major mechanical work.
They add that inside, you find an original interior in terrific shape decked out in plush Parchment leather. The seats are amazingly comfortable and are not only power-adjustable but heated as well, making them perfect for those cooler days when you want to put the top down and still stay warm.
Under the hood lies the original naturally aspirated M119 5.0-liter DOHC V-8, which makes 315 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque – plenty of power for whatever you wish to do in this superlative GT car. Being a later-generation SL500, its power is routed through the later 722.6 five-speed automatic. The factory suspension is still in place, as are the power front and rear ABS disc brakes and the factory 16-inch wheels, which have been updated to modern Michelin 225/55 rubber.Â
These cars are hard to beat at the price and after driving Tim’s car, I cannot believe that you can buy this much car for so little money. The asking price for this particular car is only $20,995. If that seems like a lot, consider that when this car was new, it carried a sticker price just north of $100,000. Convince me this generation of the SL500 is not the bargain GT car of our time.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.Â
