1979 Mercedes Benz R107 350SL, 3,499cc. Registration number ...

Estimate

£12,000 - £15,000

1979 Mercedes Benz R107 350SL, 3,499cc. Registration number YJR 58T. Chassis number W107 04322014418. Engine number 11698422003878.
The R107 (two-seat car with a detachable roof) and C107 (Coupe with sunroof) were produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the automaker, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL (R107) and SLC (C107) model names as the 280 SL, 280 SLC, 300 SL, 350SL, 350SLC, 380SL, 420SL, 450SL, 450SLC, 450SLC 5.0, 500SL, 500SLC and 560 SL.
Volume production of the first R107 car, the 350 SL, started in April 1971, the 350 SLC followed in October. From July 1974 both SL and SLC could also be ordered with a fuel-injected 2.8L straight-6 as 280 SL and SLC. In September 1977 the 450 SLC 5.0 joined the line. This was a homologation version of the big coupé, featuring a new all-aluminium five-litre V8, aluminium alloy bonnet and boot-lid, and a black rubber rear spoiler, along with a small front-lip spoiler. The 450SLC 5.0 was produced in order to homologate the SLC for the 1978 World Rally Championship.
Starting in 1980, the 350, 450 and 450 SLC 5.0 models (like the 350 and 450 SL) were discontinued in 1980 with the introduction of the 380 and 500 SLC in March 1980.
YJR was first registered on the 26th June 1979, by March 1994 it was in the ownership of Lord Francis Armstrong of Bamburgh in Northumberland. In October 1999 our vendor bought it and it has stayed in her heated garage ever since being used occasionally. In 2006 the MOT history shows a mileage of 61,299, rising slowly over the years, May 2010 it was at 62,590 and had some repairs to the underside. SORN'd in 2011 it was back on the road in 2015 at 62,649 miles, SORN'd again in 2019 it had some major repairs to the underside at 62,668 miles and passed its MOT.
In overall good condition, although the drivers seat squab needs some attention and the windows of the blue hood need replacing, it is sold with a hardtop and drove very well when the cataloguer attended.
Recent restoration work to the vehicle, undertaken by Ashcroft Engineering included two new sills, inner wheel arches, undersealing and a through cleaning of the brake lines. Sold with the V5C, MOT history, various paperwork; the history folder has been misplaced and hopefully will turn up before the auction.