White | 3.5-Litre V8 | Automatic | 68,902 Miles

Few cars embody the understated elegance and engineering excellence of Mercedes-Benz quite like the R107 SL. Introduced in 1971 as the successor to the celebrated W113 'Pagoda', the third-generation SL marked a significant evolution for the Stuttgart manufacturer, combining traditional grand touring luxury with a more powerful engine range, improved refinement and a distinctly modern design.

Designed under the direction of Friedrich Geiger, the R107 retained the elegant proportions and unmistakable character of its predecessor while introducing a wider, lower stance, a longer bonnet and an altogether more substantial appearance. Its beautifully restrained styling, characterised by its horizontal headlamps, broad radiator grille and clean, uninterrupted body lines, has aged exceptionally well.

The R107 was also engineered with considerable attention to occupant safety. Its strengthened passenger compartment, carefully designed crumple zones and reinforced windscreen frame reflected Mercedes-Benz's pioneering approach to automotive safety, without compromising the open-top driving experience for which the SL had become renowned.

At launch, the European-market 350 SL was powered by Mercedes-Benz's 3,499cc M116 V8 engine, producing approximately 200 DIN horsepower. Smooth, flexible and wonderfully refined, the engine provided effortless performance ideally suited to the SL's grand touring character. Paired with an automatic transmission, it delivered the relaxed yet capable driving experience that would become synonymous with the model.

The R107 would remain in production until 1989, an extraordinary 18-year run during which more than 237,000 SL roadsters were manufactured. Its longevity was a testament to the fundamental quality of its original design, and the model remains one of Mercedes-Benz's most recognisable and enduring creations.

Early examples, particularly those fitted with the original 3.5-litre V8, represent an appealing chapter in the model's history, retaining the character and simplicity of the first-generation R107 while offering the comfort and usability of a more modern classic.

Our 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL

We are delighted to offer this attractive early-production 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL, finished in classic White and showing just 68,902 miles.

First registered on 6 January 1972, this example belongs to the earliest period of R107 production and is fitted with the desirable 3.5-litre V8 engine and automatic transmission.

Presented with an accompanying history file containing historic registration documents, MOT certificates, insurance correspondence and recent maintenance invoices, the car benefits from a documented history stretching back more than two decades.

The accompanying paperwork provides a useful record of the car's mileage over the years, with an MOT certificate from September 2003 recording 69,950 miles. Subsequent MOT documentation records 65,561 miles in 2008, 65,770 miles in 2013, 68,012 miles in 2014, 68,047 miles in 2016 and 68,554 miles in 2018.

More recent workshop documentation records 68,747 miles in August 2026 and 68,902 miles in October 2026.

While the recorded mileage is relatively low for a car of this age, the discrepancy between the 2003 reading and subsequent records should be noted, and the total mileage cannot presently be independently warranted.

History and Maintenance

The history file includes a collection of historic MOT certificates, a period German registration document and UK registration paperwork, together with more recent invoices detailing mechanical maintenance and recommissioning work.

An insurance document from Lancaster Insurance, dated November 2014, provides further evidence of the car's UK history, while historic MOT records document its use and maintenance over the intervening years.

Of particular interest is the attention the car has received during 2026, with invoices from specialist workshops detailing a programme of servicing, mechanical repairs and replacement components.

July 2026 — Shaun Zealey Services

An invoice dated 23 July 2026 records the supply of several replacement components for the 350 SL, including:

• Replacement boot handle

• Engine oil filter

• Air filter

• Fuel filter

• Pair of roof release handles

The invoice totals £242.03, including VAT.

August 2026 — MPS Bosch Service Centre

On 19 August 2026, the car received further mechanical attention at MPS Bosch Service Centre in New Milton, Hampshire, with the invoice recording a mileage of 68,747 miles.

Work included an engine oil and filter change, replacement fuel filter and a general mechanical inspection covering the suspension, joints, mounts and bushes.

All four wheels were removed to inspect the braking system, while the wheel hub contact points were lubricated.

A reported fuel smell was investigated, resulting in the replacement of the rubber fuel hose connecting the tank to the metal fuel line.

The offside rear brake hose was also removed and correctly secured with a replacement clip, while a new metal brake pipe was fabricated and fitted between the hose and brake caliper. The brake fluid was subsequently replaced.

Four customer-supplied tyres were fitted, balanced and installed, with the old tyres removed and disposed of.

The accompanying invoice totals £483.00, including VAT, excluding the cost of the customer-supplied components and tyres.

October 2026 — Paul Sumner Classics

Most recently, the car was attended to by Paul Sumner Classics, with an invoice dated 7 October 2026 and a recorded mileage of 68,902 miles.

This work included:

• Replacement rear exhaust box

• Replacement gearbox oil cooler hoses

• Replacement anti-roll-bar bushes

• Replacement high-tension ignition leads

• Cleaning, treatment and repainting of the sills

• Installation of a radio and electric aerial

• Replacement of the aerial assembly

• Fitting of a hardtop seal

• Replacement windscreen wiper blades

• General mechanical inspection and associated repairs

The work amounted to £1,677.27, including VAT.

Together, the three invoices document £2,402.30 of parts and maintenance expenditure during 2026, in addition to the cost of customer-supplied items.

A Classic Mercedes-Benz Grand Tourer

The appeal of the early 350 SL lies in its ability to combine the character of a traditional Mercedes-Benz with a remarkably usable driving experience.

Its naturally aspirated V8 provides a distinctive soundtrack and effortless power delivery, while the automatic transmission and comfortable cabin make it equally suited to leisurely country drives and longer journeys.

Unlike many contemporary sports cars, the SL was conceived first and foremost as a sophisticated grand tourer: a car designed to cover considerable distances in comfort, with the added pleasure of open-air motoring.

More than five decades after its introduction, the R107 remains an exceptionally elegant motor car, its timeless proportions and restrained detailing ensuring it looks equally at home outside a country house, on the streets of London or touring the Continent.

This early 1972 example offers the opportunity to acquire an original-era 350 SL with an accompanying history file and evidence of recent mechanical investment.

Available for viewing by appointment at Aubrey Halls, Rye, East Sussex.

£23,500