Elite Dealer

1987 Mercedes-Benz SL

$11,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Mercedes-Benz

Model

Year

1987

Mileage

130,000 miles

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Description

Only 130k miles, new tires, all services completed as per factory, runs & drives perfectly, clean inside & out Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our clients home and Not In Cadillac, Michigan. **We do have a showroom with about 25 cars that is by appointment only **Please Call First and talk to one of our reps at 231-468-2809 EXT 1 **

Classic Mercedes-Benz SL Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1954–2001

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters 1954–2001. Covers 300SL Gullwing, W113 Pagoda, and R107 generations with inspection priorities, common faults, and current valuations.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full SL Buyer's Guide

Mercedes-Benz SL Market Overview

Based on 4 Mercedes-Benz SL listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$9,495

Avg. Asking Price

1987–1998

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $11,995

Low: $6,995 High: $11,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 75% ◄

Condition Distribution

Good 25%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 4 listings →

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What is this car worth?

Check sold prices for the 1987 Mercedes-Benz SL

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Classic Mercedes-Benz SL Buyer's Guide

The Mercedes-Benz SL is perhaps the most consistently elegant sports car that any manufacturer has produced across a half-century of continuous refinement. From the legendary 300SL Gullwing of 1954 to the Pagoda roadsters of the 1960s and the long-lived R107 of 1972–1989, each SL generation represents Stuttgart's finest expression of touring-car excellence. Buying one today requires a clear eye for which generation suits your purpose — and which pitfalls will drain your patience and your wallet.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Verify factory data card — Order from Mercedes-Benz Classic archive. Confirms original colour, equipment, and destination market. Mismatches in colour or options reduce value significantly.

✓

Inspect battery tray and rear floor (R107) — Most common rust zone on R107 cars. Use torch and mirror. Any softness or perforation is a structural and cost concern.

✓

Check hardtop presence and condition (W113) — Original matching hardtop is mandatory for full value. Verify hardtop serial number matches car. Check the Pagoda roof for cracks in the vinyl/fabric lining.

✓

Compression test all cylinders — All cylinders should read within 10% of each other. Variance indicates head or ring wear — expensive on these engines.

✓

Cold-start smoke check (R107) — Blue smoke on startup = valve stem seals. Persistent blue under load = rings. Either requires engine-out work.

✓

Inspect cooling system hoses and reservoir — Check hoses, thermostat, overflow reservoir. V8 engines are sensitive to overheating. Flush history matters.

✓

Test automatic transmission — Shift smoothly through all ranges, no slip, no harsh engagement. Fluid should be red and clean — dark brown means deferred service.

✓

Check body panel gaps — These cars were built with tight, even panel gaps. Uneven gaps suggest accident repair or body work.

✓

Drive at full operating temperature — Minimum 20 minutes. Listen for any differential whine, transmission hesitation, or brake pulsation.

✓

Document with photos before purchase — Photo every panel, undercarriage, engine bay, data plate, VIN. Build the case before wiring money.

Common Issues

R107 cars rust at the battery tray and rear inner wheelarches — water ingress from the hardtop channel is the primary culprit. Inspect these areas with a torch before anything else. W113 Pagodas rust at windscreen frames, A-pillars, and rear valances; surface rust here migrates inward quickly. The W198 300SL is rare enough that each example needs an independent specialist assessment. Mechanically, R107 V8 engines are robust but cooling-system sensitivity is a known issue. Overheating events damage head gaskets; a car with any overheating history needs a full coolant system assessment. The automatic transmissions are generally long-lived when serviced regularly. Fuel injection systems on W113 cars (Bosch mechanical injection on 250SL/280SL) require specialist calibration. Electrics on R107 cars age in predictable ways: window motor brushes, dashboard instrument failures, and the climate control system all require attention on high-mileage examples.

What to Look For

Start with documentation. The Mercedes-Benz factory archive issues data cards confirming original specification — any car being sold without one should have the seller explain why. Colour code mismatches reduce value by 20–40%. Body condition second. R107 cars need the battery tray inspected (rear passenger-side, under the boot liner). W113 Pagodas need the windscreen frame and A-pillars assessed. Both generations should have tight, even panel gaps. Mechanical third. The engines in all three generations are fundamentally sound when maintained. Compression testing, cooling system inspection, and a careful cold-start assessment will identify 90% of mechanical issues before purchase.

Price Guide

The W198 300SL market is beyond most collectors: Gullwings sell above $800,000 at major houses, often significantly more for concours examples. The Roadster is slightly more accessible at $400,000–$700,000. The W113 Pagoda is the sweet spot. A correct 280SL in European specification with matching hardtop and documented history sells for $85,000–$140,000. US-specification 280SLs command $60,000–$100,000. Earlier 230SL and 250SL cars are 15–25% less expensive. The R107 offers the widest value range. A rough 450SL can be purchased for $10,000–$18,000 but will need $15,000–$30,000 of investment. A sorted 560SL in original colour runs $35,000–$60,000.

Did You Know?

The 300SL Gullwing was the fastest production car in the world at its 1954 launch, capable of 161 mph in standard tune — and 174 mph in the optional higher-compression "Sport" specification. The R107 SL holds the record for the longest production run of any Mercedes-Benz model in history — seventeen model years, from 1972 to 1989, on a fundamentally unchanged platform.

Elite Dealer

$11,995

1987 Mercedes-Benz SL

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