The R129 moved the SL a full generation forward. It brought a pop-up roll bar, a fully automatic electro-hydraulic hood and a level of engineering that still feels special three decades on. Of all the modern SLs, it’s the one enthusiasts keep coming back to.

Bruno Sacco gave it clean, perfectly balanced lines that have aged remarkably well. This 1996 SL500 pairs his design with the 5.0-litre M119 V8, the four-valve, quad-cam engine with Mercedes’ Le Mans pedigree. From 1996 the M119 was matched to the new electronically controlled 5-speed automatic. That combination, confirmed on this car’s original data card, is the one many R129 owners consider the sweet spot of the range.

Delivered new in January 1996 to its first owner in Osprey, Florida, this SL500 stayed in that owner’s care for 22 years, averaging just over 400 miles a year and serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota. Its second owner in Washington State kept up the same standard with main-dealer and specialist maintenance, most recently a service and transmission fluid change in 2024. It has covered just 10,900 miles from new and carries a clean CARFAX, with no accidents or damage reported and 12 documented service records. It comes with its original owner’s manuals, stereo test cassette, spare key, factory accessories and the original factory data card.

Original, low-mileage M119 cars with this kind of documented history are rarely seen in the region, making this a standout opportunity for the discerning collector.

Now available at Tomini Classics, Dubai.