There aren’t many feelings like when you think you’re getting away with something for less than it should cost. That $5 bill you found on the ground, the samples at the grocery store, whatever it is, they’re all a little something for nothing. Of course, as these things get more complex and costly, the risk goes up as well. Take the R129 Mercedes SL, with its ABS, airbags, electric windows, electric top, power locks/steering/brakes, and all kinds of other high-tech-for-1991 things. However, if you know what to look for and what to avoid, you can find some apparently stunning bargains, like this 1991 Mercedes 500SL, for sale for $4000 in Tracy, CA.
Photos with special filters are always reason for suspicion, but given that grain of salt, the car looks to be in pretty decent shape. With just short of 74,000 miles, you could probably easily expect at least another 100K out of it, assuming careful maintenance. The 5-liter V8 puts out 322hp, which should move this portly roadster along at a decent clip. You’ll want to check for hydraulic leaks in the top and roll bar mechanisms, but other than that, these don’t appear to have too many model-specific weak spots. Being a 1991 car, it’s not prone to some of the wiring issues the 1993-94 cars had.
The car is said to run well, with all accessories functioning properly. It almost trips the scam alarm, but the seller’s need for a quick sale and the ubiquity of these cars does a little to silence that. Other than the peeling finish on the lower edge of the front bumper, the finish looks in decent shape. The short list of added-cost options includes the adaptive damping system, automatic slip control, and heated and orthopedic seats.
What little is visible of the interior is in decent shape. How hard is it to get a shot with decent lighting? With the low mileage, the sheepskin seat covers should be covering up intact leather. It appears to have an aftermarket stereo CD player, though the listing says the car has a cassette player. So what else can you get for $4000? A third of a new Fiat 500? A beaten C4 Corvette? Which would you rather have?
Rusty But Trusty 
May 17, 2014 at 12:48 am |
Hi there
I’m looking for Renault 17 gordine, please let me know if you can try to find one, cheers
Herminder
May 18, 2014 at 4:47 am |
It”s already gone….
May 20, 2014 at 9:25 am |
Hey herminder, strangely, I was just thinking of a Renault Gordini yesterday, I remember seeing one, new, on a “Datsun” dealer’s lot some time around 1974. I think I remember Road and Track saying in some article where they described it a “a very nice car that somebody should buy” not quite sure what they meant by that but my high school self thought it was different and attractive at the least. Ran SearchTempent in the US for a Gordini and came up with nothing, You are in the UK right? No pity from me, I’d go bankrupt buying ragged out cars in Europe.