Ever since the mid-1950s, when the 300 SL "Gullwing" and 190 SL debuted, Mercedes-Benz has produced an 'SL' (Sport Leicht) sports model as the company's image and performance leader. Following the immensely successful R107-series models produced from 1972 through 1989, the fourth-generation SL, internally designated R129, debuted at the 1989 Geneva Salon. Bristling with technical refinements, the R129 continues to be renowned as a stylistic and technical masterpiece. Development began in the early 1980s and by the mid-80s, its body design, penned in-house by Bruno Sacco, was finalized. 

Underneath its vault-solid body construction and angular overall theme, the R129 included fully independent suspension with double wishbones up front and a five-link rear setup, adaptive damping, and ventilated disc brakes with ABS all around. Safety innovations included front air bags, electronic stability control, and an integral roll-over bar that remained hidden until sensors detected an imminent rollover and deployed it within milliseconds. Initially available with power delivered by a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder and 5.0-liter V-8, the R129 SL immediately earned praise for its driving experience and performance. Limited R129 production began at Stuttgart in May 1988 and full-scale production followed from March 1989, coinciding with the new car's Geneva launch. Nearly 205,000 were built in total by the time the R129's successor, the R230, arrived during the summer of 2001.

This 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is a rare early-production, U.S. specification R129 model, built during November 1990. It is 1 of just 2,654 SL-24 examples exported to the USA for 1991, powered by an M104 DOHC 24-valve inline 6-cylinder engine, paired with a driver-preferred 5-speed manual transmission. Riding on a set of 16-inch factory alloy wheels, this 300SL is offered in outstanding condition and maintains the majority of its visually striking Signal Red paint finish, with the exception of the driver's side door. The factory Anthracite leather is exemplary to match and features power-adjustable seats with memory, remote central locking, automatic climate control A/C, cruise control, and a Bluetooth-capable stereo head unit. Both tops are included a newer Black soft top and a body-color removable hardtop. Offered with just 53,424 original miles at the time of listing, this great-looking, rare, and exceptionally original 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is accompanied by a clean Carfax vehicle-history report and marks an outstanding modern classic buy. Call us today and see it for yourself, obtain full details, and make it yours in time for the upcoming spring and summer show and driving seasons!