SL73 AMG 129 series

[coupe deville]

very interesting one off if anybodys got 45 grand lying around
old charlie ironprice again [where does he get em from- the cars I mean, not the prices]

http://www.charlesironside.co.uk/

 

[Dee-124CAB]

Very very rare made rarer by the fact its in RHD format as originally they were only available in LHD.

The only thing I find hard to believe is that that Brunei family bought it, paid for the 565BHP power upgrade, paid for the RHD conversion, but then scrimped on the AMG bodykit...!

This lot are usually known for wanting every possible extra & then some...

 

[stats007]

Technically it's not an SL73 but a SL730. It was up for sale a number of years ago at The Race Car Sales Site for £50k.

Nice but not worth the money IMO.

 

[janner]

It was Ironside that had this car for sale back in 2006 for £39K. Has it appreciated in the last 3 years? I wonder what he would actually take for it this time?

 

[uchiha]

OH MY GOD *drools uncontrollably*

That is unbelievable. I had no idea they existed in RHD. That Sultan is one crazy guy although he seems to be a bit more chilled than he was in the 80s and 90s.

 

[Setanta]

I remember that car when it was last for sale and then sold - a short while later it was in at the same MB main dealer as my 300SL getting a TON of work done on the ADS system.

Agree that very rare and nice to have but at that price? Someone will buy it but a good laugh at the hilarity of his prices.

 

[wallingd]

More like a 280 with big tyres + a V12 sticker... Certainly doesn't look like a proper 73.

 

[janner]

More like a 280 with big tyres + a V12 sticker... Certainly doesn't look like a proper 73.

It's as pucka as it gets...
It was a one off, built by AMG for the Sultan and known as an SL730.
I'd love to own it but not at that price.

 

[mercboiuk]

It's a gorgeous car, however I'm not keen on the 17" Split rim AMGs.
On earlier 129s, yes, but not a facelift AMG.

As mentioned, the car was for sale at ~£39k in 2006. I'd also like to add it had around 44,000 miles on the clock.
I know it's hyper-rare, but how can it appreciate £5,000 with 10k miles extra on the clock?

Having said that, I'd snap it up in an instant if I had the money. However, I do think it requires the facelift AMG bodykit and some period correct 18" split rim alloys to finish it off!

Darren

 

[stats007]

It's not a facelift car - or rather it's a mismatch of pre and post 1999MY parts.

 

[Adam230K]

Same engine as in the Zonda, i think.

 

[mercboiuk]

It's not a facelift car - or rather it's a mismatch of pre and post 1999MY parts.

I can see the lights are facelift. The interior seat covers look to be the later design. Or have I got this wrong?
What is prefacelift? The bumpers? Switchgear?
ETA: I've just noticed the wing mirrors are the prefacelift design, as are the black plastic, non-colour coded door handles. What else can you guy spot?

Darren

 

[IanA2]

I'd have to drive it to know if I liked it. As it is one has to be extremely alert with a 60, so I'm guessing the the 73 might need even more concentration which may detract from the overall driving pleasure. Anyone ever driven one?

 

[NuisanceValue]

How odd, I've been keeping my eye out for a nice R129 bigger than a 5 litre, just watching the prices and that. That is a gorgeous motor, it would be perfect with a mushroom/beige interior. It's even got the panoramic roof, though I can't quite tell if it has auto wipers. The AC controls are the facelift ones. I prefer it without the AMG bodykit.

£45k is too much for me though, especially considering what else you can get for that kind of money nowadays, a 230 SL600 or an Aston V8V for the same price would be more tempting I think.

 

[NuisanceValue]

I can see the lights are facelift. The interior seat covers look to be the later design. Or have I got this wrong?
What is prefacelift? The bumpers? Switchgear?
ETA: I've just noticed the wing mirrors are the prefacelift design, as are the black plastic, non-colour coded door handles. What else can you guy spot?

Darren

The seats are the later facelift seats ('96 onwards?)

The wing mirrors look like facelift ('98 onwards) ones to me too, they're more rounded but it's hard to tell with the pics he has.

What is prefacelift?

The steering wheel is pre-facelift though.

As Stats says, it looks like an odd mismatch, but then it's a RHD 7.3 litre AMG, it's bound to be unique

 

[IanA2]

The steering wheel is pre-facelift though.

I don't think the steering wheel has anything to do with facelifts.

I'd very much like a wheel like that but they are very expensive.

 

[NuisanceValue]

This is the same steering wheel as mine and is off a '97.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...icleYearOfManufacture=1997&vehicleRegLetter=R

Mine's an early registered '96 (so build sometime in '95 I reckon) so has the earlier (pre-facelift) AC controls and the tape slot radio as well. I thought the 'squarer' style steering wheels were earlier?

Perhaps it has something to do with older stock on the wood/leather wheels that they had to use up? I agree though, I would prefer a wood wheel like that to the one I've got. Next time.

 

[BTB 500]

I can't quite tell if it has auto wipers.

Rain sensor became standard across the whole R129 range in the 1996 facelift.

 

[BTB 500]

Wood/leather wheel was a £550 option in 1997 ... I was quoted £2,400 to source a new one from a dealer, back in 2006.

 

[stats007]

The steering wheel is pre '99, as are the wing mirrors, rear lights, instrument cluster etc etc.

The engine isn't the same as the Zonda by a long way - though they share the same block (well the original Zonda C12 anyway).