1986 Mercedes-Benz 560

1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Smoke Silver Metallic, Dual Tops, Clean Undercarriage

Why This Car Is Special

The 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL sits at the top of the R107 SL lineup the most powerful, most capable version of a roadster that Mercedes built continuously for 18 years, from 1971 through 1989. That run makes the R107 one of the longest-produced sports cars in automotive history, and the 560SL represents its final evolution. Mercedes introduced the 560SL for the 1986 model year specifically for the North American market, pairing the enlarged M117 5.6-liter V8 with a strengthened drivetrain to meet the performance expectations of American buyers who found the outgoing 380SL underpowered. The result was a car that could run 0 to 60 mph in around seven seconds respectable for a 3,500-pound luxury roadster in the mid-1980s.

What made the 560SL particularly significant in its final years was how much technology Mercedes packed into a body design that dated back to 1971. By 1986, the 560SL came standard with four-wheel disc brakes, a driver airbag (SRS), and anti-lock brakes safety features that were genuinely rare on American roads at the time. The ABS system alone put this car ahead of most domestic competition. The 560SL was also one of only a handful of cars sold in the United States in 1986 with a driver-side airbag as standard equipment. That combination of open-air grand touring character and genuine safety hardware helps explain why well-kept 560SLs continue to hold their value decades after production ended.

This particular car wears Smoke Silver Metallic over a black leather interior and comes with both the removable hardtop and the convertible soft top giving the owner three distinct configurations depending on the weather and the occasion.

Features List

- M117 5.6L V8 engine with Bosch fuel injection
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Limited-slip differential
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- ABS antilock braking system
- Driver airbag (SRS)
- Power steering
- Air conditioning
- Removable hardtop
- Convertible soft top
- Basket-weave alloy wheels
- Dual exhaust tips
- Wood-rim steering wheel
- Black leather bucket seats with headrests
- Center console
- Power windows
- Power mirrors
- AM/FM stereo with cassette
- Tachometer
- Clean undercarriage

Mechanical

The M117 engine in this 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL displaces 5,547cc and was rated at 227 horsepower and 279 lb-ft of torque when new. It is a naturally aspirated, single-overhead-cam V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic continuous fuel injection. The M117 was derived from the same engine family that powered the 450SEL 6.9, and in the 560SL it was paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear axle through a driveshaft with a flexible guibo coupling a design that reduces drivetrain vibration and is a known maintenance item on these cars.

This car includes a limited-slip differential, which was a meaningful upgrade on the R107 platform. Combined with the rear semi-trailing arm independent suspension, the LSD improves traction and composure under power in a way that makes a noticeable difference on wet roads or when exiting corners with authority. The suspension geometry on the R107 uses unequal-length wishbones up front and the semi-trailing arms in the rear a setup that delivers a well-damped ride without sacrificing handling predictability.

The braking system is fully up to the task: four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with ABS, which Mercedes fitted to the 560SL as standard equipment. Lifting on a hoist, the undercarriage of this car tells a useful story. The floor pans are solid, the structural rails are intact, and there is no evidence of prior rust remediation or body work below the rockers. For a nearly 40-year-old convertible, a clean undercarriage is one of the most important things a buyer can verify, and this one passes