A remarkable piece of automotive history has surfaced in England: an untouched 1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SL that has never been registered, driven on public roads, or restored. With just 42 miles recorded since new, this R107-generation roadster stands as one of the best-preserved examples of its kind anywhere in the world.
Discovered and now safeguarded by SLSHOP, a renowned classic Mercedes-Benz specialist based near Stratford-upon-Avon, the right-hand-drive 500SL has spent the last four decades in near-perfect preservation. Originally purchased new by a Staffordshire watchmaker named Mr. Hough, the car was delivered to him in November 1982 and immediately stored in a heated, dehumidified garage. For 42 years, it remained untouched, its metallic Blue Green paint and original wax coatings still intact.
The car features every major factory option offered at the time, including air conditioning, heated leather seats, anti-lock brakes, and rear seating. Original showroom stickers, sales documentation, and even uncompleted registration forms accompany the vehicle. The meticulous care taken by its first and only owner even extended to the creation of a custom hallmarked sterling silver Mercedes-Benz badge — a unique touch that remains with the car today.
SLSHOP believes this may be the only unrestored and unregistered 500SL of its kind outside the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Purchased for £24,400 in 1982 — roughly £87,000 in today’s money — it represents not just a luxury car but a preserved artifact of Mercedes-Benz engineering from an era defined by craftsmanship and precision.
Now under SLSHOP’s care, the 500SL will not be sold but instead placed on permanent display in a dedicated climate-controlled exhibit at the company’s Warwickshire headquarters. It will also appear at Mercedes-Benz World for a limited public showing, allowing enthusiasts to witness a true automotive time capsule — a 1980s icon frozen in its factory-fresh state, 42 years later.
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