Why The R129 SL was 'The Diana Mercedes'

Princess Diana was the first Royal not to drive a British car. Photo: Supplied

The gorgeous Mercedes-Benz R129 SL! Has a prettier Mercedes ever been created? 

It was especially made famous by Princess Diana buying a red one in 1991 when she traded her Jaguar XJS. This caused major controversy for her being the first member of the British Royal family to use a foreign car. She had to return the car in 1992 and it can now be found in Mercedes-Benz museum, parked next to the Popemobile. 

I was visited by close friend from New York, last year. We reminisced on our favourite cars from our childhood and we both agreed that the SL was right up there. I remember as a teenager thinking the ultimate garage twins would be the Mercedes-Benz 500SL for the weekend and a 560SEL for the week. 

Designed in 1984, the SL revealed at the 1989 at the Geneva motor show and It would run for 12 years with last production in 2001.  

The successor to the R107 series, which had a 16 year run from 1973 to 1989, the R129 had major shoes to fill.  Designer Bruno Sacco knew that he a complex brief on his hands to keep Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts hooked and placing their next order. 

Princess Diana in her Mercedes-Benz SL. Photo: Telegraph UK

What made the Mercedes-Benz SL so desirable? 

Perhaps that it was so ahead of its time. Completely over-engineered in every way. Super smooth engines. It still looks fresh today.

A total of 205,000 were produced globally. It had two major facelifts during its run with engines consisting of a 2.8-litre V6, a 3.2 litre V6, a 5-litre V8 and a 6-litre V12. 

Good examples are tightly held in New Zealand. Most sold here were the V8s. The V12 cost close to $400,000 in its day. The V6s were generally considered to be underpowered, although I am the happy owner of a 1999 SL280 and can report it is a beautiful cruiser. The V8 is clearly more effortless while ironically the V12 is no faster than the V8. 

Roy Hobson of the Mercedes-Benz Club of NZ wrote this article to celebrate the 30th birthday of this legend.