The famous British restorer of classic Mercedes models, SL SHOP, has discovered a Mercedes 500 SL R107 that looks almost brand new after 42 years. The car looks as if it rolled off the assembly line just yesterday.
Over time, we’ve reported on various classic Mercedes models found after decades in barns, often in deplorable condition.
For example, earlier this year SL SHOP discovered a Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing with an aluminum body in a California warehouse — after 47 years. The car sold for £7 million (9.32 million USD) because it is extremely rare. Out of the 1,400 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing coupes ever built, only 29 had aluminum bodies.
However, it is much rarer to find classic cars that are almost new — or, even more incredibly, so pristine that they appear to have just left the factory.
That is exactly the case with the Mercedes 500 SL R107 in this story.
Brand new Mercedes 500 SL R107
More than 15 years ago, when SL SHOP was a regular exhibitor at the Classic Motor Show in Birmingham (NEC), which has been held annually for over 40 years, they were approached by a gentleman from the Midlands.
Mr. Hough was the proud owner of a Mercedes 500 SL R107, which he cared for as if it were a treasure. The car had been kept since 1982 under a cover in a dehumidified and heated garage. Hough bought the car from Carols of Wolverhampton, checked every available option box, and then transported it home on a trailer — without ever registering it.
The SL SHOP team asked him if he ever intended to sell the car, but Mr. Hough politely and firmly said no. However, in August 2025, SL SHOP was astonished when Mr. Hough called to say he was ready to sell. They invited him to bring the car in for a full inspection at SL SHOP headquarters — and what they discovered defied belief.
The VIN number (10704622002134) is immaculate, looking as though it just left the factory. In the engine bay and on the exhaust, you can still find the original factory Waxoyl coating, proof that the car has never been driven in its 42 years.
There is no trace of corrosion, and the Metallic Blue-Green paint (Code 877) shines as if new — its shade slightly different from other models, since this car has never been exposed to sunlight.
It is truly remarkable how meticulously Mr. Hough preserved and cared for this vehicle.
For this reason, SL SHOP will never offer the car for sale. Instead, it will be kept at their headquarters in Stratford-upon-Avon, in a specially built climate-controlled enclosure. For SL SHOP, this car is a benchmark — a reminder to the company’s owner of why he started this business 20 years ago.
Many may wonder what the car is worth. The R107 Roadster was produced between 1971 and 1989, with later models (1986–1989) generally commanding higher prices.
In 2023, SL SHOP sold at auction a 1989 560 SL in Signal Red with just 122 miles on the odometer for a record $260,400. That is perhaps the closest comparison to Mr. Hough’s 500 SL — except his car hasn’t traveled even a single kilometer.
Thus, its value is beyond estimation — a car like this probably exists only in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. In this case, it’s not about the monetary value, but rather about what the car represents: a bridge through time, a time capsule connecting generations.
The car can be viewed at SL SHOP’s headquarters in Stratford-upon-Avon.
