As the world’s second-oldest 2-seat convertible (the Corvette being the oldest), the Mercedes-Benz SL has become the epitome of luxury and performance for three generations. During the 1970s and 80s, the R107 models like this 1979 450SL were the chariot of choice for the movers and shakers of the world, and it would probably be easier to list the celebrities who DIDN’T own one rather than those who did. It combines a sporty 2-seat roadster body with vault-like construction compliments of some of the best and brightest engineers on the planet, with the results being one of the very best hobby cars you can own.

With just two owners, including the most recent owner who purchased it in 1981 with just 12,700 miles on the clock, this spectacular Arizona-bred silver-over-red SL is the one to own. Not only is it beautiful, but with complete service records of just about everything ever done to it in the past three decades, you can own and drive it with confidence. Only 50 examples were built in this particular color combination, which is seemingly too flashy for staid Mercedes-Benz, but just about perfect for the SL’s personality, which definitely has two sides to it. The sliver bodywork has aged quite well, still looking contemporary after all these years. There are no styling gimmicks (aside from the heavy rubber bumpers, which were a result of the Fed’s crash standards, not Mercedes design), but the elegant two-seater still commands attention wherever it goes. Fit and finish are, of course, exemplary as these cars definitely earned their nickname “Der Panzerwagon,” with legendary solidity and robust construction. The doors fit well, the trunk closes with gentle pressure, and despite being an open roadster, it seals up like a closed car, particularly with the removable hardtop in place. The paint is original to the car and shows no signs of repairs or rust (it’s an Arizona car, remember), and the quality is evident everywhere you look. It does have a few chips here and there, most notably around the “450SL”badge on the trunk, where it looks like a vandal perhaps tried to remove it at some point, but otherwise it is quite impressive. There are twin hand-painted pinstripes running along its flanks, and while they’ve grown thin in spots from polishing, there’s no denying that this is an outstanding original car.

The red interior is the highlight of this SL. Known for their conservative values, the folks at Mercedes-Benz rarely permitted themselves to have fun with the color pallet, but the bright red buckets and lovely finish quality of this car prove that it wasn’t all business in Stuttgart back in 1979. The seat covers themselves are brand new reproductions that were installed just a few months ago to correct some sun-fading (Arizona car, remember?), but the rest looks fantastic. The dense, deep-pile carpets feel great under your shoes and keep things hushed inside, and that’s real burled walnut on the dash and center console. The steering wheel feels positively huge by today’s standards, but the heft of the steering is reassuring and the big wheel frames the no-nonsense Mercedes instrument panel that will be familiar to anyone who drove a car from the three-pointed star in the past three decades. Everything inside is fully functional, including the clock, original Becker Mexico AM/FM/cassette stereo, power antenna, and A/C, which has been recently serviced and upgraded to R134a refrigerant. The only notable issue is that the odometer has stopped working and we now estimate the car’s mileage at approximately 60,000 (56,283 is indicated). There’s a new black canvas convertible top stowed under the rear deck, and the trunk is fitted with more plush carpets, its original spare wheel and Dunlop tire, as well as a complete tool roll.

Mechanically, there are few machines more reliable than the SL’s 4.5 liter SOHC V8. The 1978-79 models are excellent choices due to the adoption of Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection, which makes them reliable and strong. Sure, it’s a bit complicated, but the point is that these cars rarely break and at 60,000 miles, this one is only just being broken-in. With decades of service records (amounting to nearly $26,000 just in MAINTENANCE!), this one runs and drives superbly. At first it might seem a bit ponderous from behind the wheel, as the transmission starts in second gear (a Mercedes quirk for many years) and the steering is a big numb. But as speeds increase, the car sheds its pounds and dances beautifully on your favorite country road. The suspension is the perfect blend of supple and sporting, neither jarring nor clumsy, and powerful 4-wheel disc brakes ensure reliable stops, time after time. A bubbly V8 exhaust note and a wonderfully elastic torque curve mean it’s happy bopping around town, yet it’s geared for the Autobahn, so it will gleefully charge along at speeds that will get you a night in jail in 43 states. The lone modifications are the later 15-inch alloy wheels and trunk-mounted CHMSL (stop light) which give it an updated look without losing its classic SL profile. Newer 205/65/15 Bridgestone radials have been fitted, so it’s ready to go today.

Complete with extensive receipts, invoices, dealer paperwork, manuals, and other paperwork, this is one of those cars that impress you just by how much it was loved. It also includes the standard folding hardtop rack, which you are sure to use next summer when top-down motoring is the highlight of your day.

These cars are still A-list celebrities, and nobody has to know how affordable they’ve become. Exceptionally well maintained and finished in a spectacular color combination, this SL stands out among a fairly crowded field, but you’ll quickly learn that the premium is worth it because cheap SLs are the most expensive cars in the world to own. Buy the right one the first time instead.