Good Find Friday features interesting vehicles we’ve found for sale while conducting market analysis or appraisal research. They are not for sale by Wolf and Mare and we have no business relationship with the sellers. We just think they’re worth learning about and sharing with our readers!

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As I’ve mentioned before, I’m window shopping for a replacement vehicle for my 955 Porsche Cayenne. I love the car and it performs well for what it is, but it’s too big, I don’t really take advantage of its towing ability, it guzzles fuel and I hunger for something a little sportier. I’m considering switching to something with an M, R, AMG, or S badge on the trunk and have been searching for a good deal. When I find a car that I think offers a value, it seems others start to recognize its virtues at the same time. One example of this is the R129 Mercedes-Benz and today’s Good Find Friday car, a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL600 Silver Arrow, is a sharp-looking special edition of this cool drop-top.

The Mercedes-Benz R129, produced from 1989 to 2001, represented a major leap forward in the evolution of the SL-Class roadster. Developed under engineer Bruno Sacco’s direction, it replaced the long-lived R107 with a thoroughly modern design that combined safety, luxury, and performance in equal measure. The R129 featured a fully automatic electro-hydraulic convertible top, an integrated roll bar that deployed in milliseconds, and advanced multi-link rear suspension derived from the W124 E-Class. Its structure was notably rigid for an open car, with extensive use of high-strength steel to improve safety and handling.

Powertrain options ranged from smooth inline-sixes in the 300SL and SL320 to the V8-powered SL500 and later the flagship V12 SL600, all mated to refined automatic transmissions. Inside, the R129 emphasized comfort and technology with leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and electric seat adjustments with memory—hallmarks of Mercedes’ engineering-led approach to luxury.

Special versions of the R129 elevated its exclusivity and performance further. Among the most celebrated was the 2001 “Silver Arrow” edition, built to commemorate the end of production and Mercedes’ historic racing heritage. Limited to 1,550 units for the US market, these cars featured unique silver metallic paint, polished aluminum trim, two-tone Nappa leather interiors, and special badging.

The R129 also served as a platform for AMG’s high-performance engineering, with models like the SL60 AMG, SL70 AMG, SL72 AMG, and the rare SL73 AMG—powered by a 7.3-liter V12 later used in the Pagani Zonda—offering exceptional output and exclusivity. These variants transformed the refined grand tourer into a potent high-speed cruiser, cementing the R129’s legacy as one of the most advanced and desirable Mercedes-Benz roadsters of its era. The R129 Mercedes-Benz was lauded in a recent “Revelations” episode with Jason Cammisa, which is certain to spike searches for these cars. Darn.

This R129 Silver Arrow is offered by the seller on Cars & Bids with a high bid as of this writing of $46,000 with 4 days remaining.  The car is located in Arlington, VA.

Painted in “777” Silver Arrow Metallic paint with a black Nappa leather interior, this 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL600 Silver Arrow features a V12 engine and just 39,900 miles on the odometer.

Silver Arrow Metallic was a special color applied specifically to the SIlver Arrow edition of the SL500 and SL600 and featured a larger metallic flake and a slightly deeper, more lustrous look (in the opinions of onlookers) than the standard silver paint. You might compare it to the difference between Arctic Silver and GT Silver on Porsche cars.

AMG bodywork was notably fitted to the Silver Arrow special editions, with differing front bumpers and side skirts giving the car a more aggressive appearance. The exterior condition of the paint and bodywork on this car appears to be excellent, with maybe a small rock chip or two visible on the front bumper (repainted to address many more chips) and some water spots on the finish.

Moving to the interior, the Silver Arrows had a beautiful engine-turned style dash surround with Silver Arrow graphics. Brushed aluminum trim was added to the console and door pulls instead of the more traditional wood trim. Aluminum pedals add a sporty touch to the pedal box, and illuminated Silver Arrow sill plates greet you upon opening the doors. A numbered plaque further identified this car as a limited-production special edition.

The interior of this car appears to be in excellent condition, with all-black seats being an SL600-specific difference from the usual two-tone silver and black upholstery. Personally, I rather like the all-black on this car. Two-tone seats can sometimes look a bit garish. 

Looking at the engine bay, things appear rather tidy and one can really see just how absolutely stuffed the compartment looks with the honking V12 sitting in it. While the car wears AMG bodywork, the V12 in the Silver Arrow is the lower-displacement 6.0-liter M120 engine putting out 389hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Many MB enthusiasts regard it as one of the greatest naturally aspirated V12 engines built for its reliability and durability. There appears to be some leakage from the coolant tank on the left hand size, perhaps a filling issue or a gasket problem.

The suspension on the R129 was independent on all four corners and a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. A pretty cutting-edge adaptive dampening system is standard on this trim level, and features adjustable settings for Sport and Comfort. The comment gallery for this listing seems to be debating whether the front end of the car is sitting higher than the rear, indicating a problem with this system. It’s tough to tell, given the front wheel opening sits higher than the rear, but it does look a bit low.

While the car is said to have had a multi-point inspection at a Mercedes-Benz dealer during a service visit earlier this year, it might be worth having a specific inspection performed on the ADS system or have an independent specialist in these older Mercedes-Benz cars take a look. With 4 days to go, a PPI is still possible.

Above is a graph of average values for Silver Arrows compared to base SL500 and SL600 R129 cars. The market for the R129 Mercedes-Benz SL600 is up by a few percent year-over-year, compared to an overall flat or down collector car market overall. Conversely, the V8-powered SL500 is flat or slightly down compared to this time in 2024. Looking at Silver Arrows, the picture is actually reversed with SL600 Silver Arrows showing a slight 5.4% decline compared to a roughly 7% increase in value for the SL500 Silver Arrows. One caveat: the volume of sales for SL600s is much lower, meaning big swings have an outsized effect on the average value.

The highest price paid for an SL600 Silver Arrow in the last 5 years was back in April of 2022 where a 13,000 mile example sold for $90,500 on Bring a Trailer. This was the peak of the Covid-driven market frenzy, and prices have since cooled.

Retail prices for these cars can reach into six figures, so what do I think today’s example of an R129 Mercedes-Benz SL600 Silver Arrow will sell for in 4 days time? Well, this same car was sold back in August of 2023 on MB Market for $89,000. The market value of the car today is probably in the high $70Ks to low $80K range, in my opinion. 

If you fancy a Silver Arrow, as I would, but are looking for something more affordable I suggest taking a look at a 2002 SL500 Silver Arrow. You’ll miss out on some horsepower, but you’ll get all the style of these last of the R129s.

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisal and auction services for sellers and buyers of collector European cars. We also provide importation services. Give us a call or drop us a line!