Sensible Gentleman's Express -- 2007 C216 CL600 V12
Discussion
Well, I'm not quite certain how I came across this ad; it certainly is not in my autotrader saved searches – the price, colour and gravel drive all leapt out at me. Being the sensible chap* that I am, I considered it for all of a day or so and then pinged the owner a message -- can you share the VIN? I didn't really know what I was looking for, I didn't really care -- it was in Germanite Grey, my favourite colour on the C216. Meet 'Jersey Syd'.
As it happened, I was venturing nowhere (Runnymede) near the location of the car (Fordingbridge) from home (Wimbledon), so of course being one of the hottest days of the year to date and in what has been a miserable summer so far, I conspired to take the VFR1200F and avoid the motorway. Solo riding, eventually reaching the New Forest was a fitting amuse bouche for the full appreciation of a vehicle that only petrolheads would truly adore.
The link to the ad won't be live for long. However, arriving on a sunny day, gravel drive, an old vicarage, a Bentley in the garage... and a pillarless coupe with a badge on each front wing that states V12.
It has a clear provenance -- first owner was Mercedes Benz of Poole for whom it was a demo for a grand total of one hundred and ninety six miles before being sold to the owner of 'Sydenhams' timber merchants -- hence the plate.
The next owner lived locally and used to admire the CL which would be seen dropping the children at the same school as his own and at the time, he was the owner of a CLK in Orion Blue Metallic (very light blue) which his family disliked -- eventually, word got round through mutual acquaintances that 'Mister Sydenham's' was looking to sell the CL -- it has been in his possession since 2014.
For those unaware, the C216 CL600 was pretty much Mercedes Benz flagship model with all the options for the CL500 available as standard -- mostly. Claimed to accelerate to sixty two emm pee aich in four point six seconds, the V12 has 517bhp and 830Nm torques. Whilst some would point to the CL65 AMG... I would say that the 600 performs a different role as the archetypal understated Gentleman's Express, continuing a proud lineage from the SEC.
The build sheet -- with some nice options such as Distronic Plus, Night Vision, 20" AMG Light Alloys (one of which is cracked), black ash trim, AMG front splitter and a dual cup holder
but no heated steering wheel!
Incidentally, my MB flame was lit by the fortuitous ownership of a 380SEC when in my twenties and since then, I've loved and admired the pillarless coupe format.
The CL not only has nice wood fnarr but the top end 'Passion Leather' with fluting in the doors and an alcantara roof liner.
The colour 'Germanite Grey' was the brochure spec and listed as a 'Special Colour'.
The history is consistent and clear -- the owner has deferred some maintenance as he intended to sell. I also noticed some areas of sub standard paint, particularly on the front wing which is plastic.
Nevertheless, it was largely sound -- a little whine from the engine bay, perhaps a pulsation damper -- excessive wear on the outer nsf tyre, bladder of passenger seat failed (so the dynamic seat adjustment wouldn't operate, along with the massage setting) and it needs front pads, possibly discs.
So I made an offer, he sucked his teeth and we parted ways, with an understanding to mull it over. In the meantime, I'd been in touch with the much missed r129sl and he was quite forthright in his enthusiasm for my securing the car. After all, I'd already sold myself on the tantalising prospect of owning a magnificent V12 before they all become extinct. I even sent him a covert message.
After a little negotiation in which I had the upper hand to an extent -- as I was the only seriously interested buyer -- a position of strength on which I failed to fully capitalise, as this was my 'one shot' at a dream car. So, we settled on a price over the phone with which we were both comfortable and at 6.30am this morning I collected my chum and drove down to collect it.
Ten point five litres
and the obligatory forecourt shot for baregeists past, present and future.
As it happened, I was venturing nowhere (Runnymede) near the location of the car (Fordingbridge) from home (Wimbledon), so of course being one of the hottest days of the year to date and in what has been a miserable summer so far, I conspired to take the VFR1200F and avoid the motorway. Solo riding, eventually reaching the New Forest was a fitting amuse bouche for the full appreciation of a vehicle that only petrolheads would truly adore.
The link to the ad won't be live for long. However, arriving on a sunny day, gravel drive, an old vicarage, a Bentley in the garage... and a pillarless coupe with a badge on each front wing that states V12.
It has a clear provenance -- first owner was Mercedes Benz of Poole for whom it was a demo for a grand total of one hundred and ninety six miles before being sold to the owner of 'Sydenhams' timber merchants -- hence the plate.
The next owner lived locally and used to admire the CL which would be seen dropping the children at the same school as his own and at the time, he was the owner of a CLK in Orion Blue Metallic (very light blue) which his family disliked -- eventually, word got round through mutual acquaintances that 'Mister Sydenham's' was looking to sell the CL -- it has been in his possession since 2014.
For those unaware, the C216 CL600 was pretty much Mercedes Benz flagship model with all the options for the CL500 available as standard -- mostly. Claimed to accelerate to sixty two emm pee aich in four point six seconds, the V12 has 517bhp and 830Nm torques. Whilst some would point to the CL65 AMG... I would say that the 600 performs a different role as the archetypal understated Gentleman's Express, continuing a proud lineage from the SEC.
The build sheet -- with some nice options such as Distronic Plus, Night Vision, 20" AMG Light Alloys (one of which is cracked), black ash trim, AMG front splitter and a dual cup holder
but no heated steering wheel!Incidentally, my MB flame was lit by the fortuitous ownership of a 380SEC when in my twenties and since then, I've loved and admired the pillarless coupe format.
The CL not only has nice wood fnarr but the top end 'Passion Leather' with fluting in the doors and an alcantara roof liner.
The colour 'Germanite Grey' was the brochure spec and listed as a 'Special Colour'.
The history is consistent and clear -- the owner has deferred some maintenance as he intended to sell. I also noticed some areas of sub standard paint, particularly on the front wing which is plastic.
Nevertheless, it was largely sound -- a little whine from the engine bay, perhaps a pulsation damper -- excessive wear on the outer nsf tyre, bladder of passenger seat failed (so the dynamic seat adjustment wouldn't operate, along with the massage setting) and it needs front pads, possibly discs.
So I made an offer, he sucked his teeth and we parted ways, with an understanding to mull it over. In the meantime, I'd been in touch with the much missed r129sl and he was quite forthright in his enthusiasm for my securing the car. After all, I'd already sold myself on the tantalising prospect of owning a magnificent V12 before they all become extinct. I even sent him a covert message.
After a little negotiation in which I had the upper hand to an extent -- as I was the only seriously interested buyer -- a position of strength on which I failed to fully capitalise, as this was my 'one shot' at a dream car. So, we settled on a price over the phone with which we were both comfortable and at 6.30am this morning I collected my chum and drove down to collect it.
Ten point five litres
and the obligatory forecourt shot for baregeists past, present and future.
*lie
Edited by bolidemichael on Wednesday 7th August 22:43
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