2000 | Mercedes-Benz CL 500

We've had a few of these CL500's in the past and are always impressed by just how brilliant they are, with famously soft suspension, mountains of power on reserve & superb build quality

The car we have here had been stored in the gated underground car park of a local luxury apartment complex we sometimes use for overflow storage ourselves, it's one I always admired and in one moment of serendipity I happened to run into the owner

A Greek shipping magnet who had bought Bentley's from my father at Jack Barclays when I was still learning to walk

He'd had a CL500 in period expressly because it was the only car that rode as well as a modern Bentley at the time, if not better!

As such in a moment of nostalgic weakness he bought this near immaculate car with the intention of using her as his new daily car but wanted to make sure everything was working perfectly before he put her into use

She therefore went straight off to a Mercedes Benz specialists who was given carte blanche to go through the car and renew everything to ensure it all worked perfectly, all to be as original apart from the addition of a magnetic phone holder to the centre console which is an excellent addition & really very useful indeed

Ultimately the whole car was gone through from the engine and suspension to all the electronics and interior, new tyres et al - the bill came to around £13,000!!!!

The result is a car that drives like new and presents in the same way too, heated, fanned & electric seats, cruise control, sunshine roof, automatic lights, artic air conditioning, creamy soft hides, cosy alcantara headlining, deep wood veneers and the silent monster up front

Regrettably our friend hasn't had the chance to use her as much as he would have hoped so we were able come to a happy arrangement that resulted in us offering her for sale

The engine is a masterpiece disguising itself as a 'pussycat' in slow moving traffic or cruising gently on beautiful B roads barely making a noise and just ticking over calm and serene as the cabin would suggest

She has a dual personality however, all one need do is plant the right foot to deploy a gargantuan 470Nm of torque ensuring no matter what gear you're in and what speed you were doing you'll very soon be braking the law to the soundtrack of an orchestral German roar

This surely must be one of the best examples of these with the condition she's in and the vast expense that has just be deposited into her

Not one to be missed!