As anyone who’s glanced at their dealership or website in the last couple years can tell you, Mercedes-Benz offers a ton of different models. Of course, it’s only natural that, with so many cars being developed, some might wind up receiving a little less attention than others. The SL-Class roadster has been sandwiched into an awkward place for the last few years; buyers seeking a sportier convertible wind up tempted by the topless Mercedes-AMG GT, while those looking for a more luxurious option have the newer, roomier S-Class cabriolet in front of them.

Two decades ago, though, the Sl-Class was the créme de la créme of Mercedes-Benzes — the Three-Pointed Star car that epitomized class and elegance like none other. And right now, Mercedes-Benz itself is offering a chance for one lucky buyer to become the very first owner of a brand-new, limited-edition 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500.

This isn’t just any SL500, mind you, it’s an SL500 Silver Arrow, one of a limited number of special edition cars commissioned for the last model year of the model-defining R129 generation sold from 1989 to 2001. Just 1,515 Silver Arrow SL500s were made for the U.S., each boasting sexy ultra-metallic silver paint, polished aluminum trim, six-spoke alloy wheels, and silver-painted brake calipers on the outside. Inside, a two-tone black-and-silver leather adds a surprising amount of elegance, as does the metallic-effect black maple wood trim, machined aluminum trim and special Silver Arrow badging.

R129-era SLs aren’t hard to find online, if you simply want to get into a vintage Mercedes roadster. What makes this one particularly special is that it’s never been titled. It is, effectively, a brand-new car — even though it’s old enough to vote. (Don’t let the 142 miles on the odometer put you off.) It’s being offered as part of Mercedes-Benz Classics’s All-Time Stars collection, a handful of old, pristine vehicles that can be snapped up from Benz itself. Unsurprisingly, it’s not cheap; if you want to take this Silver Arrow home, you’ll need to fork over $135,000 — about $20,000 more than the price of a brand-new SL550.

From what we hear, the SL-Class’s fortunes are soon to turn around; AMG has reportedly taken up the development of the next model, using a modified version of the GT sports car’s chassis to create a more athletic roadster, and the S-Class convertible is expected to expire along with the current generation that’s set to be replaced. But no matter how good it is, it’s not likely to have the charm of this brand-new vintage ride.

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Will Sabel Courtney

Will Sabel Courtney is Gear Patrol’s Motoring Editor, formerly of The Drive and RIDES Magazine. You can often find him test-driving new cars in New York City, cursing the slow-moving traffic surrounding him.

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