Update! – Dateline: November 20, 2015. Three years on, I received a question about the market potential and values of these 2009 Silver Arrow Edition SLs.

Arguably, no SLs from this very modern era are ‘collectible’ at this point. They are still depreciating, at the usual, alarming rate. BUT… if any R230 series SL is going to be a collectible, or eventually increase in value, the special edition cars will be the ones to lead the pack. We’re already seeing this with R129 series SLs. Now that they’re almost 20 years old, price premiums are being put on the 1997 Anniversary edition SL 320 and SL 500 models (see an article I wrote for the SL Market Letter about an SL 320 40th Anniversary edition that sold at Barrett Jackson in 2013 here). A slight premium is also being paid for the best 2002 SL 500 and SL 600 Silver Arrow Edition cars. Only the most original, low mile cars are being sought by collectors interested in putting them away, driving them very little, hoping that they may end up with a car that’s worth more than they paid, eventually.

It cannot be overstated: the lowest mile, original paint, unmolested, excellent service history cars with as few owners as possible are likely to lead the ‘collectible’ pack in the future. Realistically… the R230 series SLs, the 2009 Silver Arrow Editions, will probably continue to depreciate for the next 15 years. If, at that time, you still have a nice one, that you’ve driven very little, it may begin to climb up in value, but chances are it will be many years, if ever, before a future value eclipses its original MSRP of $112,000+. My suggestion, buy one, drive it on nice days and enjoy it. Your grandchildren might end up with a car that’s worth something, but these cars may never, truly, compare to earlier SLs of the 50s, 60s and 70s in terms of outright collectibility.

Here is my original post about this particular SL 550 Silver Arrow, back when I worked at Sears Imports Mercedes-Benz from the Summer of 2012. >

Sears Imports Mercedes Benz just acquired this perfect 2009 Mercedes Benz SL550 Silver Arrow from its only owner. In 2009 the 5th generation R230 Mercedes-Benz SL got a facelift, it’s first since the 5th generation SL was introduced in 2003. In 2009 we saw significant visual changes to the outside of the car. Most prominent were new headlights, much more chiseled and angular that the previous cars. A new front end treatment was included as well as a completely new hood with aggressive looking raised ‘arrows’.

It was also in 2009 when they decided to commemorate the classic racing victories of the Mercedes-Benz racing cars of the 1930s, known as the ‘silver arrows’ due to their Silver color. In fact, Mercedes-Benz engineers left the factory racing cars unpainted, to save precious weight. As result, the aluminum body work of the cars shone bright silver giving rise to the name, ‘Silver Arrows’.

This car is one of just 550 Limited ‘Silver Arrow Edition’ SL550s produced in 2009. As you can see on the original option list below, the ‘Silver Arrow Package’ was an almost $14,000 option package that was one these 550 cars. All the usual options were included, all of them were painted the same shade of ‘Silver Arrow’ with Red Premium Leather interior along with special ‘Silver Arrow’ badging.

This particular car is a one owner vehicle from Iowa. It was driven seasonally and has never seen a Winter. It has just 26,389 original miles, it has a clean, no stories Carfax. This is being sold as a Certified Pre Owned car, so you get the balance of the factory, new car warranty. Once that warranty expires, the Certified Pre Owned Warranty begins which is one more year, or up to 100,000 miles. An additional two years of Certified Pre Owned Warranty is available from Mercedes-Benz when you buy the car.

Essentially a perfect car, this is Sears Imports Stock# 20431 and is seriously for sale today for $67,900. There are more photos below.. of this particular car and some of the Mercedes-Benz racing Silver Arrows of the 1930s. If you’re going to own a Silver Arrow Edition SL, you better know the rich history behind the name.