Car statistics
Mercedes-Benz 420 SL statistics
How many Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, and how the SL compares with other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 420. Built from DVLA licensing records.
- Licensed in Great Britain 311 0.0% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 245 Off the road, not taxed
- Still registered 84.5% Other Mercedes-Benz 420 versions 21.0%
- Licensed in 1994 649 when this data begins
- Share of Mercedes-Benz 420s 49.6% of those licensed or SORN
- Declared off the road 44.1% of those still registered are SORN
How many Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs are left in Great Britain?
There were 311 Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs licensed in Great Britain at the end of June 2026, and a further 245 declared off the road (SORN). The licensed count is 52.1% lower than the 649 in 1994, when this data begins.
Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs licensed and SORN in Great Britain
This data records SORN from 2007, so the SORN line starts there.
| Year | Licensed | Declared SORN |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 649 | – |
| 1995 | 633 | – |
| 1996 | 647 | – |
| 1997 | 644 | – |
| 1998 | 617 | – |
| 1999 | 606 | – |
| 2000 | 577 | – |
| 2001 | 584 | – |
| 2002 | 558 | – |
| 2003 | 546 | – |
| 2004 | 537 | – |
| 2005 | 511 | – |
| 2006 | 494 | – |
| 2007 | 471 | 108 |
| 2008 | 441 | 133 |
| 2009 | 439 | 134 |
| 2010 | 427 | 148 |
| 2011 | 385 | 175 |
| 2012 | 378 | 175 |
| 2013 | 377 | 191 |
| 2014 | 362 | 205 |
| 2015 | 357 | 200 |
| 2016 | 358 | 203 |
| 2017 | 343 | 233 |
| 2018 | 330 | 239 |
| 2019 | 322 | 249 |
| 2020 | 295 | 266 |
| 2021 | 290 | 269 |
| 2022 | 273 | 285 |
| 2023 | 265 | 292 |
| 2024 | 261 | 294 |
| 2025 | 261 | 298 |
| 2026 | 311 | 245 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
How many Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs have survived?
84.5% of Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs are still registered (licensed or SORN), measured against the most on the road at any year end since 1994. For other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 420 from the same era, the figure is 21.0%, so Mercedes-Benz 420 SLs are 4.0 times as likely to have survived.
Share still registered (licensed or SORN)
Compared with 3 other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 420 from the same era.
| Version | Share still registered |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 420 SL | 84.5% |
| Other Mercedes-Benz 420 versions of the same age | 21.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Mercedes-Benz 420 MOT reliability
There were not enough MOT tests of Mercedes-Benz 420s in 2025 to publish reliable figures: we need at least 1,000 tests of cars aged three and over. DVSA names the model, not the version, so no separate figures exist for the SL.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 556 Mercedes-Benz 420 SL records (licensed and SORN) | 2 October 2026 |
- Figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not included.
- Licensed counts are vehicles with a current tax or exemption at the end of each year (or the latest quarter). SORN counts are shown separately, from 2007.
- This version groups DVLA’s detailed model names “420 SL AUTO”. Engine size, gearbox, number of doors and fuel are ignored, so every engine and gearbox counts together.
- Survival compares the number still registered (licensed or SORN) with the most licensed at any year end since 1994, plus any first registered after that year. Other versions are those of the same model whose licensed count peaked in the same years, up to 2001.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.