1982 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (R107)
auctions.single.seller.popular
auctions.single.seller.view-count
auctions.single.seller.images
Highlights
- Lovely originality
- Excellent paperwork file
- Low mileage example
- Recently registered as a historic vehicle
The Appeal
Thought by many as the greatest roadster/GT ever built as far as quality of construction is concerned; the sound the door makes when closed is enough to convince most people that these Mercedes are simply amazing in their build quality. The R107 is a sophisticated take on a sports car with luxury in mind rather than performance - made to drive to the country club or out to a nice dinner, or just to cover some ground in complete comfort at decent speed. While they won’t pin you back in your seat, they will quite happily cruise at the upper end of their speedometer and not miss a beat, while maintaining wonderful ride quality.
The example we have presented here remains in lovely original condition both inside and out, with some bodywork carried out back in 2009 to keep it in hood health. This SL has a rather low mileage record of only a mere 75,885 miles from new which can be backed up by both the service records as well as the MOT certificates which are present with the vehicle. Like any original vehicle, it does show some gentle hints of age - but these imperfections are what brings cars to life, a real survivor with many stories behind its wheel.
The History and Paperwork
- Originally registered on the 1st of August 1982
- Declared registered/used overseas but no record of it being used abroad
- V5C is present and correct, ready for transfer of ownership
- Original Mercedes maintenance booklet and owners manual
- Maintenance booklet shows an extensive record of services
- Previous MOT carried out in 2020 shows a clean pass with no advisories following a failure for exhaust emissions and headlamp aim which seems to have been fixed
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle as of last year, now making the vehicle tax and MOT exempt
- 75,885 miles from new, equating to less than 300 miles carried out annually on average since brand new
- Plenty of old MOT certificates are present with the vehicle
- Paperwork present for private registrations being transferred to and from the vehicle
- Invoices present for previous mechanical work undertaken, as well as a quote from P. Watson Motor Repairs from 2009 for £4,500
The Interior
- Black leather upholstery with plaid fabric
- Both front seats remain in lovely condition with only some very light signs of use, no rips or tears appear present on the leather or the fabric portions
- Original steering wheel is in good shape with gentle signs of use as to be expected
- Gauge cluster remains operational and easy to read with no fading on the numerals
- Dashboard appears to be free from cracks or damage on the upper section
- Wooden veneer trim looks to be in good condition with gentle signs of age, no apparent delamination can be seen throughout
- Central switchgear remains operational and easy to read
- Original Blaupunkt radio remains in place and reportedly operational
- Floor carpets in good condition with no rips or tears to be reported
- Rear seats remain in excellent shape with just some scuffing noticed on the central hump between the seats
- Both door cards are in good shape with nice leatherwork and fabric, with just the usual scuff marks noticed on the lower portions of the doors, mostly on the driver side storage pocket
The Exterior
- Silberdistel Metallic paintwork
- Brightwork showing some patina in areas but retains a nice shine
- Headlamp housings appear free from damage and water ingress
- Front bumper bar shows some hints of corrosion in areas
- Light paint chipping and corrosion noticed along the seams above the headlights and the central grill
- Bonnet appears straight and free of damage, as do both of the front wings
- Both door handle shows some blistering on the brightwork
- Some gentle corrosion noticed around some of the side trim pieces along the doors, nothing excessive or worrying however
- All four wheels remain original and do show some scarring as to be expected, with cracks appearing on a couple of the tyres treads from age
- Soft top has a couple of rips on either side of the roof and appears in poor shape
- Desirable hard top is present and appears in good condition with only some minor corrosion noticed with nice brightwork
- Rear lights appear in good condition with no damage noticed and reportedly remain entirely functional
- Rear bumper bar retains good brightwork
- Boot lid spoiler remains present and in nice condition
- Front nearside wing, front offside wing, both rear arches, both sills as well as both doors had been replaced and professionally repainted in 2009 by P. Watson Motor Repairs at the expense of £4,500, and all present themselves very well to this day
The Mechanics
- 2.8-litre inline-6 cylinder petrol engine
- Automatic 4-speed transmission
- Rear-wheel drive configuration
- Great service history with plenty of service stamps and invoices present
- The keeper states that the engine starts and runs without issues or unwelcome smoke plumes out the rear
- The steering is believed to be in good mechanical health with a good amount of road feedback while remaining easy to live with
- The automatic transmission is reported to be in great health, with smooth gear changes and no unexpected lunges during shifts, and no whining noises present
- A healthy amount of invoices and MOT paperwork are present with the vehicle, ensuring the vehicle has been cared for throughout its lifetime regardless of its low mileage
- A couple of the tyres may require replacement due to cracking from age
Summary
Absolute elegance in a sporty package, it's something that’s quite hard to beat when paired with being built like a house on wheels. This example could benefit from some TLC from a new custodian, and it could be a rather quick and painless restoration for anyone keen enough to get their hands dirty. For what these are worth, you’ll certainly struggle to get something with more bang for your buck!
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1982
- Make Mercedes
- Model SL Class 280 SL
- Colour Silver/Green
- Odometer 75,885 Miles
- Engine size 2800
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Parham
- Location Suffolk
- Country United Kingdom
4
bids
from 3
bidders
- hasnat1•••• £4,000 24/09/23
- ciaran-•••• £3,800 23/09/23
- hasnat1•••• £3,500 23/09/23
- Perry C•••• £3,000 21/09/23
The Gallery
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
- If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
- If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
-
- Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
- We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
| Bid Amount | Increment |
|---|---|
| £0 to £9,999 | £100.00 |
| £10,000 to £49,999 | £250.00 |
| £50,000 to £99,999 | £500.00 |
| £100,000 + | £1,000.00 |
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you\'re able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.