With summer looming large (honest!), now is the time to bag a roofless example of one of Mercedes’ finest creations – a mid-80’s 280 SL.
The car drew appreciative glances as we drove to the photo location and, in the all-too-brief time we spent in and around the car, it was easy to comprehend the passion that continues unabated for these German grand tourers.
It is important to keep classic cars like this on the road and to encourage the next generation to continue to do so. You can’t beat seeing a child waving or smiling at your car and saying it’s cool and hoping they draw inspiration from it sometime in their future.
According to the data plate, this handsome right-hand drive 280 SL rolled off Mercedes’ Sindelfingen plant near Stuttgart on Thursday 13th September, 1984. After making it way to the UK, it received its first UK registration on 26th October, 1984.
Accompanying the car will be a comprehensive file of service and maintenance records, the current MoT certificate, the Owner’s Manual, the car’s Service Book, a selection of previous tax discs and the original cruise control instruction card.
The original interior is in exceptional condition and belies both its 108,000 miles and 38 years of age. There’s none of your ‘Wogan beige’ here, as these SL’s were of an altogether different class.
Instead, we have an elegant blend of grey leather and blue check cloth seats which follow through to the door cards. The chrome covered seat adjustment panels and brackets shine as brightly as the day they were installed. Behind the seats is a rarely-ordered rear bench unsuitable for people of any size, but highly useful for shopping bags or for one’s daily automotive detritus.
As with the wood-veneered dashboard and centre console, the door cards, sun visors and other soft furnishings present in remarkably good condition. Furthermore, the custodian reports that all the instruments, switchgear and backlights work as originally intended.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, you’re transported back to the mid-80s and if Foreigner’s ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ were to become your earworm, our understanding would be complete!
Handsomely presented in its original Classic White (code DB-737), the excellent condition of the interior continues out to the exterior of this iconic German grand tourer and is indicative of the love and care afforded to it by past keepers through all of its 38 years.
The original factory-fitted alloy wheels are in exceptional condition and shod with a good set of axle-paired Vredestein and Runway tyres. At the front, headlight lenses are clear and the plastic indicator/reflector lenses show no hint of fogging often associated with a car of this age. The same may be said for the rear light clusters.
The brightwork around the car is in exceptional condition and a cursory glance down each flank shows no evidence of damage and the retractable soft top is in as-new condition. Even the front number plate and valance, for all their vulnerability, remain blemish free.
At the photo location, the 280 SL was frequently repositioned to obtain the best of the challenging light at this time of year. The car started first and every time and settled into an appreciative straight-six burble. The automatic four-speed ‘box connected smoothly – including reverse – with drive engaging with no drama, requiring just a light feathering of the revs to get underway.
The custodian reports the car to be in excellent mechanical condition with steering, brakes, engine, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective German engineers intended almost forty years ago.
Like the immediately visible parts of this car, the underside and lower sills present in very good order with a degree of natural oxidation that may reasonably be expected on a car of this age.
Mercedes-Benz had an established reputation for comfortable touring cars well before the R107 SL made its first appearance in 1972. The brand's virtues were strengthened by the SL's ingrained quality, ease of use and mechanical hardiness.
It is attributes such as these that have made the 280 SL one of the easiest to own classic tourers today. Robust engineering, durable materials and clinical build quality go a long way to making the SL a good choice for those who like to travel in style without the uncompromising nature of other open-top classics of the era.
Powered by the surprisingly frugal yet flexible 2.8-litre straight-six engine, the car can still hold its own on modern roads. With decent accommodation, the availability of the ‘winter hardtop roof’ and excellent parts availability, the SL continues to flourish in popularity.
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1984 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL
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