Glamorous looks, practicality, reliability and the joy of top-down motoring: it’s perhaps no surprise that the R107 survived in the Mercedes line-up for as long as it did. Launched in 1971, the model survived in the Mercedes range, through various iterations and engine sizes, until 1989. Numerous appearances in 1980s US TV dramas (Dallas, Hart to Hart, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Rockford Files) undoubtedly helped secure the model’s iconic status and desirability.
The R107 is still a sought-after car today, with a reputation for comfort, robustness and longevity as well as those age-defying looks.
The 380SL replaced the 350SL in 1980, powered by two new variants of the M116 V8 engine. As well as the change of engine, the 380 SL was more refined, with interior changes that gave the car a completely different character.
RYT 667 Y has been owned by the vendor for the past thirty years, and has been a valued part of his family throughout that time.
The car was manufactured in 1982, and sold new in the USA. The vendor believes that he is only the second owner, having been gifted the car as a thirtieth-birthday present in 1989. On moving to the UK in 1994, he imported the car and registered the car in the UK.
The paperwork file includes a letter from Mercedes-Benz verifying the car’s factory records (note that this mistakenly lists the car as ‘right-hand drive’ – as it was supplied new to the US market it was manufactured with left-hand drive.)
Under the vendor’s long tenure, the car has had some significant upgrades and has been carefully looked after, as evidenced by the thick file of paperwork which includes a number of invoices for large sums. Work carried out between 2014 and 2016 included new front seats, upgraded rear seats, new woodwork on the dashboard, a new soft-top, new bootlid, replacement door panels, new carpets and a much-improved sound system. In total more than £20,000 was spent.
The car has had a recent MoT (valid until May 2023), and has been stored in a storage facility in Wimbledon. It has been serviced and maintained for a number of years at renowned Mercedes specialists SS Motors in Weybridge, Surrey.
A recent change of personal circumstances has led to the vendor’s reluctant decision to sell the car.
Exterior
New soft top in 2016
Excellent hard top
Metallic silver paintwork
Sound wheels and tyres
The R107’s simple lines have stood the test of time – the car belies its age and still looks contemporary. This example looks great in its silver paintwork, with only a few blemishes visible. There’s a rust bubble on the bottom of the offside rear wing, and another just in front of the fuel filler. The boot-lid has some minor rust bubbles. The paint has suffered from discoloration around the bonnet badge.
The vendor had a new windscreen fitted in 2014, and the windows, badges and brightwork all look extremely good, although the 380SL badge on the bootlid has some patina. The bootlid was replaced in 2014.
The soft-top was replaced in 2016 and still looks like new. It folds neatly down into its storage compartment, which is notably rust-free, as this is a known rust-spot on the R107.
The car also comes with a hard-top which has been stored separately, covered, in the vendor’s shed. This is in very good condition – the paintwork is pretty much unblemished and the roof lining is clean and has no marks or tears. However, there is some rust starting to appear next to the pins which locate the hard-top at either side of the car.
All four wheels look good, although that on the front offside has some scuffs. The tyres are recent and all have good tread.
The car’s interior belies its forty years, with the seats both front and rear, and the carpets, having been replaced in 2016, along with the centre armrest, sun visors, door panels and the wood on the dashboard. In short, it’s a comfortable and refined driving environment. The blue leather front seats have no marks or obvious wear, while those in the rear look all-but unused. The rear seat-backs fold down to create a more usable luggage space.
At the same time as the interior refurbishment, the car had a sound-system upgrade, with high-quality speakers and a subwoofer fitted, as well as Bluetooth technology. The vendor says that this has really enhanced the top-down motoring experience.
In the boot, the carpet lining is unmarked and with no wear, and beneath that is a sound spare wheel with a decent tyre. The boot-mounted battery looks to be recent, and the jack is in its appointed place.
Long history of specialist servicing and maintenance
The car starts on first turn of the key, and the engine sounds fine. The auto ‘box slots readily into gear and the car pulls away smoothly and quietly. Even on the short drive across north London to our photo location, it was clear that the car performs as one would expect. Having scrupulously maintained the car at specialist SS Motors, the vendor assures us that the car drives beautifully, with no issues. Everything electrical seems to work properly.
Under the bonnet, everything is remarkably clean and tidy for a car that turns forty years old this year.
Under the car, all looks clean and tidy, and there are no signs of rust or of leaks.
A genuine modern classic, the R107 is assured a place in the pantheon of grand-touring roadsters. A cherished family car, RYT 667 Y has been well looked-after and has benefitted from significant expenditure. With a well-appointed, smart interior, no obvious mechanical issues and only a few minor blemishes on the exterior, this is a car that offers the new owner rewarding top-down motoring in style and comfort.
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Mercedes-Benz 380SL (R107) LHD
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