Description
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PRINCIPLE FACTS
This low owner (four former keepers) and low mileage 280SL (just under 25k) seems to have undergone comprehensive restoration, remaining in exceptional order throughout. We know the restoration took place prior to 2008, yet this Pagoda still looks as though it's just come back from the body shop.
Although it's not complete, the car's service and repair history can be traced way back to 1986, with tens of thousands of pounds of expenditure catalogued since. Thankfully, a former keeper has produced an abridged highlights sheet, as there's a big pile of invoices to accompany this seriously smart SL.
OVERVIEW & EQUIPMENT
An odd quirk to this car is the additional rear seat. This is no California Coupe, but the additional side-mounted 'dicky seat' behind the front ones, has been carried out to a really high standard. It offers a little more practicality than a standard soft-top equipped car... Emphasis on little.
The interior comfort of this SL has been upped even further by those deep, superb leather pews sporting matching headrests. There's also a Bluetooth receiver in the standard Becker stereo, allowing you to stream music from your phone, playing it through the car's speakers without affecting the car's original, jaw-dropping aesthetics.
Finally, there's also a Sigma alarm fitted, which operates off a key fob.
CONDITION SYNOPSIS
The last, and as far as we know, only restoration of this 280SL was conducted by well-known and respected classic Mercedes-Benz specialist, Roger Edwards Motors. The Amersham (former Wembley) firm included a letter in the car's history folder, presumably for an agreed insurance value. This correspondence confirms that it carried out the work. Despite that letter being dated July 2008, its points are just as valid 15 years later. The chrome is described as being in ?excellent condition throughout?. The interior retrim remains as good as new and the paint is perhaps even better still.
That same letter lists work to the car's underside which included the replacement of both sills and floors, together with ?minor repairs? to the chassis legs.
Everywhere you look, this Pagoda exudes quality. Its condition is still up there with show winners, which is perhaps not too surprising, as it's cover fewer than 5000 miles since its restoration.
HISTORY FILE
Aside from the aforementioned work, which sadly isn't itemised in the history, there are plenty more routine bills. Servicing and overhauls from independents go back to the mid-1980s, showing everything from oil changes to an engine overhaul. The latter was carried out in 1989 at considerable cost (£4439. 92). The most recent invoice shows a bill for servicing from SS Motors in July 2021 with a bill of £799. 28.
Care is pretty consistent up to the late 2000s, which we assume coincides with the car's restoration. From here, we have a few bills in Euros (two) before we switch back to Sterling for that last invoice. Plenty of MOT certificates are also included, showing that the car remained road legal and used, albeit sparingly, throughout.
SLSHOP SUMMARY
A wonderful example of a 280SL that seems to have been brought back to tip-top condition the right way. The history charts plenty of on-going care and the way the car presents and drives today inspires confidence.
