Highlights

Low mileage of 73,213 miles
Only four registered keepers
Maintained by specialist vendor since 1992
Thick history file including all MOTs
Recent full service including all fluids
Beautifully presented car in desirable colours
Eligible for Historic Vehicle status
New MOT will be provided upon sale

The Appeal

If you’re in the market for a R107 SL you’re in good company: these are superb cars and you are spoilt for choice. But some R107s stand out from the crowd and this 280SL is one of them.

It is finished in very smart light blue metallic with beige leather interior and optional ‘Mexican Hat’ alloy wheels. A matching hard top completes the picture. The condition shines out from the photos.

Serviced and maintained by the seller - a renowned marque specialist - since 1992, this very low mileage car has had just four registered keepers in its 33 years. It has been curated to a high standard via the seller, including a recent full service that also covered transmission fluid and filter and new brake fluid. The engine bay has also been detailed to bring it up to the same standard as the rest of the car.

Few R107s come to market with the long term provenance of this one. It ticks all the boxes that discerning buyers will have for these highly regarded cars and we are sure will be one collectors will not want to miss.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 19th March 1981
Four registered keepers since new
Current keeper since 2nd May 2008
Supplied with all MOT certificates, service book and owners manual
Eligible for Historic Vehicle status but will require registration
Once registered will be MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
MOT records show very sparing use since 2015 with time spent in storage
Known to seller, marque specialist Colin Ferns, since 1992

This car’s provenance is as much a part of its value as its condition. So we reproduce the vendor’s summary of the history below.

The seller, Colin Ferns is a marque specialist and well known as experts in the servicing and restoration of Mercedes cars, especially the SL. This car represents a potted history of the company in that the car was first serviced by company founder, Colin Ferns, way back in 1992 when there was only 22971 miles on the odometer.

At that time the car was owned by a Gentleman by the name of Charles Phillips in Chelsea who had been only the second owner having purchased the car in 1986. He kept it in a heated garage and hardly every drove it. Once per year he would ask Colin to come and take it away, put a few miles on it and do whatever was necessary with no expense spared. Mr Phillips owned an advertising agency and it was he who advised Colin to make his name the company name.

After four years and still only 40000 miles on the odometer the owner asked Colin to find a new custodian due to the arrival of a new addition to the family so the car was sold to the father of one of Colin’s friends, Ted Luckins. Mr Luckins also kept it in a heated garage and hardly ever drove it, rather repeating the exercise of asking Colin to take it away once per year and do whatever is required. Mr Luckins enjoyed sparing use of the car, mainly for trips to France in summer until his death in 2007 by which time the car had still only covered 72000 miles.

Colin was keen to ensure that the right new owner be found and so bought the car from Mr Luckin’s estate so as to take time finding the right next custodian. That custodian was a Mr Hedges. He bought the car and almost immediately put it into secure storage and declared the vehicle SORN.

Mr Hedges added a modern DAB radio but covered less than 2,000 miles in his 12 years of ownership. When he decided to part with the car the seller was again tasked with finding a new custodian.

The Condition

Very good condition with attractive light blue metallic paintwork and pre-facelift aesthetics
Paintwork appears to be original and presents very well due to fastidious care detailed above
Bodywork similarly straight and has been maintained by marque specialist since 1992
Good structure across sills, arches and underside verified by specialist seller
Matching factory hard top in very good order with tidy headlining showing no marks
Mexican Hat alloy wheels present well with good finish particularly to rims
Black fabric roof with clear screens and good colour and finish throughout
Very well preserved beige leather interior with few if any signs of wear
Well specified car with what appears to be factory-fitted optional rear seat conversion
Mercedes rubber overmats have been fitted since new and so the carpets are like new
Factory veneers very well kept with no visible deterioration or delamination
Only variance from standard is a DAB JVC stereo with CD multichanger in boot
Factory tool kit and jack roll in boot

The Mechanics

2,746cc Mercedes-Benz straight six 180bhp engine
4spd automatic gearbox
Recently detailed engine bay by marque specialist
Just serviced by specialist including engine, transmission and brake fluids
Maintained to a very high standard by the same specialist since 1992
Documented history outlined above indicating ‘no expense spared’ approach

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions.

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected].