**Vendor supplied images**
Highlights
- In beautifully original condition throughout
- Rare optional rear seats
- Rare cruise control option
- Both hard top and soft top remain with the vehicle
- MOT valid until July 2023
The Appeal
Smart lines and solid engineering have secured the Mercedes R107’s place in the pantheon of motoring greats. They remain incredibly popular to this day, many decades after they were first produced, and with good reason.
This particular example is a very well presented 280 SL, with a straight-six engine, automatic transmission and smart Light Ivory paint. The interior is beautifully original and remains in excellent condition.
So if you’re looking for a carefully maintained example of an ‘80s SL, then this one is certainly worth examining.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 15th of August 1985
- V5C log book present
- MOT valid until 26th of July 2023
- Previous MOT passed with no advisory notices
- Previous keeper owned the car for 21 years
- Original service booklet with 22 stamps for services and maintenance
- Historic MOT certificates present
- Original owner’s literature and handbooks
- Spare key
- Thick pile of invoices and related papers
- Current keeper has covered a mere 500 miles after completing a thorough recommission
The Interior
- Original Brazil leather interior
- Rare optional cruise control fitted
- Original green tinted glass all in fantastic condition
- Original toolkit with two roof keys
- Category 1 alarm system fitted
- Heater said to work perfectly
It would be very easy to believe that this car has had an extensive restoration. But this 280 SL is in fact in supremely original condition throughout. This is the result of careful storage when not in use, and regular maintenance.
The two front seats wear only a very minor hint of some very welcoming patina, showing that this car has actually been used. The leather remains soft and supple and all the stitching appears to be intact. Two new seatbelts have been fitted.
The original steering wheel which again sports some very light patina but there are no signs of any rips or damage. And the instrument cluster features distinctive bold, clear gauges, all of which function as they should and show no unwelcome warning signs.
Wooden veneer covers the dashboard and appears to be very well preserved, and the centre console controls all function as you’d expect. The original carpets are all in place with some light signs of wear, but feature no rips or tears.
To the rear, the rare optional rear seats are in fantastic condition and look to have seen very little use over the years. There are of course some minor signs of use and some scratching, but overall they look great.
The two front seats wear only a very minor hint of some very welcoming patina, showing that this car has actually been used. The leather remains soft and supple and all the stitching appears to be intact. Two new seatbelts have been fitted.
The original steering wheel which again sports some very light patina but there are no signs of any rips or damage. And the instrument cluster features distinctive bold, clear gauges, all of which function as they should and show no unwelcome warning signs.
Wooden veneer covers the dashboard and appears to be very well preserved, and the centre console controls all function as you’d expect. The original carpets are all in place with some light signs of wear, but feature no rips or tears.
To the rear, the rare optional rear seats are in fantastic condition and look to have seen very little use over the years. There are of course some minor signs of use and some scratching, but overall they look great.
The Exterior
- Light Ivory 623 paint
- Original factory underseal
- All original brightwork in lovely condition
- Alloy wheels in great shape
- Soft top cover
- Original rubber bungs still in-situ on original sills
- Excellent shut lines and panel gaps
- New mohair hood fitted in December 2018
Starting at the front, the brightwork is all original and still glistens beautifully in any conditions, and the Mercedes badge remains proudly in place. The lamp lenses appear free from damage or clouding; the bonnet is straight and true and the panel gaps are very good.
All the body panels are straight and true, and the paint appears to be in fantastic shape from front to back. There is a small scuff mark on the passenger side lower section of the bumper behind the rear wheel and the occasional little mark on the lower skirt of the bumper, but aside from this everything is very well presented. The bulkhead has reportedly been inspected and found to be in excellent original condition.
The original alloy wheels exhibit some gentle patina, however there is no significant damage we could see. The hard top is in excellent condition and the car also benefits from a recently renewed Mohair hood.
The original alloy wheels exhibit some gentle patina, however there is no significant damage we could see. The hard top is in excellent condition and the car also benefits from a recently renewed Mohair hood.
The Mechanics
- 2.8-litre straight-six engine
- 182bhp
- Automatic transmission
- Great service history, 22 service stamps on record
- Excellent MOT history
- Recent recommissioning just 500 miles ago
- Engine bay in fantastic order
Fitted with a 2.8-litre six-cylinder engine and producing a nice 182bhp, this Mercedes is a very capable machine. It has reportedly never seen any welding or repairs and even retains its original rubber bungs in the sills and undisturbed factory underseal.
The current owner has recently put the car through a thorough recommissioning a mere 500 miles ago. This included a full oil service, new spark plugs, new filters, fresh gearbox oil and filter, fresh rear differential oil plus four brand new tyres. The vendor states that the vehicle performs well, the engine is responsive and powerful, the gearbox is smooth and quiet, and the car produces no unwelcome knocks or bangs.
The current owner has recently put the car through a thorough recommissioning a mere 500 miles ago. This included a full oil service, new spark plugs, new filters, fresh gearbox oil and filter, fresh rear differential oil plus four brand new tyres. The vendor states that the vehicle performs well, the engine is responsive and powerful, the gearbox is smooth and quiet, and the car produces no unwelcome knocks or bangs.
Summary
This is a fantastic example of a Mercedes SL, which has been kept in storage when not in use and fastidiously cared for to ensure it’s always in top condition.
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