Description
A very usable and enjoyable classic, particularly during the summer months. While not a concours example and a little scruffy in places, it is solid where it matters and presents as an honest, well-maintained car that is ready to be enjoyed.
I am reluctantly selling due to mobility issues. While I’m not quite ready for a mobility scooter, a W123 Mercedes is beginning to look like the more sensible option.
This 280SL comes with both its factory hardtop and a brown soft top. The soft top was replaced in 2004 and remains in good, usable condition, while new carpets were fitted in 2006. During lockdown the car received a full repaint, helping it retain a smart appearance. As a historic vehicle it benefits from tax-exempt status and is inexpensive to insure.
Throughout my ownership the car has been regularly serviced, maintained and improved, despite MOT testing no longer being a legal requirement. It currently shows 61, 000 miles, a figure that appears to be supported by the MOT history and accompanying service records. The car has always been garaged and will also be supplied with a model-specific cover.
A desirable rear seat option is fitted, and the car benefits from a matching set of new tyres, including the spare wheel. It is the sort of classic that can be used and enjoyed immediately, while still offering scope for gradual cosmetic improvement and potential future appreciation if carefully maintained.
In the interests of complete honesty, there are a few areas that could benefit from attention. One front seat has been repaired in the past and the other is becoming threadbare in a small area, as shown in the photographs. Fortunately, the correct material remains available from Germany. Following the repaint, some of the exterior trim was refitted to a standard that could be improved and would benefit from a little fettling by the next owner.
Mechanically and structurally, the car appears reassuringly sound. The underside presents well, with the underseal intact, the sills appear solid and unmolested with all original drain holes visible, and the plenum chambers have been treated internally and do not leak.
This is not a classic that only emerges for rallies, concours events and sunny Sunday mornings. It is a car you can happily take shopping in, dog included, without becoming overly precious about it. It still attracts admiring glances from those who remember when Mercedes built cars to last a lifetime, while younger enthusiasts appreciate the chrome, the character and the refreshing absence of touchscreens, warning chimes and electronic interference.
The car will be serviced prior to sale and supplied with a fresh MOT.
