Description
1983 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL — Fully Restored, Exceptional Example
A rare opportunity to own an exceptionally well-presented 1983 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, fully restored to an extremely high standard in 2009 and maintained with great care ever since.
This is a particularly special example, finished in a rare and highly attractive colour combination and retaining its original factory hardtop, together with its excellent soft top. The car presents beautifully and is in outstanding condition for its age.
The Mercedes has been in our family for the past 8 years, during which time it has been garaged throughout and used exclusively as a cherished weekend and summer car. In that period, it has covered only around 2, 000 miles, with approximately 20 miles covered in the last three years. It has not been driven in the rain during our ownership.
Condition: The car is in excellent mechanical and working order. It starts, drives and performs exactly as it should, with everything fully operational and ready to be enjoyed immediately.
The exterior is exceptionally clean and close to spotless, particularly considering the car is now 43 years old. There are only a handful of very minor cosmetic blemishes, which are visible in the photographs and are commensurate with the age of the vehicle.
The interior is also in very, very good condition, having been exceptionally well cared for. The soft top is in excellent condition and operates perfectly, while the original hardtop is included with the car.
There are no visible signs of rust, and the vehicle has also recently received an additional underseal treatment.
Restoration & History: The car underwent a comprehensive, no-expense-spared restoration in 2009, with an extensive photographic album documenting the work carried out. Since then, it has continued to be carefully maintained.
It comes with an extensive history file and substantial paperwork, including a wealth of service and maintenance records documenting the car's life over the past 43 years, with particularly comprehensive records from 2009 onwards.
The car is currently the 10th registered keeper, although the 9th and 10th registered keepers were from the same household. It has therefore had relatively careful and documented ownership throughout its life, with the most recent 8 years being particularly cherished and sympathetic to its use as a classic.
A Genuine Classic
This is a genuine, beautifully preserved example of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL and represents a wonderful opportunity for someone looking for a classic that can be enjoyed immediately rather than requiring further restoration or recommissioning.
It is mechanically excellent, cosmetically outstanding and accompanied by an impressive history file and restoration documentation. The combination of its rare colour, original hardtop, comprehensive restoration, excellent mechanical condition and extremely limited recent use makes this a very appealing example.
As a historic vehicle, it is MOT exempt, free from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) and exempt from the London ULEZ charge, subject to the applicable historic-vehicle regulations.
This is a reluctant sale of a car that has been genuinely cherished. We hope it finds a new owner who will appreciate its condition, history and character and enjoy it for many years to come.
Serious enquiries only, please.
This is the kind of classic Mercedes that makes you stop and look twice. We bought it because of its beautiful, timeless design, its rarity and the way it combines classic Mercedes-Benz character with genuine usability.
What really makes this car stand out is the condition it has been preserved in. Having undergone a comprehensive restoration in 2009, it has been exceptionally well cared for ever since. The exterior is almost spotless, the interior remains in very, very good condition, and mechanically the car is in excellent working order. It has also been driven remarkably little during our ownership, spending most of its time safely garaged.
The rare colour and original hardtop are particular highlights and give the car a presence that is difficult to find on other examples. Add to that the extensive history, restoration photographs and paperwork, and you have a car with not only great looks but a fascinating story behind it.
Our favourite thing about the 280 SL is simply the way it makes you feel when you drive it. It has that unmistakable old-school Mercedes-Benz quality and character that modern cars simply don't replicate. It is elegant, comfortable and effortlessly cool without trying too hard.
This isn't a classic that needs to sit in a museum. It is a car that is ready to be enjoyed — whether that's a Sunday morning drive, a summer evening with the roof down, or simply having it sitting proudly in the garage.
After eight years of ownership, this is a genuinely reluctant sale. We have cherished the car and used it sparingly, and our hope is that its next owner will appreciate it for what it is: a beautiful, rare and exceptionally well-preserved piece of Mercedes-Benz history.
