1985 Mercedes 280 SL |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1985 Mercedes 280 SL

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Mileage~121,074
TransmissionAuto
Engine2.8-litre
LocationBolton

AUCTION CLOSED

1985 Mercedes 280 SL

Introduction

Kevin

Automotive Photographer

The Mercedes Benz R107 SL model was a huge success for the company - it went on to became the second longest single series ever produced, after the G-Class and it’s easy to see why.

The R107 superseded the much-loved W113 model which included the esteemed “Pagoda” roofed model. That car had done very well in North America, a key market, and Mercedes Benz were keen to replicate that success with the R107. In reality it did much better still with a total of a mere 49,000 of the earlier car sold worldwide, which was dwarfed by over 300,000 for the R107.

The R107 was the only Mercedes Benz roadster for the entirety of its production, so became uniquely emblematic of owners who admired the engineering kudos of the brand, but were keen enjoy something more sporty and less conservative of the company’s saloons of the period.

Always more of a sporting grand tourer than a fully-fledged sports car, the SL came supplied with a standard folding fabric roof, while the optional hardtop gives a level of civility akin to many of the Mercedes saloons of the era. With the hardtop added to an already strong package, as it is here, the convertible SL is truly a classic car for all seasons.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Kevin after meeting Gregg the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

The 280SL has been mine for about a year and a half and during that time the winning combination of style, reliability and bullet proof engineering has really left a lasting impression on me.

Current owner Gregg loves the silky-smooth delivery of the 2.8 litre straight six Mercedes Benz engine. He has found the car reliable and robust and the K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection helping to make the car a brisk yet refined performer.

This car appealed to Gregg initially because of the very attractive “smoke silver” colour, its desirable removeable hardtop and the great overall condition of the car.

Gregg

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The Smoke Silver paint is a desirable classic shade for an R107 SL - almost a blend of silver and gold, the colour only enhances the lovely lines of this SL.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15 inch “Mexican Hat” alloys present good general condition. It looks like the wheels have been refinished at some point and a number of kerb scrapes and small gouges are in evidence.

The Dunlop SP Sport 200 tyres all appear to have plenty of tread remaining and provide that period correct, 70 section sidewall that contributes so much to the renowned ride comfort of these cars.

Bodywork

During our visit the bodywork looked good with no major areas of concern. You will see from our photography package that the car is a practical, useable, and original car. Not garage-queen, but strikes the ideal balance between originality and potential for regular, even daily use.

As can be seen in the images, a sought-after hard top is included in the sale of this car.

We have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the bodywork condition for yourselves.

Paint

Mercedes Benz has a justified reputation for the generous application of paint during this period and this SL appears to be no exception.

The paintwork is reflective, lustrous and no obvious areas of lacquer peel were found.

Being picky, we did notice a slight difference in shade on the driver's side front wing. Again, please take time to review all the images and videos showing the paint from different angles and reflections, to assess the condition for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass appears to be in excellent unchipped condition - no areas of distortion or discolouration were noted.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The 'Parchment' MB-Tex and 'Karo 3 Crème Beige' fabric upholstery combination is an absolute classic for this year of SL - a fitting accompaniment to the Smoke Silver exterior.

Seats and Carpets

The well-padded, signature box pleated front seats are dressed in upholstery which appears unripped and unmarked. The seats are as well presented as they are supportive and comfortable.

Carpets are in a complimentary beige and are deep pile with no visible areas of excessive wear.

Dashboard

The dash top combined with dark walnut veneer to the swathe line and centre console only adds to the sumptuous and luxurious ambiance of the SL’s cabin - it all presents very well too.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The signature large steering wheel and eccentric gate of the automatic gear selector are further, highly recognisable features of the R107 interior. No areas of concern were noted with these items.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The smaller SL’s powertrain is exemplified by the silky smooth, yet extremely robust, straight six engines, and this car having covered only 4,000 miles in the last 16 years, is certainly no exception to that rule.

Engine and Gearbox

The refinement of the running gear of the car remains a testament to Mercedes Benz’s engineering prowess of this period. No surprise that the MB engineers referred to the W107 as the “Panzerwagen” internally.

Please watch the On the Road video to hear the car starting and running.

Suspension and Brakes

The R107s are known for a super smooth ride, which is especially important on some of our... well how can we say... not so well maintained roads! Gregg assures us the brakes and suspension work as expected with no faults.

Please take time to watch the underside video and review all images to see the condition of the components.

The Drive

No issues to report by Gregg - he mentions the car drives well, i.e. smooth and responsive.

Electrics and Other

All electrics appeared to be working as expected and Gregg attests to their efficiency and reliability.

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History and Paperwork

A very lovely and usable R107 that's in a great colour combination and ready to be enjoyed.

Our photograph package features some interesting paperwork that accompanies this car - please see the paperwork section below to review.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
17.06.21	MOT	121,067
13.05.20	MOT	120,584
14.12.18	MOT	119,805
24.08.17	MOT	118,945
05.08.16	MOT	118,063
05.08.15	MOT	118,052
17.07.14	MOT	117,994
18.07.13	MOT	117,973
12.08.10	MOT	117,958
07.10.08	MOT	117,938
04.10.07	MOT	117,514
31.08.06	MOT	117,476
29.07.05	MOT	117,295