4 Star Classics

An ultra low mileage 380SL in a fantastic period colour

MODEL HISTORY

The R107 chassis replaced the now highly sought after W113 SL chassis or 'pagoda' in 1972. The R107 was produced in two variants the SL and SLC, the SL being a 2 seater convertible roadster with a soft top and removable hard top.

The SLs defined personal luxury cars for almost 2 decades (1971-1989) and were powered by eight different engines in that time.

The engine in the 380SL was a new all-aluminium 3.8Litre V8 introduced in 1981 to replace the 4.5Litre V8. This was part of an efficiency program in which Mercedes re-tuned the V8 engines for greater efficiency. 1981 also saw the 107 gain a small upgrade in the form of a 4 speed auto gearbox replacing the 3 speed with ABS added to the range a year earlier.

Built at a time when engineers ruled at Mercedes rather than the accountants the R107 chassis was built to a standard rather than a price. It was built for 18 years for a very good reason and one that will become more and more appreciated as time goes on.

Equipment

Removable winter hard top, Mercedes cleaning kit, First aid kit, Spare wheel, Original cassette player, Fire extinguisher, Central locking, Power assisted steering, ABS brakes, Electric windows.

EXTERIOR

This 380SL is finished in a fantastic period colour that really looks smart with the sparkling chrome and brown interior. The body is in fantastic original condition with no rust or scratches and only a couple of tiny stone chips. The car comes with its winter hard top that also remains in perfect condition, the soft top is perfectly functional but has had a small repair to the fabric.

INTERIOR

The interior also remains in excellent original condition, all of the wood is unmarked and other than a little wear to the drivers seat base the rest of the trim is undamaged. All the heating controls work as do all the dash lights and steering column controls. The steering wheel retains its deep texture and is showing no signs of wear.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

The 380 SL has a wonderfully smooth V8 that gives effortless performance through the gears. Having only covered 18'024 miles the mechanics of the car still feel tight and responsive.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES

This SL has the desirable and original 14" Mercedes alloy wheels, which are still in great condition with no curb marks or bubbling. They have matching Michelin XDX tyres which all have plenty of tread left on them. The brakes feel strong and precise pulling the car up in a straight and smooth line.

HISTORY FILE

The 380 SL was first registered on the 26th of May 1982.

The first owner kept the car until 2008 and covered just 16,864 miles. The current owner only added 1,144 miles after that.

There are 25 previous MOT certificates to support the low mileage of the car and plenty of service invoices from various Mercedes Benz dealers.