1982 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

This very original Midnight Blue 280SL’s included V5c document shows it to have been manufactured during 1982. Its first owner ticked many options boxes, and these included:

• Factory air conditioning (now disconnected)
• Rear seats
• Electric windows
• Navy soft-top
• Matching hard-top
• Blaupunkt radio CD
• Bundt alloy wheels
• Wind deflector
• ABS

He immediately had the Mercedes-Benz exported to Abu Dhabi, where it resided until he had it re-imported to the UK in 1998. During its time in the Middle East, it was serviced exclusively by Cargash Enterprises, the Mercedes-Benz main agent in Dubai (see letter in Photo Gallery, below).

It has had a total of two owners from new, with the last since 2002, and has always been serviced annually and garaged. As such, it remains in very good condition. The car’s history file (see History Highlights, below) includes all invoices and details since 2002.

The total mileage covered is approximately 155,000. It had a documented change of speedometer (again, there is a letter in the car’s history file confirming this) at 136,408 miles. The old unit remains in the car’s boot, and the current one reads 19,500 miles.

It’s been very well maintained – new gear lever bushes just fitted – and comes with its original windscreen, and an MOT test certificate that runs until 18/03/2023, as well as a very useful hardtop stand.

Oh, and it’s ULEZ compliant for those of you that reside in the ‘big smoke’ and who don’t want to fall foul of Mayor Khan! And what style in which not to do so.

We’ve had numerous ‘Panzerwagons’ through our auction house (both the online and traditional) and we have to say that this Midnight Blue example wears its colour well. The paint still retains a good, deep shine and the panel fit is sound, too. It had a touch of bodywork TLC at Caversham Coachworks in September 2017 to deal with some light corrosion around the wheel arches (at a cost of £504.00) and any paint that it received has been blended in well.

It’s not perfect, there is the odd blemish such as touch of bubbling around one of the windscreen washer water outlets, but it’s generally visually sound. The soft-top remains in decent nick, with just a small tear on the nearside bottom corner of the plastic window.

Of course, it’s always great to have the optional hard-top included because in an instant you can transform the SL into a sleek Coupe. That makes the model a multifaceted classic car to own.

It sports matching Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, each of which has oodles of tread remaining. The alloys are pristine, too.

Overall, it all adds up to a decent exterior picture.

We’re a big fan of this SL’s interior, as the Blue colour scheme is pretty zingy and, for us, much preferable to one with a more mundane black arrangement – it’s a perfect accompaniment to the exterior.

It must be said that it wears the car’s mileage very well. The MB-Tex material is free from splits and general wear, and carpets are good, as are the cord-material fitted mats (again, in a lovely matching Blue colour).

The dash covering is holding up well, although the wood has faded a little in places. There are also one or two chips on the latter. A wind deflector is included, good news for those that prefer less air currents flowing through their hair.

You will also find a full tool set and a brand-new matching spare tyre to be found in the boot, which is finished in matching carpet. As mentioned previously, the original speedometer is also included.

Very smart.

The vendor reports that this 280SL drives very well indeed, which is to be expected given the car’s good maintenance and service schedules. We’ve also had out for a spin and can confirm that to be the case. What does that mean exactly? Well, it’s smooth and pleasant to drive; the manual ‘box shifts well; suspension is supple; and the engine pulls nicely, too.

You will find a word document in the car’s history file detailing the preventative maintenance carried out since 2002. Recent, and relatively recent, work includes:

• Fresh fuel feed pipe hose fitted (9/17)
• Underside undersealed and zinc sprayed (9/17)
• New distributor, rotor arm, ignition cable and spark plugs (11/17)
• Brake master cylinder reconditioned (5/21)
• New subframe mounting bushes (3/22)
• New gear lever bushes (4/23)

Popping the bonnet reveals an engine bay that, if we are honest, isn’t the smartest but this is a car that’s been driven, and not a concours example – you won’t be concerned how it looks under there as you undertake the important business of enjoying it.

The underside has had a relatively recent underseal treatment, with a black protective Waxoyl type substance liberally applied.

You will find the original Owner’s Manual in the car’s history file, as well as the V5c document and a current MOT test certificate that runs until 18/03/2024. The latter has a couple of small advisories to monitor, which are cracked and perishing CV boots and slight play in the offside rear wheel bearing.

Also present are the letters from Cargash Enterprises in the UAE regarding servicing and the odometer change. All invoices from 2002 are included (estimated spend on works and maintenance @ £8500) and the SL comes with two keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork that confirm that this vehicle has been maintained to a very good standard.

We can confidently state that a manual-gearbox 280SL is a rare thing. Yes, it remains a supremely smooth cruiser, but the cog-shifting element does add a soupcon more driver engagement to the experience of piloting one.

This example has been superbly looked after from new, both in the Middle East and closer to home, and remains in very smart driving and aesthetic conditions. Yes, it’s a higher mileage car (although at 41 years of age, that simply equates to regular exercise!) but that will likely be reflected in the price, as we think it will realise somewhere between £12,000 and £16,000.

For that, the next owner should get a nice SL that continues to deliver its slick cruising wares with aplomb.

Top down, shades on, fire up the radio, and off we go.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ in Oxfordshire; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.