1984 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

The seller bought his beloved Signal Red Mercedes-Benz 280SL in 2017 from the independent specialists the SL Shop. He’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with the car, never using it in the rain and garaging it when he wasn’t using it.

First registered in August 1984, it’s accrued its mileage at such a glacial rate that the odometer still reads comfortably under 40,000 miles.

In addition to the (very good) black folding roof it also comes with the very useful factory hardtop, making this a genuine all-season touring sportscar that would be as comfortable outside a Spanish summer villa as it would a Swiss ski chalet.

You might have though you wanted a subdued silver SL but we bet this one has changed your mind, hasn’t it? Beautifully cheery and very of-the-period, this vibrant Signal Red one ticks every single 1980s fashion cue.

That it is still in such a fabulous condition helps, of course.

With good shutlines and straight flanks, it tells a story of careful curation, something the history of personalized numberplates suggests has been the case; after all, you’re not going to put ‘NEW 8’ or ‘TOP 888’ on and then abuse and neglect it, are you?

The wheels and tyres tell the same story.

Let’s start with the rims, which are tiny by modern standards at only 14 inches in diameter, but they help give the car its wonderful stance and fit its proportions to perfection.

It sits perfectly on them and we love the high sidewalls of the (at the time low-profile) 60-series tyres, which not only look great but also protect the alloy rims. They’re also narrow by the standards of today at just 195mm, yet still give plenty of grip and a delicacy to the handling that’s missing from many of today’s over-tyred sportscars.

The tyres are all Michelin Energy. We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The black folding roof is in great shape with no tears, rips, or scuffs. Even the plastic rear window is clear and bright and the headlining is clean and unsullied.

The factory hardtop comes with a stand to keep it safely stored in the garage. It is finished in Signal Red, the same as the body, and is in great shape with good paintwork and glass plus a clean headlining. It even still has the ‘Gerard Mann Birmingham’ sticker in the window.

The headlamp lenses, complete with their tiny wipers, are in good shape. In fact, the same can be said of all the light lenses, window glass, and windscreen. Even the badges and numberplates are excellent; this is a car that has been meticulously maintained down to the smallest detail.

Faults? Well, there is a tiny dent on the door (#268) plus another on the hardtop (#103) and a small flaw on the nearside leading edge of the bonnet (#91) in addition to the usual stonechips and minor marks every car has.

The rubber trim on the chrome bumpers is a bit discoloured as well. While this is very much in the ‘nice to do’ category, the rest of the car is so good we can see its new owner treating it to new trim to enable it to realise its full potential. (Ditto the rubber door seals, e.g. #235.)

The front seats have a firm springiness to them that’s unique to the range and which means you can identify an R107 by buttock yield alone. This makes them not only comfortable and supportive but very durable – but then the SL range is rightly renowned for its longevity.

The checked fabric centre panels have survived well, as has the vinyl that edges the seats. The front seats are good but the back is excellent, with the fabric facings being so fresh we suspect they’ve been folded down for much of the car’s life.

The instruments are as bright and clear and legible as the day they left the factory and even the switchgear has maintained its bright, white lettering.

The wooden veneer trim is also excellent; where in a lot of the cars you’ll see veneer that’s become dull and cracked over the years, here it’s still shiny and undamaged.

The door cards are good too, as are the carpets. Even the top of the dashboard, which almost always cracks, is untouched.

The boot is as well presented as the rest of the car. It’s also home to the wind deflector, spare and matching alloy wheel (with what might just be the original Pirelli Cinturato tyre still on it) and first aid kit.

The dashboard features a replacement Blaupunkt headunit, although the (untested) Bologna is in the boot should you want to explore returning it to the factory specification.

Other work to do? Nothing really.

Most recently given an oil service by the SL Shop on the 29th of November 2022, the previous service history on file can be summarised as follows:

• 24.09.2021 and 38,268 miles – new water pump by the SL Shop
• 15.07.2021 and 38,253 miles – health check plus new thermostat and radiator hose, gear selector bushes, battery tray, and an exhaust Y Piece by the SL Shop
• 26.04.2019 and 35,108 miles – oil service by Genesis Automotive
• 20.07.2017 and 34,308 miles – service by the SL Shop
• 10.07.2013 and 33,199 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Orpington
• 22.08.2011 and unknown miles – service by O.J. Bodyworks
• 05.10.2009 and 33,023 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Dartford
• 30.01.2001 and 30,690 miles – service and fresh coolant by Gerard Mann Mercedes-Benz
• 06.05.1998 and 29,359 miles – service by Gerard Mann Mercedes-Benz
• 30.05.1996 and 26,306 miles – service by Rossetts (Eastbourne) Limited
• 12.07.1994 and 22,054 miles – service by Rossetts (Eastbourne) Limited
• 19.09.1991 and 19,389 miles – service by Panda (Eastbourne) Ltd
• 03.09.1987 and 10,554 miles – service by Rivervale of Brighton
• 30.08.1984 and 543 miles – service by Glen Henderson

As you can see in the video, the 2.8-litre, twin-cam engine starts beautifully and settles into a steady tickover with good oil pressure. It revs well too, and is smooth and powerful on the road.

The engine bay is clean and tidy without being prissy, so if you take a laissez faire attitude towards your underbonnet appearance then you could leave it as it is without shame. If, on the other hand, you’re fastidious in maintaining your hidden bits free of grime, tidying it up wouldn’t be unduly onerous.

The underside is good too, but then you’d expect that of a car that was only driven in the summer; that the owner drove it to us in wintry conditions was an unwelcome first for him…

The SL’s MoT certificate is valid until November 2023 and it was gained, like so many before it, with no advisories. The car also comes with a bunch of expired MoT certificates stretching back for many years.

It’s also got the handbook, maintenance booklet, and instructions for the Blaupunkt Bologna headunit in addition to two sets of keys.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clean.

The R107 Mercedes-Benz SL could be seen as an MGB for people who won’t compromise on space, performance, handling, or safety in their classic sportscar.

Very nearly as modern to drive as your family hack, the SL is capable of taking you vast distances without leaving you deaf, aching, or broke.

It’ll also be as much popping down to Sainsbury’s as it will wafting down to Saint-Tropez - and there aren’t many classics you can say that about.

As for the investment needed to make this one yours, we think between £25,000 and £30,000 should do it, which seems like good value to us given it is one of the nicest examples we’ve seen in a long time.

And yes, you could probably find a cheaper one but the premium you pay for a well-maintained one in this condition will ensure it’ll be easier to sell and fetch a better price when the time comes to pass it on.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.