1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL

First registered in 1985, this pre-facelift 380 SEL was out-shopped in black over a cream/ivory interior, and benefits from the later revised version of the 3.8-litre M116 engine which has the dual timing chain setup installed.

Purchased by the vendor after being part-exchanged for another vehicle at his business during 2006, this long-wheelbase S-Class was delivered from new locally - as evidenced by the accompanying documentation and dealership sticker in the rear window - so it’s always nice to see a vehicle that has remained local through its lifetime.

Whilst it has largely remained stored unused for the majority of its current ownership tenure, the car has benefitted from the following maintenance work over the years:

- Removal and cleaning of the fuel tank

- New fuel lines (partial)

- New handbrake shoes

- Gearbox fluid change

- Various miscellaneous works to the braking system, such as new discs, pads, etc.

- New belts

Interestingly, the vendor also notes that the vehicle had a brief moment on the silver screen in 2013 during a film about a secret service assassination.

Now, the choice has been made by the vendor to downsize his car collection, so this long-term stored 380 SEL is up for sale, with the hope of going to an enthusiastic home that will see it returned to its full glory.

Penned by the legendary Sacco, the lines of this 380 SEL look largely undisturbed by the passage of time, and every inch of this V8-powered saloon exudes luxury and understated class.

The bodywork remains in good condition throughout, save for a few small ‘car park’ dents - most notably on the nearside doors - along with a few scuffs on the outer corners of the front bumpers.

In contrast to the bodywork, the paintwork is showing its age a little more obviously, with numerous areas of flat/flaking/discoloured paintwork visible along the trim lines, leading edge of the bonnet, rear nearside wing and other areas, all of which have been documented in the extensive photo gallery below.

Elsewhere, the steel-panel sunroof is in full working condition and water-tight as far as we can see, whilst the light lenses, glass and badges/trims are all present, correct and free of any heavy wear or damage. The various chrome trims are showing their age, however, which is commensurate for a vehicle of this age and mileage, with some light pitting and patina visible.

Below the arches, all four wheels would benefit from a refurbishment, but can be used as they sit. The tyres, however, are all in need of replacement, with extensive cracking and age-related wear being visible on all four tyres.

Inside, the cream interior has held up well over the years, no doubt helped by its limited use in recent history and the low indicated mileage on the odometer, being below 53,000 miles.

The seats, specifically, are in good condition throughout, with no rips, unsightly scuffs or damage visible, only some light creasing and minor wear to the outer bolsters.

Ahead of the driver, the dashboard itself remains undamaged and un-cracked, though some of the wood trims have peeled away from the dashboard or cracked off entirely, though all of the pieces are present with the vehicle, so a repair could be carried out by an experienced party.

Up above, the majority of the headliner is taut, though the plastic trim piece around the rear window has sagged and buckled.

The high-traffic areas such as the door pulls, steering wheel, shifter and inner door trims show some typical wear marks, but nothing that would not be considered commensurate for the vehicle’s overall condition.

In the boot, the vendor is quick to point out that the upper boot roof area - around the bottom of the rear window - is sound and free of rot, an issue that commonly affects these S-Class models.

As far as we could tell, all systems appear to be in full working order, including the sunroof, air-conditioning system and radio, along with all of the gauges on the dashboard.

Starting with ease, the 3.8-litre V8 engine under the bonnet fires into life instantly, though there is an evident idle speed issue as the car idles at around 2-2.5k RPM, which will need addressing.

Shifting from P or N into D / R produces a noticeable ‘thunk’ and shunt within the drivetrain, and the idle drops to 1-1.5k, though when moving off it is clear that the engine is putting too much load on the drivetrain when idling as the wheels spin easily on a loose surface.

Whilst the engine sounds to be in rude health and shows good oil pressure according to the gauge on the instrument binnacle, there is a noticeable amount of blue smoke from the exhaust, which is accentuated when the engine is placed under load.

The vendor states that the cause of this excessive smoke may be due to accidentally put-ting diesel in the fuel tank. As this was such a small amount, the choice was made to try and ‘dilute’ the diesel with unleaded, and then run the vehicle. An updated running video has been made available below, with the smoke beginning to clear slightly but not com-pletely.

In the bay itself, the engine and block look to be in decent condition for its age, with no sign of any obvious faults, issues or missing parts. We did notice a slight squealing from the belts on full steering lock, though this is often par-for-the-course on classic vehicles and not necessarily indicative of any deeper issues.

Underneath the vehicle, the vendor states that the vehicle is solid, and other than the typical ‘bloom’ and surface corrosion, the chassis looks to be in very good condition throughout.

Included with the vehicle is the V5 showing just three former keepers, the original delivery warranty booklet from the original dealership, partially stamped service record, owners handbook and some miscellaneous MoT and SORN documentation/paperwork.

Offering true S-Class style and luxury, timelessly classy design and legendary Mercedes-Benz build quality of the 80s, this W126 S-Class is offered from long-term ownership and dry-storage, ready for the next owner to bring it back to its former glory.

Presented in solid order throughout and running, driving and stopping, this 380 SEL offers extensive potential for the next owner to transform its fortunes, and benefits from the later more reliable 3.8-litre V8 engine.

If that wasn’t enough to entice you, we’re proud to offer this example wth NO RESERVE and an estimate of £5000 - £8000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Guildford, Surrey. 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’.