1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL

This eye-catching 380SL is a UK specification car, originally supplied in January 1981 via Neyland Motors - a Mercedes-Benz dealer near Swansea in South Wales. The car left the Welsh showroom with a Signal Red body and a black hard top.

One previous owner exported the car to Spain where he used it in the Iberian sunshine for around 10 years, where the dry climate almost certainly helped to keep corrosion at bay. But it also helped turn the Signal Red into a dull shade of deep pink.

For this reason, on returning the car to the UK a few years ago, the car body and roof were repainted in its current Silver Metallic finish. The shade looks close to Mercedes-Benz Anthracite Grey Metallic, but the last owner believed it to be a Range Rover paint code. We also understand that conversion to the US-style quad headlamps was done around that time. The last owner replaced some later AMG alloy wheels that had been put on the car with the original, period-correct steel wheels wearing body-colour and chrome hubcaps.

The current owner - our vendor - bought the car from us last year as a bit of fun for the summer. He used it on a few local trips and spent around £4k on it to fit a new soft-top (which was missing), replaced all the shocks with Bilsteins, installed a like-for-like replacement radio, new window seals, new battery and sundry other maintenance and servicing. All of this was done whilst in the care of a storage company near Tonbridge Wells.

He reports that the car is now running really well and he’s only selling because having bought a property in Spain, he is likely to spend most of the summer there and the car would just sit in storage. He did consider taking it with him like the last but one owner, but decided against it.

Whilst it may not be an authentic shade, grey seems to suit the SL, and the metallic finish adds a level of sophistication and sparkle that really lifts the presentation of the car. The paint finish isn’t perfect - there are a few blemishes and marks here and there but generally the overall look is very good.

The combination of the bright and lustrous paintwork, the shiny chrome accents to the bumpers, rub strip and wheel arch extensions and the body-coloured hubcaps give this car road presence and a charming character that will turn heads.

Previously missing its fabric cover, the folding soft-top frame has now been retrimmed with a new hood. With several colour options available, we are pleased to see that black was chosen. Being new it is still in good condition, if a little creased from being stored folded - although it looks like there are no sharp creases in the plastic windows. It’s always best to store soft-top convertibles with the roof up to retain the shape and keep things tight.

The removable hard-top - now in the same colour as the body - comes with the car and fits snugly. There’s an orange-peel texture to the paint on the offside roof panel and rear pillar that a perfectionist would want to address but in our experience such cars are typically used only in the summer when the folding roof is all that is required and the hard-top stays on its frame in the garage.

The 14-inch steel wheels were fitted with Galaxy Vitour tyres in 2019 and they’ve covered barely 1,000 miles since - you can still see the tyre size lightly moulded into the tread.

The interior presents very well with a good deal of period originality. The pleated black leather seats are complete with the familiar “eared” headrests and have fared well with no undue wear or damage noted. The fact that the door cards have grey sports check cloth inserts suggests that the original seats may have been MB-Tex vinyl and faced in the same fabric but both are in good order and neither finish looks out of place.

The dash top is in padded black vinyl and appears in good condition with just a thin strip of wood veneer dividing the upper and lower dash - unlike earlier R107 models which had larger expanses of wood that were prone to cracking.

The large, clear instrument binnacle houses a central speedometer, a clock, and a multi-function dial. All are understood to be in good working order with only the odometer not having recorded the slowly advancing miles for the last decade or so. The original, four-spoke Mercedes Benz steering wheel presents equally well.

The car is fitted with a more modern Sony head unit with Bluetooth connectivity wired into speakers in the rear.

The hard top is lined in light vinyl headlining to the uprights and dark vinyl to the roof panel. The overall condition is very good indeed and delightfully period correct.

The carpets have been replaced fairly recently and have insulating foam underneath. A lift of the carpets shows solid floor panels and just a hint of the car’s original Signal Red colour.

Being a post-1980 facelift car, this 380SL features the sought-after 3.8L V8 engine and four speed automatic gearbox combination. These enhancements provided useful improvements in economy and driveability over the earlier 350SL and is a drivetrain that suits the relaxed yet powerful ambiance of the car very well indeed.

Originally rated at 215bhp and 221 Ib.ft of torque, this powerplant gives the SL a good turn of speed capable of 130mph+ where conditions allow. The torquey and tuneful V8 is probably best suited, however, to comfortable cruising with the top down and the sun shining.

The engine bay exhibits the original Mercedes Benz data plates, detailing the various specification codes, the VIN and the permitted vehicle weights. Whilst in good overall condition - and well maintained mechanically - the engine bay could be further improved cosmetically with a bit of time spent.

The underside of the car appears to be well undersealed to preserve and promote its longevity. This gives it a presentation and condition which belies the age and mileage of the car and should prove a reassurance for future owners. As should the fitment of a quality and long-lasting Powerflow stainless exhaust system.

This 380SL comes with a good amount of paperwork covering the car’s life including past MOTs and garage bills.

The SL’s last MOT expired back in April but of course as an historic vehicle it is now exempt. As you will probably know if you’re a regular reader, we still encourage classic car owners to get an independent check of roadworthiness each year should they ever be called upon to provide proof.

The original owner’s manual and service booklet are also present - complete with the build data card attached showing all the factory options. The service book contains a number of stamps, validating maintenance from main dealers and independents. The last service stamp was from 2008 at Mercedes in Exeter - although there has been ongoing oil and filter services since.

As already mentioned, the current owner has spent around £4k on the car over the past year. The largest single expenditure was the new soft top with other costs for refurbishing the idle valve, replacing dampers all round with Bilsteins, front dust covers and bump stops, like for like radio replacement and SL Shop window seals.

The Mercedes-Benz SL has long been a sought-after staple of the classic car market. Their hard to match combination of style, efficiency and engineering integrity appeals to the enthusiast who listens to both heart and head. That’s a rare commodity and has helped launch earlier SL model prices into the stratosphere.

The R107 offers the same rare blend of attributes but with the significant advantage of being available at a much more attainable price point. Alongside the MGB, the R107 is probably the model we see passing through our hands the most.

This is a great-looking example, which runs and drives well but still offers the new owner a chance to make ongoing changes or improvements should they wish.

It’s a great opportunity to get behind the wheel of a classic V8-powered SL.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; 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’.