1982 Mercedes-Benz SL 380

This particular SL is a post-tune (1982) 380 SL finished in the attractive shade of Gold, over an unusual yet well-suited terracotta cloth interior with plaid seat inserts.

This SL has been used sparingly by our vendor and current owner, keeping it dry-stored throughout his ownership and using the car on weekends only.

They also undertook a more substantial road trip to Duxford in the vehicle, with no reported faults or issues arising from the car. That shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, though, as these SL’s are famed for their longevity and mechanical prowess.

With extensive mechanical work in recent years to improve the usability of the car, this is an SL that is not only in very good condition, but also mechanically sound too - the good news just keeps coming!

Finished in the distinctly 70s / 80s shade of gold with a matching hardtop and contrasting brown soft-top, this SL would like right at home on any period film set or Hollywood boulevard.

The bodywork is straight throughout as far as we could tell, with no particularly noticeable dents, dings or scuffs noted during our inspection, other than a dent on the NSR wing, which is causing the bumper trim to protrude slightly.

Looking closer, there are some scuff marks visible on the outer rubber bumper trims, particularly on both front corners, though this is largely invisible until up-close.

Elsewhere, there is some bubbling noted on the upper nearside front wing, along with a corrosion hole behind the headlight on the side. There is also a patch of bubbling on the nearside door, near the front edge - all of which has been documented in the extensive photo gallery below.

The matching hardtop is in very good condition, with the matching paint suggesting it is the original item. The chrome trims are all in good order with only some light usage marks and patina, along with a couple of very small bubbling patches (still underneath the paintwork) along the rear lower corners.

The hard-top disengaged correctly during our photo shoot, with no mechanism issues noted.

The contrasting brown soft-top also presents very well, though it looks to have been barely used in recent years, judging by the level of storage creases, which will eventually minimise with regular use and some light heat application.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the rear central pin to lock and engage correctly during our photo shoot, though this is a common issue on these SL’s and there are plenty of aftermarket experts and enthusiasts to give advice, and this could also be simply due to lack of use.

That said, though there are a few minor issues that need some TLC, the overall impression is that this SL has been well kept throughout its life, and is a very good example indeed in terms of bodywork.

Finished in an attractive shade of Terracotta with contrasting seat inserts and wood trim, this SL is every inch the executive GT roadster, and the cabin is an excellent place to soak up the miles.

Let’s get the obvious out the way first - the driver’s seat base is in need of repair, with significant wear and tear visible, though the foams still appear to be in good order and providing support, so it may simply be a case of getting it re-covered. Unusually, there also appears to be over-spray on the driver’s headrest.

Other than the driver’s seat, however, there is little in the way of major wear. The wooden inserts are all in good order with minimal signs of use, whilst even high-traffic areas such as the shifter, steering wheel and door cards are in very good condition indeed.

There are a couple of marks here-and-there as you’d expect from a car of this age and mileage, but again the overall feeling is a car that needs a little love to take to the next level on the occasional weekend or over the winter, rather than requiring any significant attention.

The driver’s side door card trim has a couple of loose parts around the upper handle area, whilst the rear luggage space has some marks, but a thorough valet and steam clean may assist in this area.

Up above, the hard top and soft top roof are both in very good shape, again with only a few light stains that shouldn’t prove too tricky to remedy with some professional products and some good old-fashioned elbow grease.

The vendor notes that the central locking system is not in full working order due to a vacuum hose leak on the driver’s side, but otherwise there are no reported faults with the cabin.

Underneath the car, the chassis is in good order, and there are numerous new-looking suspension components that back up the recent mechanical work.

Typically, there is some flaking paint and surface corrosion which we’d expect to see, but we couldn’t find anything that gave any cause for concern in our opinion. This would also be reinforced by the recent MoT exam in May 2021, which shows a first-time pass with only one minor advisory for a slight exhaust leak in the central area.

During our photoshoot, we could not get the car to start from its battery or from a booster, but it would start from another car. A new battery will be required. We also found that the ignition barrel jammed occasionally, but we always managed to free it by wiggling the key slightly.

However, once the car was running, it seemed perfectly happy to sit and idle, shuffle around and drive, steer and stop over the short distance we drove it. There did seem to be a slight rubbing sound coming from the front end of the engine whilst idling, but it is unclear what the cause of this was, and it seemed to phase in-and-out randomly.

Included with the car are two folders of history.

All of the documentation is photographed and available to view below, but we’ve picked out a few important highlights for those that don’t like sifting through pages and pages of paperwork:

The V5 is present, showing just two former keepers

The latest service took place in late 2019, and also included a steering box overhaul, some welding, replacement of the main oil seal, a new thermostat, new front calipers, new front discs and pads and a brake fluid change, at a cost of £3,093

In May 2018, the belts were all replaced, along with a standard oil and filter change, plus a new cylinder head gasket at a cost of £490.

There are also numerous handbooks, manuals and instruction booklets for both the car and its systems.

The R107 is arguably one of the most timeless designs to ever come out of Stuttgart, thanks to its excellent styling, range of engines and trims, mechanical longevity and the fact it proved a hit with both driving enthusiasts and Hollywood’s elite alike - it really was a Mercedes for all of society.

This particular 1982, post-tune example is finished in an attractive colour combination, and benefits from very low ownership and recent mechanical expenditure, meaning all it needs is a new battery before its ready to use and enjoy, yet still offers room for the next owner to take it to the next level, should they choose to do so.

Given both the current condition and the future potential that this example boasts, we estimate a value in the region of £15,000 to £20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’