1986 Mercedes-Benz 280SL

First registered on the 31st of December 1986 and resprayed and lightly recommissioned in 2013, this stunning black-over-black Mercedes-Benz 280SL shows why this colour scheme is one of the classics.

Almost certainly in storage between 2006 and 2013, it has been in the care of the vendor since 2016. Offered with a good body and a strong engine, it is now in need of some TLC to enable it to fulfill its considerable potential,

As a result, we’ve set the guide price at what we think is a very reasonable level and, even better, the vendor has agreed to trust you lot to play nicely with his toy and is happy to offer it with no reserve, which means it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Black might be an timeless colour for a classic sports car but it is notoriously unforgiving, highlighting even the slightest blemish or flaw. But, that’s okay in this instance because this is a very well-maintained example indeed. Resprayed in 2013 and the recipient of a lot of new trim pieces at the same time (please see the attached invoices for details), it’s weathered the intervening years very well – but then it has only covered around 1,200 miles in that time!

So, it is still showing good shutlines and panel gaps. Its flanks are free of ripples and car-park dinks, and the lower-body trim all still aligns very well. The black paintwork has maintained a good gloss and sheen as well, and the rubber trim betwixt panels and glass all looks to be above average.

The chromework is good too, and its silver gleam sets off that gloss black coachwork to perfection. The SL’s presentation is further enhanced with good numberplates, clean and clear glazing, good front light lenses, and bright badges; in fact, it all hangs together beautifully and needs little other than continued maintenance and polishing bar for the odd tiny bubble in areas such as the offside corner of the boot lid (photo #7) and nearside rear wing (#14), and the odd scratch here and there (e.g. #71).

The 15-inch alloy wheels look terrific and they’re shod with tyres that have plenty of tread, even if they’re a bit of a mixed bunch of 205/65R15s. There are a pair of Pirelli P1 Cinturatos in among ‘em and if it were ours we’d be tempted to buy another pair to make the full set.

The hardtop is painted black to match the body, and is in good shape. It’s true that some of the rubber seals could do with replacing at your leisure but the overall fit and finish is very good and its presence does, of course, dramatically extend the SL’s usefulness across all four seasons. 

The black folding hood is ripped and torn (#55, #56 and #57), and the hood frame is not to the same high standard as the rest of the car, so we can see the new owner might want to replace the hood and refurbish the frame at some point.

Other cosmetic work includes an offside rear light lense to replace the patinated one that is currently fitted (#8) as well as a new offside front bumper trim piece (#23).

This all sounds like a lot but it isn’t not really. It’s just a list of the little things that would benefit from replacing and improving as and when funds and motivation collide.

The interior is typically R107, which is to say it’s simple, beautifully ergonomic and has survived decades of use better than almost anything else of the same period would have.

This longevity means that the seats – including the optional rear seats, which might be small but are useful nonetheless - are still firm and comfortable.

The walnut veneer trim is still pretty good too, as are the carpets and door cards, even if the latter two could do with a good clean.

A modern Pioneer CD player and radio combination has been fitted in the dashboard and there’s also an electric aerial in the boot.

It’s not perfect though. The tears you can see on the front seats let down an otherwise decent interior, as does the area behind the rear seats and the inside of the boot. The floorpans also have a smattering of surface rust on them underneath the carpets and there are some small cracks in some of the minor trim pieces.

But, as with the imperfections on the exterior, none of it would put us off and all of it could all be solved fairly easily and cheaply over the coming months and years. After all, a lot of the pleasure many of us gain from our classic cars comes as much from the fettling as it does the driving.

The recommissioning the SL underwent in 2013-14 included a new radiator and water pump plus a part-exhaust system, reconditioned brake calipers, new fuel and heater hoses, a replacement fuel pump and many other bits and bobs; please see the invoices for details.

There are plenty of receipts for earlier work in the nineties and noughties (please see the numerous stamps in the service history booklet) and more recent work includes front discs and pads in 2017 and a full service in October 2019. There looks to be a recent battery under the bonnet, too.

The engine bay is neat and decently presented but the overall appearance is workmanlike rather than pretty. More importantly, as you can see on the video, the 2.8-litre, straight-six engine starts and runs very well indeed, starting on the button and quickly settling into a steady tickover thanks to that reliable fuel injection system. It revs well too, and shows good oil pressure on the gauge – and just listen to the wonderfully hard-edged exhaust note.

The underside looks to be very solid and protected by a neatly applied coat of underseal. That said, there are a few isolated areas that would repay closer inspection, like those shown in photos #137 and #154.

The SL’s MOT certificate, which is valid until February 2022, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s no stranger to.

It has a number of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years plus its owner’s handbook, a well-stamped service history, and an instruction manual for the Pioneer headunit.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

The R107 Mercedes-Benz SL is a staple of the classic car world for many reasons, not least its durability and reliability. It’s also relatively cheap and easy to service and maintain, and the fact that it is so effortless elegant doesn’t harm its cause any.

And yet, despite its many attributes, it’s still very reasonably priced.

Take this one, for example. In a good condition and sporting what might be the very best colour scheme of them all, we think it will only sell for somewhere between £11,000 and £16,000, which is remarkable value even given the current market and the need for a little TLC to ease it back to its former glory.

Plus, don’t forget that it’s being sold with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid no matter how derisory that might be.

Nor does the good news end there because while the price of good Mercedes R107s has yet to take off in the way we expect them to in due course, we still think they should be a safe place to put your money in the medium- to long-term, which might help the argument for this one should your other half not share your passion for classic German sports cars.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market 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’.