1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL

Finished in Pearl Grey Metallic with a full black leather interior, this delightfully presented Mercedes-Benz 380SL is so wonderfully period that it even has the original Becker Mexico ‘Electronic’ radio cassette player.

It was first registered in Edinburgh in November 1982 by a Mr John Menzies – and if the name seems familiar it’s probably because it is the very same chap who owned the largest chain of bookshops/newsagents in the UK at the time.

It went on to have a few more owners before being sold to a Mr Ian Chrystal of Fife. He bought it with just 43,000 miles on the clock and went on to keep it for the next 20 years. The car had a full Mercedes-Benz service history at the time he bought it but he passed its care on to his own mechanics, who serviced and repaired it from that time on.

Sadly, Mr Chrystal died in 2009 and the car was sold to the Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. Mr Vettriano is clearly a man of impeccable taste as he passed it on to Prestige Car Bodies, the well-regarded Scottish body shop and garage, to have them restore the car’s bodywork.

The car’s mileage was 99,500 at this point. The artist owner took delivery of his newly refurbished Mercedes, drove it for 20 miles - and then put it under a car cover in dry storage and never drove it again…

It then passed to another private owner before being bought by the vendor in April last year. He again fell under its spell, spending another £13,000 on it to bring it to the condition you see today.

Freshly and expensively resprayed in the Mercedes-Benz colour of Pearl Grey Metallic, the car had been previously restored with new panels, Diamond Blue paintwork, and chromework when in the care of Jack Vettriano, and this earlier work has been built on with some more localised repairs prior to the recent change of colour.

The glass-out respray and remedial work has left the SL looking fabulous, with shiny, glossy paintwork and tight, even panel gaps. There’s a new front spoiler there too, plus some fresh seals to finish it off.

The folding fabric roof is in fine condition too, being free of rips and tears. The rear three-quarter plastic windows are a little milky but they’re still clear and the roof itself has many years life left in it. There’s also a wind deflector for ruffle-free motoring.

The removeable hardtop is still in fabulous condition. It has had some new chrome fitted, which helps lift it even further.

The 15-inch alloy wheels are in good condition, being free of any electrolytic corrosion and any signs of kerbing or other damage. They’re shod with matching Nexen tyres too, all of which have plenty of tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our 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 an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

The only issues for the new owner to sort is the central hood catch, which needs a minor adjustment in order to better release the hood.

There is a slight rubbing mark on the nearside corner of the front bumper rubber and a couple of nicks out of the offside section, so we can see that the new owner might like to consider replacing the rubber trim to bring this area up to the same high standard as the rest of the vehicle.

The black leather upholstery is in very good condition having been recently refurbished. It is still being supple and supportive and looks terrific.

The wood veneer trim is in a good condition, as are the carpets (which are protected by Mercedes over-mats) and door cards.

The centre armrest is new, having been bought from Germany late last year. There are new sunvisors too, plus that wonderful Becker Mexico ‘Electronic’ radio cassette player.

The boot is very well presented. Home to the tool kit and spare wheel (with matching Nexen tyre…) lifting the carpets shows only solid, rust-free metal.

Everything works, including the notoriously fickle electric mirrors.

Work to do? Well, if we’re being finicky the nearside rear trim card has some wear to it near the handle, the headlining of the folding roof is grubby, and the plastic wear protector on the lower section of both seatbelts is scuffed.

Other than that, there is a little wear to the outer edge of the driver’s seat bolster but we think you could just chalk it all up to patina and get on with enjoying it.

The servicing regimen is as impressive as the rest of the car, and is recorded in the service history booklet as follows:

• 19.11.1982 and 754 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• 09.02.1983 and 6,264 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• 20.06.1983 and 12,304 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• Unreadable and 19,078 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• 25.10.1984 and 23,692 miles - service by DJR Motors

• 01.10.1985 and 29,898 miles – service by DJR Motors

• 06.10.1986 and 43,923 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• 23.07.1987 and 42,342 miles – service by DJR Motors

• 05.02.2002 and 99,709 miles – service by Western Automobile Co. Ltd

• 05.01.2009 and 99,233 miles – service plus brake fluid and coolant by MP Supercars

The SL has also had a lot of new front suspension and steering components very recently, plus some work to the engine (including a new timing chain and tensioner) and cooling and braking systems.

It’s had a full four-wheel alignment as well; please see the invoices for details but rest assured that the work has left the car driving beautifully, pulling and changing gear very well and feeling nice and tight with no clunks or rattles.

A previous owner, Mr Chrystal, had the car overhauled in preparation for a European trip in 2002 and there are two Mercedes invoices for this work that total almost £3,000. The mileage at this time was 97,153 and the owner covered around 1500 miles around Europe in it, after which the Mercedes was garaged and barely used prior to his death.

The engine bay is very nicely presented, and has been fitted with new underbonnet sound insulation. The underside looks to be strong, solid and neatly protected with underseal.

Faults? Well, there is a slight tick from the engine but we’re pretty sure that this is just an accessory drive or similar rather than anything more fundamental or serious.

27/08 - Update from the seller:  "When the new timing chain was fitted, I asked the mechanics opinion on the engine and I was advised the engine was strong with no issues."

The SL’s MOT certificate, which is valid until June 2021, was gained without a single advisory point.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys.

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 very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

This wonderfully presented Mercedes-Benz R107 380SL has had a small fortune spent on it in recent years, an investment that has left it fully fettled and ready to face the next four decades with equanimity.

And, condition aside, we rather like the Jack Vettriano’s connection – and while it isn’t going to add much in the way of extra value, it’s great talking point...

That said we’re valuing it at somewhere between £17,000 and £23,000 based on its condition alone – and that represents remarkable value given the £13,000 the vendor has put into it ion the past year or so.

Plus, the price of good Mercedes R107s has been steadily rising in recent years and we think they’re always going to provide a safe place to put your money.

Viewing is always encouraged, 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’.