Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster

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The 1971 Mercedes-Benz SL took off where its gorgeous ‘Pagoda’ predecessor left off – although to be frank, the new 107 Series offered a far more practical ownership experience than its prettier antecedent ever could.

Eventually offered in a range of engine sizes, it was initially sold in V8 form only (350 and 450SL), although the extra engine capacity didn’t add much power, but torque took a big leap and allowed it to be fitted with a much taller rear axle ratio. And it was this that cemented the SL as even more of an open-topped cruiser than the cars that came before.

In 1974 the SL received the 2.8-litre twin-cam to become the 280SL, a very capable car that encouraged new customers into the Mercedes-Benz camp who had previously shied away from the higher running costs associated with the V8 models. With 185bhp on tap and a top speed of 124mph, it was also virtually as quick as its 350SL V8 predecessor (200bhp and 125mph).

Dating from February 1985, this particular 280 has had just four owners from new, the last owning it since 2002, and has covered some 110,000 miles to date. Looking superb after a recent repaint in the original gold with a matching hard top, it has a beige leather interior and a dark brown soft top, again in good condition. Said to drive beautifully, it comes with an MOT until January 2015.