Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster

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Bullet-proof reliability, bahn-storming performance and timeless good looks – if any car can be called an instant classic, then this is surely it. 

Produced from 1971 to 1989, the Mercedes-Benz W107 SL series was a massive hit when new and continues to be highly sought after to this day. Made in the days when Mercedes still deserved its reputation for outstanding build quality, the cars came in a wide range of engine sizes from 2.8-litre sixes to 5-litre V8s.

It may have been the baby of the SL range, but the 280 was still a supremely capable motorcar with an excellent blend of performance and economy from its smooth straight-six engine that produced 182bhp and 176lb/ft of torque. More economical than the larger V8 models, it was still respectably quick with a top speed of 125mph and a 0-60 time of 9.6 seconds. Always a popular model, it remained in production from 1974 until 1985.

Dating from August 1983, this particular car looks most attractive in Petrol Blue with a grey MB-Tex interior. With some 134,000 miles on the clock, the car comes with a comprehensive service history going right back to 1989 which shows that it was regularly maintained by Mercedes main agents up to 106,000 miles in 2001, with subsequent servicing by independent specialists.

When purchased by the previous owner from 107 specialists The SL Shop in August 2012 (at considerably more than the guide price suggested today), it had just undergone a thorough pre-sale check and full service with any minor niggles attended to. Since then it has only covered around 2,000 miles and was last serviced in August 2013 by Steels of Hereford just a few hundred miles ago. A new battery and windscreen were also recently fitted.

The vendor purchased the car from us earlier this year as a gift for his wife but she finds it a bit too extrovert for her tastes and prefers to use her VW Polo instead (!) hence the reason for sale. MOTd until June 2015 and taxed until September, the car is said to drive beautifully and comes with a Toad alarm/immobiliser, two sets of keys and a car cover. We only hope the new owner will appreciate it rather more than the last one…