1984 Mercedes-Benz 380SL

Description

We've sold a lot of R107 Mercedes-Benz SLs, and the one thing we've learned is that they're all good cars. Those that rise to the top are like this 1984 380SL with a great color combination and careful ownership to make them delightful hobby vehicles.

Still looking like you need to be wealthy to own one, this 380SL neatly bridges the practical and the whimsical. A two-seat convertible isn't exactly what you think of when you imagine a sensible vehicle, but given the indestructible build quality and timeless good looks, there are certainly much worse places to park some money. The white paint isn't a cop magnet like bright red might be, but the elegant and restrained styling wears it better than most cars of its age and there can't be many cars that are more widely recognized as the ultimate status symbol than an SL. Fit and finish are quite good, as you'd expect from Mercedes-Benz, and the paint has held up well over the past three decades. The federalized bumpers are so ubiquitous now that we hardly even notice them on these cars, and with the top; down, it definitely casts a dashing profile. It's impossible not to look good in this car.

The dark blue leather interior is a welcome upgrade over the usual MB-TEX vinyl, and while it shows some signs of use and age on the driver's seat, quality materials have held up in the long run. Plus carpets were another ingredient in making this car look and feel luxurious and those are real wood inlays on the center console. Big, bold instruments were the same throughout R107 production, as was the giant steering wheel that feels substantial in your hands. Features include automatic climate control, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, and its original Becker Grand Prix AM/FM/cassette stereo system that still sounds pretty good. All SLs were convertibles, of course, and they all came with removable hardtops, which seals up as tightly as a closed car for inclement weather. It also includes a nice-fitting convertible top that stows surprisingly easily and the trunk is beautifully upholstered in more of that deep pile carpet.

The 380SL was powered by a 3.8 liter V8 engine that was smaller than most but made up for it with a broad torque curve and impeccable road manners. The SOHC engine pulls eagerly from almost any speed, although the SL's forte is, and always has been, luxurious grand touring at high speeds, and for that the little V8 is ideally suited. The engine bay shows signs of conscientious maintenance throughout and runs superbly. Service records are available for most of its 84,000 miles and if you're familiar with these cars, you understand that 84K really isn't much at all. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission gives this SL very long legs on the highway and makes this among the best vehicles for long road trips. The underside is exceptionally clean thanks to a lifetime of living down south where the weather is kind to steel, and the burbling exhaust system is just the right mix of bravado and sophistication. Factory alloys should look familiar to Mercedes-Benz fans and they carry recent 14-inch Michelin radials.

Documented with owner's manuals, maintenance records, and an original warranty card, this is a nicely preserved SL that's still ready to live the good life. Call today!