For Sale: 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

1971 Mercedes Benz 280SL

It's now been more than 60 years that the Mercedes-Benz SL sports cars have been featured in Hollywood movies. Bet you can't name the first use. Could well be 1958's The Screaming Skull with John Hudson and Peggy Weber. Don't look for it on the Oscar list. But there were great SL movies too, like On the Beach, High Society, Bullitt, Play Misty for Me, Viva Las Vegas, Beverly Hills Cop, The Bucket List...and, would you believe, The Simpsons.

This early 1970's tri pointed "star" has come to us for consignment and deserves a look if you are even half a Mercedes Benz aficionado and the Pagoda styling. A thin styled body, 2 seats, and a removable hardtop and sporty 170ci inline 6 cylinder and you are in "Sports Light" (sport leicht in the mother country language) heaven.

Exterior
The styling on these cars is just too cool. This particular car bathed in Dark Olive paint, which presents very nicely with just a few faults and marks gained over time of usage. The trim, and bumper chrome is excellent all with a mirror like shine, and all present and accounted for. Love the lines of this pagoda top, all surrounded with lots of nice trim and its curved sweeping top exemplary of its namesake. No rust on this exterior to note, and standard Mercedes 14-inch wheel covers all around. Noted for the exterior to our purists out there we have viewed an invoice from a body shop which itemizes repairs to this car which include repair damage that encompasses passenger side front quarter and wheel well, hood, door skin, radiator support, radiator, grille shell, headlight and bezel along with a frame straightening on the right front and a respray to match the remainder of the car. These repairs were performed we surmise sometime on the mid 90's and were to the tune of $11,000.00. This information is being provided in full disclosure and is important to the history of this car.

Interior
Original door panels covered with black textured MB Tex are peppered with chromed shiny trimmings in levers knobs and sliding locks. The bucket seats are wearing a nice patina but still present well and give ample support. The dash is original and has dual circular gauges and a central vertical panel with more gauges and some warning lights. Looking at the dash top, it is padded with no cracks, and just below is a trim strip of textured aluminum, then a strip of olive green, then more padding for the leg area. A Frigiking A/C unit hangs below the dash. Hanging above is a perforated pattern white headliner which is tight, and faded green carpeting covers the floors and rear storage areas.

Drivetrain
Under the hood a non-original 170ci inline 6-cylinder engine sits in an original condition engine bay. We surmise the engine was changed after the damage to this car was sustained, but this is not confirmed. This engine is fuel injected and has a 4-speed automatic transmission attached to the back and a 4.08 gear rear axle.

Undercarriage
Small areas of surface rust are noted throughout but all unremarkable. Some repairs to a floorpan on the passenger side are seen. Frame is solid and overall undercarriage is clean. Independent coil springs for the front suspension, and an independent single joint, low pivot swing rear axle is used with a transverse compensator spring in place of a sway bar. Power disc brakes are on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability
This car started quickly, and it was off in a flash to the test track where it handled all the inputs swimmingly. Good solid handling, nice acceleration and good stopping power with the power discs. We did not note anything inoperable.

A nice example with just a bit of history that may be important or may not, as this car seems all buttoned up now, and looking like it did in 1971 with some usage. Either way a beautiful example from a good year for this car in looks and power, all in the pagoda style...schnell!

VIN DECODE
11304412019827
113-SL
044-280SL
1-Left Hand Drive
2-Automatic Transmission
019827-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 500 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.