For Sale: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL in Concord, North Carolina

Long-term ownership, highly original, good maintenance, both tops, and a true V8 cruiser style - this 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL is the affordable drop-top luxury classic that has everything you want.

Mercedes built these R107 SLs correctly from day one, so if you find a well-preserved example like this, age is barely a factor. Super straight sheet metal, complete trim, and German-engineered precision in the panel fit tell you that you're looking at a proper classic Mercedes. In fact, the odometer is believed to reflect the full actual mileage, which works out to averaging under 2,600 miles annually. Plus, the paint is believed to be the original application, and nearly 40 years later, it still has the right shine to get attention. So while some people may see the value price as a way to lever room in your budget for upgrades and personalization, many of us revel in a car that can only be original once. Even the details are nice with the brown pinstripe and iconic factory alloys. Capping off this premium appearance is a nice brown folding roof, and there's also a color-matched hardtop whenever you want a coupe-like profile.

While having two roof options makes this car ideal, we all know these SLs are best when topless. So it's nice to have the brown leather interior match the exterior pinstripe. It's highly stock and well-maintained for its age/mileage. That's because this classic is coming off of a quarter-century under the same owner. But what also makes this car desirable is it retains all the features that make it a true luxury machine. This includes conveniences such as power windows, cruise control, provisions for air conditioning (it will need servicing,) and the correct Becker AM/FM/cassette stereo.

The 3.8-liter fuel-injected V8 is one of those ideal powerhouses with an overhead cam design that knows how to make good torque even at the low end. That's how these Mercedes-Benzes know how to pull away from every stoplight with authority. Out on the highway, the four-speed automatic shifts with authority all the way into overdrive comfort. The fully-independent suspension soaks up bumps with a comfortable feeling that somehow never isolates the sporting nature that's entertaining on a twisty country road. This is the perfect weekend getaway car as the miles are effortless thanks to features like power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes.

Complete with maintenance records, this is affordable vintage luxury with timeless appeal. So don't miss this SL. Call now!