Gateway Classic Cars of Tampa is proud to offer this beautiful 1983
Mercedes Benz 380 SEC. These 2 door hardtop Sport Coupes are cool
for a variety of reasons. Big options list, V8 power, luxury and
comfort like a big 4 door car, and a cool 2 door sporty styling all
add to the 380 SEC appeal. The V8 engine 234 cuib inch V8 engine
puts down 194 horsepower and 218 lb-ft of torque which is plenty to
get this car moving. The V8 engine is backed by a smooth shifting 4
speed automatic transmission which makes this a great driving
experience. 11,267 of these cars were built in a 4 year span making
them rare enough to be desirable and stand out from the crowd. This
Mercedes has the original engine and tranmission and a clean CarFax
showing service records and documented mileage. Mercedes-Benz
Coupes have always embodied elegance in motion. The S-Class based
coupes are the choicest examples of these highly desirable
vehicles. When introduced, the 126 based two-door was not seen so
much as a car, but as an extension of a lifestyle that was often
characterized by beauty and elegance. The SEC Coupes, internally
known as the C 126 series, were introduced by Mercedes-Benz at the
Frankfurt International Motor Show in September of 1981. They were
a big departure from the previous SL based coupes; the SLC. The SEC
was based on the 126 series S-Class sedan, but with a frame and
floor assembly that had been shortened by 85 millimeters. Even with
the reduction in length, the SECs were luxury tourers fully capable
of seating four adults. Their design rendered them unmistakable as
anything other than a Mercedes-Benz. At the time, Bruno Sacco was
the Head of Design. With the SEC, his team produced a vehicle with
perfect lines that seamlessly integrated into the Mercedes-Benz
passenger car range. One major styling point was the grill. The
horizontal radiator grill, with a large central star, had been a
feature of the large Mercedes-Benz coupes since the 1950s. The star
was also used on the SEC. Unlike some garish trinkets of the
aftermarket world, the star fit the SEC as a natural adornment. The
stylish looks of the SEC were coupled with technically advanced
designs, exclusive equipment, powerful engines and cutting edge
safety equipment. The chassis is one example of its advanced
design. The sophisticated S-Class chassis is renowned for
unparalleled ride quality. Aside from a few minor details, the SEC
chassis is identical to that of its S-Class sibling. The double
wishbone front suspension and patented multilink rear keep the car
firmly planted while absorbing road irregularities. The resulting
ride quality is outstanding. As was the case in the 126 based
S-Class, the interior of the SEC was ergonomically designed and
made with the finest materials available. This combination of ride
quality and luxury appointments, allows SEC occupants to feel as
refreshed after a long journey as they do after short trips. The
SEC was state-of-the-art in terms of safety technology. Its
pillarless coupe design required additional strengthening over its
S-Class sibling. To compensate for the missing B-pillars, the roof
frame was improved and the A-pillars were fortified with welded in,
high strength tubing. The rest of the body was designed in line
with the latest safety research findings, and the front passengers
were protected by something new; airbags. The 126 series was the
first German car offered with a driver's side airbag and belt
tensioners. On the early models, a driver's side airbag and a
passenger side belt tensioner were both optional. A front passenger
airbag was made available as part of the 1985 upgrade. In addition
to these interior features, additional safety features such as the
automatic locking differential (ASD) and skid control (ASR) ensured
optimum power transmission on all surfaces. The SEC line was
available exclusively with eight-cylinder engines. Located in our
Tampa Showroom, this 380 SEC can be seen in greated detail
including HD pictures and videos at www.GatewayClassicCars.com. For
immediate assistance please call 813-645-6200 or email
[email protected].
