Vehicle Description
For those of you just joining the old car hobby, you can scarcely
do better than an R107 Mercedes-Benz SL of any kind. Handsome,
durable, fun to drive, and with great parts availability, they are
easy cars to own. Even better, most folks still think they cost a
fortune, so showing up in one of these makes you look like an
A-lister. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone how little this 1985
380SL really costs.
Almost everyone in the world can draw one of these from memory, and
throughout the '80s, you couldn't go out in the sun without seeing
one. Today, however, finding a good one isn't so easy, because
they, like most cars of the period, were susceptible to the dreaded
tin worm just like everything else. Fortunately, this one has led
an easy life with a long-term owner and shows none of the issues
that you see on cars that were used for daily transport. The paint
was refinished back in the early 2000s and remains in fine order
and the sheetmetal underneath is quite straight save for a small
bump on the tail panel by the taillight. Fantastic build quality is
a big part of these car's appeal and a key to their longevity, and
you can feel it just by closing one of the doors. The dark blue
paint gives it a sleek, subtle look that ideally suits the
2-seater, a grown-up look that doesn't need to resort to flash to
make a statement. You'll also note that the rubber bumpers are in
excellent shape and not cooked by the sun and the chrome remains
shiny.
The gray seats are in good shape thanks to the durable MB-Tex
upholstery that wears like iron. The natural wood on the dash adds
a luxurious warmth to the interior and remains in fantastic
condition with minimal wear and none of the expected signs of age.
The seats are firm and comfortable for all-day cruising, and
supportive enough for the spirited driving for which this car is
intended. By 1985, most of these came loaded with every available
convenience feature, including automatic climate control (A/C is
ice cold!), power windows and locks, and even a rear defroster for
the removable hardtop. Heck, even the original Becker
AM/FM/cassette stereo is still in the dash! It's also worth noting
that the convertible top is in excellent shape and the hardtop
seals it up as well as a coupe.
The 3.8 liter V8 was downsized from the earlier 4.5 liter unit, but
gives up only 7 horsepower (215 vs. 222). As a result, the 380
feels more agile thanks to a lighter front end, yet still zips
around town with ease and hammers down the interstate at
supra-legal speeds. The car has always been properly maintained and
the critical timing chain upgrade has already been performance, and
as a result, this is an SL will last practically forever if you
keep it up. The automatic transmission shifts properly and the car
has that same firm but supple feel in the suspension that makes it
feel confident under almost any conditions. Familiar Mercedes-Benz
"pie crust" alloys were chrome plated, which is a nice upgrade, and
carry brand new 205/70/14 Michelin blackwall radials.
With manuals and long-term ownership, this is the SL that you can
buy without worries. Enjoy one of the smartest buys in the hobby
today and call now!