Spectacular Dark Maroon (code 460G) 280SL. 39,643 original miles. Matching numbers with data cards. Two owners from new, second owner since 1972. Two tops, stunning fresh interior, one show-quality repaint.
This lovely Dark Maroon (it is NOT brown) 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has a wonderful story to tell. It was repainted a few years ago, an extremely high-quality job that replicates the original code 460G Dark Maroon finish, which is indeed a lovely dark plum burgundy color that’s simply gorgeous in person. With high-quality original sheetmetal underneath, there was no need for major surgery and this car has never seen the snow, so rust is a non-issue. Sight down the flanks and you’ll find no ripples or waves, just clear, undistorted reflections that make this car look spectacular. For those of you asking about the infamous “notches” by the headlights, they’re there but barely visible following the repaint, but the car’s quality speaks for itself and this is not an area you need to worry about—it has never been hit or damaged. The chrome is beautiful for being 47 years old, although a few replacements were made during the repaint, including the headlight bezels.
The remarkable tan interior was replaced a few years ago and still looks almost new. There's hardly a scuff or a stretch mark on any of the seating surfaces and the carpets show almost zero wear. The door panels are wrinkle-free with tidy little map pockets whose elastic is still holding taut—nice! The wood accents on top of the dash are in very good condition with no fading or delamination and even the pad is not cracked and backed by the sun; obviously this car has never been stored outdoors. The steering wheel is not cracked, the instruments are fully operational, and even the original Becker Europa AM/FM radio works like it should. Only the clock is inoperable, but that's not really a surprise in any old car. Under the dash you'll find the Kugelfischer A/C unit, which is also functional, although it could probably use a shot of Freon to return to top performance. The tan canvas convertible top was replaced several years ago and is still in almost-new condition. The removable hardtop is in original condition with original paint in fantastic condition and you can see just how precisely the repaint matches the original finish. The trunk is equally well preserved, showing its original rubber mat, matching spare tire with cover, and a correct jack assembly.
It's powered by the original, numbers-matching engine and it matches the data card, so there's no question about its provenance. With a known history dating back to almost new, we can also say with confidence that the engine has never been out of the car and it has always been properly maintained. Fittings, hardware, and the important firewall pad are all original pieces that demonstrate just how good this car really is, and all the spot welds are highly visible along the fender lines. It's clean, but not detailed for show, but a car like this deserves to be driven, not pushed on and off a trailer to sit on a golf course. Turn the key and within five seconds it's smoothly humming at 1000 RPM and ready to play. There's plenty of torque on hand to make the SL feel energetic, but it never feels rushed or hurried, making it a fantastic high-speed cruiser for covering vast distances in a single stretch. There's a brawny exhaust note that only a big-bore inline-6 can deliver and I'm firmly of the opinion that the 4-speed automatic transmission is the best option on these cars, making them comfortable in any situation, whether it's hustling down a country road or commuting to work with you on a summer's day.
The undercarriage is in the same condition as the engine bay: original, solid, but not detailed for show. Obviously it has never seen inclement weather where salt was a factor and the floors, rockers, and other structural members are 100% intact and in excellent condition. The transmission shifts cleanly, if a bit firmly, but that's how they all work, and the independent rear end is not a leaker, a common malady that's often expensive to put right. And perhaps most remarkably, it's still wearing its original exhaust system, another clue to an easy life out of the elements and in the hands of a very responsible and caring owner. Steel wheels with color-matched hubcaps and recent Goodyear radials look period-appropriate.
Documentation includes the original manuals, data cards, and other factory paperwork.
We've sold quite a few of these cars, and this might be the best we've seen yet. The color combination is sophisticated and elegant, the preservation is flat-out astounding, and the pedigree is bulletproof. Yes, you can complain that the notches are not 100% visible, but if you skip this car because of a detail like that just because the internet tells you it's important, well, you'll be missing out on one heck of a special SL. There's a reason these cars have skyrocketed in value over the past five or six years, and it's not just because they're pretty. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
