Description
Offered for sale is an exceptionally clean, honest and solid 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL finished in rare and wonderfully era specific Dark Olive (DB 291) with a Black (DB 040) hard top and hubcaps and a Black leather interior. Having been garaged and well cared for its entire life – never exposed to the elements – the car’s undercarriage is completely solid, original and free of any harmful corrosion, which can also be said of the car’s body which is entirely straight, retaining even panel fits and gaps. A two-owner car, its first owner drove it until 1977, when it was purchased by the principal of a Mercedes specialty shop in Bethlehem, PA. He would keep the car for nearly 37 years, using it strictly as a weekend driver and of course keeping it maintained using only OEM parts. In recent years his advancing age yielded less and less use of the car, which eventually prompted our being able to acquire it earlier this year.
Not surprisingly, the car is mechanically sound, its original engine firing up easily, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the original automatic transmission’s gears. The car drives and brakes straight and true, the suspension is tight and the ride quality is entirely comfortable, whether cruising down the highway or winding through the canyons. One of the 280SL’s most appreciated aspects is that they are truly mechanically modern enough for everyday use on today’s roads while maintaining all of that wonderful vintage look and appeal.
The car is also aesthetically beautiful, the Dark Olive finish consistent and clean, marred only by minor imperfections, none of which are significant enough to appear in and of the photographs. All of the glass and chrome is in excellent original condition, save for a very soft impression in the passenger side rear bumper that’s difficult to see in photographs. The car’s original Black hub-capped wheels are in excellent condition, wrapped in new Pirelli P4000 tires. The car’s interior is equally as clean, the leather seats having been recently reupholstered using all the correct materials and patterns. The carpets and interior panels are both in good original condition, as is the dash and wood trim. The car retains its Becker radio and comes with a dealer installed Frigiking AC unit that is functional, albeit somewhat ineffective. Rarely used, the hard top is in great shape and the car’s black canvas soft-top is free of any rips or tears.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a consistently appreciating Mercedes 280SL with all the right things going for it: beautiful cosmetics, rare color combination, solid original undercarriage, strong original engine and sound mechanicals. Whether for the Mercedes enthusiast or just someone looking for a lovely weekend driver, this car deserves the serious consideration of anyone in the W113 Pagoda market.
