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Curated Auction

1983 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (R107)

At a Glance

Recent Restoration | Long MOT | Hard-Top and Rear Seat | Excellent Leather Upholstery | Room for Improvement & Low Reserve

  • Mileage~150,187
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine2.7L
  • LocationEnfield

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,000

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Photographer and Editor

Comfortable with a distinct style, the 280 SL is a refined and practical route to classic car ownership.

The R107 series of Mercedes Benz SL roadster is the symbol of refinement, taste and a little common sense thrown in. Announced in 1971, it established itself as the ideal car for those who seek the experience of a well-made, comfortable, luxurious and practical cruiser. Mercedes Benz has established a reputation for dependable engineering; the SL embodies these qualities thanks to the refinement of its engines, ranging from the fuel-efficient sixes to the punchy V8s.

Usable and easy to drive, the 280 SL was continuously developed over its 14-year lifespan, benefiting from incremental improvements to its appeal thanks to a Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection system, a 4-speed automatic gearbox and further enhancements to its cabin.

This restored 1983 280 SL in "Signal Red" has a new "Mushroom" leather interior and is presented with a hardtop. In need of some minor cosmetics to finish it off, it has hardly been used since its restoration. Coming to market after ~8 years with our vendor, this solid and smartly presented example is a fantastic opportunity for R107 ownership and is MOT and road tax exempt, but comes with an MOT to March 2026 for peace of mind.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Stella the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

As a kid, I remember seeing a red Mercedes SL on TV and it left quite an impression on me!

Stella bought the car in 2017 from a friend who was immigrating - she was motivated to own a red SL thanks to memories of Bobby Ewing from the US TV show Dallas!

Stella decided to send the car abroad for a body, paint and interior renovation in 2020 but it has seen very little use since then and she has decided to sell the car due to this lack of use.

Stella will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Stella
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

Restored to a positive standard, the crisp body style is enhanced by the impressive finish.

Wheels and Tyres

The alloys are smartly presented with minor signs of age on the rims.

Fitted with a set of Unigrip tyres, they date from 2020 and are in excellent shape with plenty of even tread.

image

Bodywork

The exterior panel work is in good condition, with just a minor but treatable dent spotted on the nearside rear wing close to the door. The panel fit is positive, with decent shut lines. All doors can be opened and closed with ease. We noted a couple of bubbles on the nearside rear wing and nearside front wing near the indicator - we also noted some corrosion on the hood well lid.

The chassis rails, floor pan and wheel wells are coated in inhibitor but appear to be solid.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

image

Paint

The "Signal Red" (568) paint has consistent coverage, with a decent lustre and is generally free of stone chips. The sunlight caught a few distractions; the bonnet and boot have mild orange peeling. There are a few minor marks on the boot lid.

The paint is damaged where the trim is loose, notably on the offside sill trim and door trim. Stone chip protective paint has been applied on the lower panels, and some red overspray is evident on the underside of the car.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

image

Glass and Trim

The glass all appears to be in good condition, with no issues spotted on the lights or lenses.

The chrome is all present but shows a little cosmetic damage on the side, door, windscreen frame corners, hood lid and hardtop trim.

The bumpers are well-mounted - the rear bumper has minor corrosion on the offside corner and there’s a small rubber nick on the nearside corner.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

Tastefully refurbished in new leather, the cabin is a sumptuous place to be in.

Seats and Carpets

The leather seats were part of the renovation and are in excellent condition throughout in "Mushroom" (505). The rear seat backrest will need to be reattached.

The carpets are complete, showing some discolouration in places. Most appear to be recent fittings.

image

Dashboard

The dashboard looks good with no significant wear or marks. The facia is decent aside from age-related wear noted on the veneer around the electric window controls. The dials, controls and switches present well. All are said to work, although the indicators were not functional on the day - Stella’s mechanic has traced this to a relay, which is on order to resolve the issue, we’ll update the listing when resolved.

The cabin and door card's leather trim is in good order. The headlining on both the hard top and soft top is decent with a few minor marks and no signs of water ingress. The passenger sun visor will need to be reattached and the driver side struggles to stay up.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are in good condition.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Smooth and refined, the engine has also seen attention as part of its restoration.

Engine and Gearbox

The SL starts up without any hesitation, and the engine ticks over evenly with no unwanted noises. The exhaust didn’t produce any unwanted fumes and the dashboard lights all remained in check.

The engine is cleanly presented, with some signs of age on the metal components. The hoses and ancillaries look good. As part of its 2020 renovation, Stella has informed us that the timing belt, alternator and exhaust have been replaced. The car also had a service.

The automatic gearbox functions without any reported issues. It engages gears with no problems and operates smoothly.

image

Suspension and Brakes

The short low-speed drive in traffic didn’t reveal any problems with the ride, it absorbed the road surfaces with no notable issues. The shock absorbers were replaced as part of the renovation.

The car brakes evenly with no pulling or unwanted noises from the wheels.

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The Drive

The SL has a reputation for its civilised road manners and smooth driving experience, and is one of the few open-top sports cars of its era that can be driven with confidence in modern conditions, thanks to its refinement, reliably and in-built consideration for safety.

The car pulls smoothly, with no unwanted noises from the engine. At low speeds, we didn't hear any loud mechanical noises from the wheels, the steering remained true with no evidence of significant wobbles or pulling when braking.

During the short drive, we didn’t get a chance to verify its oil pressure or ensure it reached temperature. We left the engine running for a period after the drive and no problems were noted.

image

Electrics and Other

Stella told us that all the electrics were working to her knowledge apart from the indicators as mentioned earlier, a new relay is on order.

The hardtop is well-mounted on the body and can be removed and replaced without issues. There are a few under-paint blemishes noted near the nearside guttering but otherwise smartly presented.

The soft top is in good shape, with no significant signs of age. It will need a minor adjustment to provide a flush seal to the front.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

The car has been subject to a ~£4,450 restoration and comes with a long MOT.

First registered in February 1983, the car had been owned by its previous keeper for 13 years before Stella bought it in 2017. It is a UK-market RHD car and retains its under-bonnet data plate. The car underwent a body and interior restoration in 2020 at the cost of ~£4,450, along with attention to the running gear and engine. A few printouts of the photo restoration have been included in the history gallery which shows the work to the floor pan.

It has an MOT until March 2026 despite being MOT and Road tax exempt.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
05-03-2025 MOT 150,183
19-05-2023 MOT 150,183
14-07-2021 MOT 150,188 (Inaccurate Reading)
24-04-2017 MOT 149,007
18-11-2015 MOT 148,457
22-09-2014 MOT 148,308
14-05-2012 MOT 146,129
29-03-2011 MOT 144,196
07-10-2009 MOT 141,977
14-11-2008 MOT 146,210
17-04-2007 MOT 136,382
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model 280 SL (R107)
  • Transmission 4-Speed Automatic
  • Reg. Date 03-02-1983
  • CC 2,746
  • Mileage ~150,187 on clock
  • History Since 2020
  • Colour Signal Red (568)
  • Interior Colour Mushroom (505)
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # 10704222015253
  • Engine # 11099022002524
  • Restored Yes in 2020
  • MOT Yes Exp. 04-03-2026
  • MOT Exempt Yes
  • Road Tax Exempt Yes
  • HPi Clear Yes - all clear
  • Former Keepers 9
  • Tyre Brand Unigrip
  • Tyre Age 2020
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Owned 8 Years
  • Key Feature Easy Project
  • Vehicle Registration DNC 724Y
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Body Type Convertible with Hardtop
  • Auction ID 2878
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Enfield

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    Auction Bidding

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    Market View

    Prices seem to have picked up year on year, with lower mileage examples often getting close to £20,000, arguably solid examples with higher miles present great value for money.

    We’re sure you have a good idea of the value of this vehicle by studying our thorough listing, however, you may be interested to see a selection of recent sales of the same and / or similar models.

    1984 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (R107)

    Auction House Mathewsons

    Sale Date 05 Feb 25

    Sold Price £17,000

    SEE AUCTION

    1985 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (R107)

    Auction House Us - Trade Classics

    Sale Date 22 Aug 24

    Sold Price £14,310

    SEE AUCTION

    1985 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL (R107)

    Auction House Us - Trade Classics

    Sale Date 25 Jul 24

    Sold Price £12,970

    SEE AUCTION

    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a 280 SL like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Summer 2025.

    Delivery Calculator


    Vehicle Location

    Enfield

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