1981 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

380 SL Convertible

V8

Automatic

WDBBA45A5BB002508

Clear

Automatic

Gasoline

1981 380 SL BOUGHT NEW BY MUHAMMAD ALI - RESTORED!! Where to start? Well first off, I am selling this historic Mercedes SL for one of my closest friends that has owned it for years. A collector of fine automobiles for his personal enjoyment, he spared no expense to restore it to its original glory. Unfortunately his current health simply doesn't allow him to get out and enjoy it as much as he would like. So that gives YOU the chance to own one of the most beautiful, well maintained Mercedes Benz' on the planet. Being a car collector, he has practically all of the original documentation including copies of the original California Ownership Certificate and the California Registration. Those two documents verify that this car was originally purchased for none other than Veronica Ali - the wife of boxing legend Muhammad Ali! The car has had only two owners since then, the last of which spent thousands upon thousands restoring it. More on that in a bit - let's start by checking out some pictures below (click on the smaller photos to open larger ones in a new window) and then keep on reading... The car was originally purchased in February of 1981 for Veronica P. Ali. For those looking at the Mercedes chassis registry, you will find that the original owner is blank. Of course if you know Mercedes you know that they do that for special "VIP" owners that wish to remain anonymous. Ali owned this car until shortly before their divorce was finalized in the summer of 1986. It was then sold to a gentleman in Southern California with all of 31,245 miles on it. A copy of that Bill of Sale (done through a dealer/broker of course) is included. That owner would maintain ownership for 17 more years, at which point the car was shipped to Kansas (with only 76,450 miles on it) to begin an extensive "refresh" with genuine Mercedes parts. An avid car collector with a fetish for detail (he has won at Pebble Beach & Meadow Brook, among others) he insisted on a top-to-bottom restoration. Let's take a look at the interior for starters... As you can clearly see, this car is immaculate, right down to the color-matching floor mats. We have the vast majority of the receipts for this car, including a valve job from several years ago and A/C rebuild around the same time. Speaking of which, the A/C blows cold and the engine runs beautifully. You will very quickly find that this Mercedes runs, drives, and just plain feels better than many right off the showroom floor. The owner has had a fair number of SL's in the past, but this one is truly his favorite one to drive. He just doesn't have the time or the ability to get out and drive much anymore. Okay, so how about some engine pictures! So among the many, many things that were done during the restoration process: All new weatherstripping, including windshield Boot removed and restored New door seals and moldings (around $400) New bumper covers front and rear ($400+) New/rebuilt smog pump for California ($690) New hoses, fasteners, and other related seals ($288) New windshield pad, switches, and seat cover ($411) New interior trim ($265) New trunk seal and hood pad New sun visors ($458) New carpet set ($495) New Zebrano wood kit for dash ($395) New windshield (didn't like the "peppering" of the original) ($395) Windshield frame and insulation ($137) New paint and all body gone over for any imperfections ($5,763.76) Rebuilt air pump and antenna motor ($897.00) Trunk carpet set ($295) Plush floor mats ($129.00 New vacuum box and filters ($100+) Complete climate control service ($883) New catalytic converter ($750) New brake pads, alignment, & flush (4500 miles ago - $412) At 58,857 miles - complete valve job and replace tie rod ends ($6,126) And that is just what I could find the receipts for, most of which don't include the thousands in labor it cost to install all these parts! My guess is that the canvas top is new (looks fantastic, as does the rear window). Also included is a (poor) photocopy of the original 1977 newspaper article about the wedding between Veronica and Muhammad. Also included are copies of the original ownership certificate and registration - all showing Veronica P. Ali as the owner. The original owners manual and top lock down tools also come with the car. The revised data plate is also included. So you have to ask yourself, what could possibly be wrong with this car? Answer? Not a whole heck of a lot. The car comes up with a crystal clean CARFAX (available upon request) with absolutely NO history of accidents, bumps, or even a door ding. It failed one California smog inspection and passed with a new catalytic converter. It failed eight years later (2002), got a new smog pump and passed. Those are the ONLY two things I could find worth mentioning on the CARFAX report. Otherwise I noticed the underside could use a cleaning/detailing and one pulley in the engine compartment had some light surface rust - that's it. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country or enter it in a car show tomorrow, it is THAT good! The trunk is just as restored as the rest of the car, right down to the spare tire and tool box. Of course this beauty also includes the original hard top, also restored to like-new condition. Even better, the top has the Mercedes Benz cover and the rolling hard top stand! Beautiful back glass and everything else you look for in an awesome hard top for the SL series. Got questions about this incredible Mercedes Benz? Be sure to e-mail me for more information. This is an incredible 380 SL from bumper-to-bumper with an awesome history - one that you will be thrilled to tell all your friends. There are absolutely NO surprises with this car - you are buying one of the best Mercedes on eBay, new or used. It is priced well below the amount invested and commensurate with its stellar provenance. Try buying ANY Mercedes convertible this nice for this kind of money. There is absolutely NO reserve this time around, so bid fast and bid high: This awesome collectible will go to one very happy bidder - just make sure that it's you! Here are more pictures for your viewing pleasure (don’t forget to click the smaller ones to see larger versions in a new window). Enjoy! HAPPY BIDDING! The Fine Print 10% of final bid price is due within three (3) days of auction end, while balance is due within ten (10) days of auction end. All taxes, fees, and registration charges are the responsibility of the winning bidder. This Mercedes is thirty years old and there is absolutely no warranty expressed or implied. Vehicle is available for inspection prior to auction end. It has been recently inspected by George's Imports (who services Rolls Royce, etc.) and given a completely clean bill of health. Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and cost. Vehicle must be picked up within 14 days of auction end. Seller can assist with pick up once buyer (or their designated carrier) arrives, however it is up to the buyer to make the actual arrangements. We will accept certified money orders, certified bank checks, and wire transfers. The full 10% deposit can be made with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover through PayPal (and not just the $2000 as shown in the PayPal details), however the balance must be paid by one of the previous methods – NOT PayPal. If you cannot or will not pay, DON'T BID OR BUY. Your bid is a contract to purchase – not to inspect or test-drive this car. If I have not gotten a reply or received payment in 10 days, you will receive a "non-paying bidder" reminder from eBay. After 14 days and no contact/payment, a final credit valuation will be requested. Please consider this when you place your bid to purchase. This vehicle is being advertised elsewhere and the seller reserves the right to cancel this auction at any time.