1983 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Convertible

16-valve fuel-injected V-8 engine displaced 3.8 L

Automatic

WDBBA45AXDB024023

Clear

Gasoline

You are bidding on a 1983 Mercedes 380 SL Roadster offered for sale NO RESERVE! This SL was garaged and meticulously-maintained. Coated in glossy red paint on black leather, this is one of the most attractive and sought after color combinations available on an SL. This car has has been responsibly maintained and has had a recent timing chain/tensioner replacement service. The interior of this vehicle is very clean and the dashboard is is fine condition. Wire wheels are shown on the vehicle but I also have the originals, as shown in the trunk photograph. Extensive service records and original window sticker convey with sale. This Mercedes runs well, has a brand new black top, a battery one week old, and will be sure to give plenty of enjoyment to its new owner for years to come! ,Happy bidding! About the 1983 Mercedes 380 SL Roadster: The 1983 Mercedes Benz 380 SL is a two-door roadster. The 380 denotes the 3.8-liter engine size and the SL designates Sport Leicht (Sport Light). The SL-Class has a long, illustrious history in German sports car engineering and the 1985 380 SL belongs in the 1980 to 1985 SL-Series family. History The Mercedes SL sports car can trace its origins to 1954 with the famed Gullwing 300 SL. It was named the Gullwing for its doors that opened upward similar to a bird spreading its wings. The 1983 380 SL was part of the third of five generations of SL-series sports cars produced from 1972 to 1989. SL-series engine displacement ranged from 3 liters in 1954 to 6 liters in 2010, according to Edmunds.com. The Look The 380 SL was a smart looking two-seater convertible that could be equipped with a soft top or hardtop. The 380 SL s handling on curves was sharp. The 380 SL was larger and squarer than the previous 1963 to 1971 generation SL-Series models and perhaps hung on to its styling too long over 17 years. It sat on 14-inch alloy wheels and featured four-wheel disc brakes. It was marketed to compete against the BMW 6 Series and the Jaguar. A companion 380 SEC was the coupe version. Size The 380 SL featured a 96.9-inch wheelbase and measured 172.8 inches long. It stood 51.2 inches tall and 70.5 inches wide. Its curb weight was listed as 3,395 lbs. Its fuel tank capacity was 19.8 gallons. Engine Specifications The 380 SL s 16-valve fuel-injected V-8 engine displaced 3.8 liters (233 cubic inches), with a 3.62-inch bore and 2.83-inch stroke. The compression ratio was a relatively high 9.0 to 1, and gave it 218 horsepower and 225 foot-pounds of torque. Performance The 380 SL could achieve 0-62 mph in about 9.8 seconds with an overall top speed of 134 with a manual transmission and 127 mph when equipped with an automatic, according to uniquecarsandparts.com.au. Production In all, 53,200 380 SLs were produced between 1980 and 1985. Production peaked in 1983 with 11,198 units sold, but by 1985 sales dropped to just 8,144 cars. Still, the 380 SL was the second-best-selling third-generation model. The 450 SL numbered 66,300 over a nine-year period.