1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SE

Sedan

3.8L 3839CC V8 GAS SOHC Naturally Aspirated

Automatic

WDBCA32C1FA165141

Clear

GAS

Up for auction is my 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SE. It drives beautifully - as an S-Class should. This car was my father-in-law's pride and joy. Often referred to as his "baby," he took excellent care of it. He was in healthcare development and put nearly all of the 229,000 miles on it while travelling on the highway to visit the facilities he was building. He had previously owned and operated a famous jewelry store chain in the Southeast. When he sold the operation to Zales Corporation in 1985, he rewarded himself with this brand new Mercedes-Benz. I inherited it about 13 years ago after his passing and have done my best to keep it in good running condition as a third car for my wife and me. Her mother died recently, and she says it’s time to let go of the past. This particular model is actually quite rare. It’s the only short wheel base W126 body Mercedes-Benz ever fitted with a V-8 engine. The shorter wheel base, lighter weight, and V-8 power make it surprisingly nimble and fun to drive. This impressive antique Mercedes-Benz is a mechanic's dream in need of a few items to be perfect. It is a 1 Memphis family owned & loved classic that was garage kept since the day this special ordered S-Class was picked up at the Memphis Mercedes franchise (called Autorama at the time) by my father-in-law and me on 6/24/85 for over $45K. I have all maintenance and repair records from Mercedes-Benz of Memphis in a 2 inch thick file. It is truly a remarkable vehicle & unique opportunity. Meticulously maintained & thoroughly pampered its entire life, you will be hard pressed to find a better documented example. There are a few dents & scratches, but the paint overall is in remarkable shape. The wheels have just undergone a 2-step process repaint in factory original Astral Silver. It has proper Michelin tires (Front treads have 100% and Rears have 25%). The burgundy interior looks & smells very nice. The sumptuous leather seats are a dream to sit in, & the beautiful Zebrano Wood still looks quite nice despite a few cracks. The car has never been smoked in or even eaten in – really, the old man was a real stickler. The back seat was hardly ever used as well. The original stereo & power adjustable antenna are in good working order (Arial goes all the way up and down using the dash mounted switch). The sunroof is working well. The outside temperature display still works. The original First Aid Kit is untouched in its rear compartment. The bulb-lit ashtrays in the rear doors come to life when opened revealing unused, working lighters. The rear reading lamps still work on each side. The 10-way power Driver & Passenger seats operate correctly & even the power head rests still work! The engine is in good condition, idles smoothly, & gets surprisingly good gas mileage for such a safe, luxury flagship. The transmission has less than 35K miles on it since its factory replacement at Mercedes-Benz of Memphis & is silky smooth. The vehicle was ahead of its time for 1985 with 4-wheel ABS, pyrotechnical seatbelt pre-tensioners, & doors that sound like a bank vault when closed. Its Strong Suit: 1) Clear Tennessee Title 2) One family owned vehicle since brand new. 3) Lived in Memphis, TN its entire life. No extreme sun from out west, no road salt from up north, no salt water air damage from the coasts. 4) The vehicle has been kept in an enclosed garage its entire life. 5) The original alpine white paint is truly remarkable for 27 years old. 6) The burgundy leather interior overall is in very good shape for its age as well. 7) All 4 wheels were recently repainted with a 2-step base and clear coat process. 8) I have all books and maintenance records since brand new. 9) The engine has been converted to a dual timing chain setup for extra durability. 10) All Factory Replacement Belts have approximately 10K miles on them. 11) All Factory Replacement Brake Pads have approximately 10K miles on them. 12) Factory Replacement Front Shocks and Springs have approximately 10K miles on them. 13) Factory Replacement Behr Radiator has approximately 10K miles since new replacement 14) Brand new Interstate Battery with warranty from Firestone. 15) Front Michelin tires have 100% tread left. 16) Original car phone and speakerphone are still hooked up and work. Areas of Note: 1) The driver’s window is not working (perhaps a switch). 2) The driver-side rear window will go down halfway and back up on its own. It will go all the way down on its own but has to be helped up by hand. 3) The locking system is not working (small vacuum leak somewhere). 4) The A/C and Heating system do not actuate when buttons are pushed. 5) The ABS sensors are dirty and need to be cleaned (the ABS indicator lights up after driving about 30 feet when you first start the vehicle – a common issue with W126 vehicles). 6) There’s a noticeable dent on the driver-side C-Pillar from a fallen branch during a freak wind storm in the middle of the day. 7) The alternator is going bad. 8) There is occasionally a small gas drip at the fuel pump (appears to be a dry seal or hose from when the car sits for longer than a week). 9) One of the rear tires has a slow leak from a nail that needs to be plugged. 10) Passenger side rear brake light housing is cracked slightly but still passes inspection. 11) Small dent on passenger side front fender. 12) Golf ball size dent on roof. Our family has already spent well over $50K in service and repairs over the past 27 years on this classic Mercedes. Add up the receipts that come with the car, and you’ll see. It’s time to pass the vehicle on to someone who will make it perfect and appreciate it as much as our family has. This is a very rare chance to own an honest classic with collectable certainty. A lot of car for the money. *I have done my best to represent the vehicle as clearly and honestly as possible and welcome any additional questions you may have. My number is 901-634-7531. My terms of auction are as follows: A $500 deposit is due via PayPal immediately after auction ending. Balance of final auction price is to be paid no later than 3 business days after auction end. If you have negative or zero feedback, please call me before bidding, or I will not be able to take your bid seriously. My number is 901-634-7531. Buyer will be responsible for shipping costs and arrangements. I am happy to assist with this though to make a easy transition for you. I will only accept payment via bank wire or cash in person. I reserve the right to end the auction at any time for any reason. Seller does hereby vow that this vehicle is indeed his, owned solely and outright without any liens, debts, or encumbrances held against it. Furthermore, seller does hereby vow that this vehicle maintains a clear title and has never been a flood damaged or salvage titled vehicle. The vehicle, being a used car, is being sold “as is” with “no warranty.”