1980 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

- No Reserve R107 - Convertible

2.8L DOHC SIX

Manual

000000000000

Clear

Gasoline

1983 Mercedes 280SL Rare Euro-Spec SL Getrag 5 speed manual Excellent on the road You're about to see what happens when pride of ownership meet Mercedes build quality. This 1983 280SL has a whopping 300K miles, but you wouldn't know by looking at it. Or driving it. This car has been beautifully maintained, restored as needed, and obviously used regularly. It's still in excellent operating condition and looks pretty spectacular for its age and mileage. The car was imported to California in 1984 and remained there until 2009 when it was brought to Oregon with its 3rd owner. Some legwork was involved to bring the car into the US back then, one obvious reason for that extra work is the 5 speed transmission that this car is optioned with. When Mercedes transitioned from the W113 model to the new R107 they left US customers without the option of a manual gearbox. The manual transmission in the Euro models adds a simplicity to this model that hearkens back to the W113 cars, while still featuring the modern safety features that defined the R107 series - kind of the best of both worlds. Click to enlarge any of the images below, OR click here to view a gallery of all of the enlarged images. Here's a rundown of the car's history, courtesy of the 3rd owner. The car was repainted in its original color of Signal Red (code 568) in 2008 to good driver quality standards. All of the weatherstripping was replaced at that time. The car has a crisp and clean appearance with straight body lines and no dents or dings. Tires are BF Goodrich Precepts with lots of tread. Excellent lights and lenses front and back. Bumpers show good chrome, the rubber insert is in great shape as well. The windshield is a Star branded Sekurit replacement, it shows some light road wear but no damage. The European headlights feature a low wattage mode, a great look at dawn or dusk. The only rust on the car is shown in the 4th photo below, an inexplicable spot of bubbling on the fender top. This is the only problem area on the entire car, undercarriage included. Straight and clean from every angle. The area around where the hard top mounts is in good condition with no dents. Clean trunk with spare, jacking equipment, tool kit and safety triangle. The car comes with a HUGE amount of service records from all 3 owners. Also included is the EPA and DOT paperwork from importation, manuals, and saved part numbers from maintenance items. The soft top was replaced in 2009, it's in great shape. The top's storage compartment is clean and rust free. The hardtop is in excellent condition with good glass, headliner and weatherstripping. Some R107 hardtops tended to rust near the base, not the case here. Really outstanding interior in this SL with new carpets, upholstery and seat cushions. The work was done in 2009 and still looks fresh. All switchgear is in good shape; the wipers, horn, signals, etc all work as they should. Both of the integrated speaker grills are in great shape. All gauges are working correctly and the clock keeps perfect time. Dashpad has 2 small splits up near the defrost vents, otherwise very nice. The radio has good sound and the power antenna works in tandem with it. The heater, fan and ventilation controls work properly. Sorry, no AC. The car has not been smoked in, ashtray and lighter are unused.. Rear cargo area looks as nice as the rest of the interior. Included but not shown is a custom made seating cushion that fits in this area. Windows wind smoothly, locks all work. Footwells are super clean. The car drives excellent. Starts on the flick of the key and runs strongly with no smoke, you'll like the way this car drives. Ride quality is nice, steering and suspension are tight, the car handles very well. It shifts flawlessly, brakes well and performs reliably with no drama. The DOHC Six has an altogether different feel from the V8's - somewhat more lively and sporting. With the 5 speed transmission this SL definitely has long legs and is just super on the freeway. The car has benefitted from a lifetime of careful maintenance. The 3rd owner used the car for work and repeated transportation from Oregon to California and back again - reliability was a must. Scheduled maintenance was strictly followed and whatever needed fixing got fixed. Service records show replacement over the years of such items as the water pump, fuel pump, timing chain, radiator, exhaust, etc. After I bought the car from the 3rd owner, and before it was scheduled to be picked up from him, he went ahead and did one last oil change, put in a new air filter and installed new wiper blades. He's just that kind of guy. No leaks, this car will not drip on your garage floor. The undercarriage shows no sign of rust or accident history, the jack ports and rocker panels are perfect from front to back. Altogether a well preserved R107 with a transmission that you're unlikely to find in the US. Click here for a gallery of all of the enlarged images. About the reserve price: This car is selling at No Reserve, the high bidder is the winning bidder. This auction ends Sunday October 4th at 7 PM Pacific Time , 9 PM Central , 10 PM Eastern. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion. I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 24 hours. Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid. Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid. Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car. Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied. Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws. By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon. I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week. Clean and clear Oregon title, the car can be registered in all 50 states or easily exported overseas. The car has an excellent CarFax record, email me for a copy. You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5. Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I'll be happy to help with logistics. I have a wholesale account with a shipping dispatch service and can help you find a reasonable rate. Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo CFR / Rinkens California Shipping Thanks for looking! Bob Waldman Cascadia Classic LLC - DA0639 Portland, Oregon 503-891-7702