1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL One Owner, Documented Dealer Serviced From New

Description

TECHNCIAL SPECS

• VINWDBBA45A6CB014474
• Make: Mercedes-Benz
• Model: 380SL
• Year: 1982
• Odometer: 110,464km/68,487mi
• Body Style: Roadster
• Transmission: Automatic
• Exterior Colour:DB473 Champagne Metallic
• Interior: Chocolate Brown

DESCRIPTION

3,839cc SOHC V8 Engine, Bosch Fuel Injection, 155bhp at 5,500rpm, 196 lb/ft torque @ 2,750rpm, 4-Speed Automatic Transmission, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes.

*Extremely well-kept and original example
*Just over 110,000kms from new and one owner for over three decades
*Offered with the original owner’s and service manuals
*High-quality Mercedes-Benz ‘Young-timer’, Dealer maintained without regard to cost

Completed at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant in February of 1982, this exceptional 380SL was delivered new to Vancouver, B.C. through Mercedes-Benz West Broadway. The new Mercedes-Benz looked just as it does today: finished in DB473 Champagne Metallic over a Chocolate Brown interior and generously optioned and equipped with both the car’s soft and hardtop. The original and only owner was clearly very fond of the car, they would keep the car, both in Vancouver and in Palm Springs, for over three decades.

Today, this fine Mercedes-Benz presents in extraordinarily original condition throughout. With just over 110,000 documented kilometres from new (68k miles), the car appears to be just a few years old, with original finishes throughout and a comprehensive history file containing the original books, tools and spare key. We have every service record back to 1982. Importantly, this car has had the dual row timing chain retrofit (about $5k) eliminating the catastrophic timing chain issues that the early 380sl could face. The service records also indicate a retrofit to R134A refrigerant and a recent transmission replacement. The records indicate that this 380sl was dealer maintained its entire life without regard to cost.Overall this is an extremely original, high quality Mercedes-Benz ideally suited to open top touring, with nearly all the power amenities of a modern car, yet with the elegance and style of the classic Mercedes-Benz SL.

Porsche Centre Calgary inspected the vehicle on it arrival to us, and we elected to have the front sub-frame dropped and re-fresh the motor mounts and subframe mounts, install a new battery, and put new seals in the heater control valve at a cost of approximately $3,000.

You can find 380SL's for much less money than this one - in fact many are almost free. But you can not make a bad car into a good car for any reasonable sum. These cars were the best cars that could be made at the time and among the most expensive, and if one wants to duplicate the original quality and finishing virtually all restoration work is prohibitively expensive. All knowledgeable experts will agree that prospective purchasers should buy the best car that they can afford. A 'cheap' Mercedes will most often wind up being a very expensive one. The $5k or $10k that you could save buying a lesser example would quickly evaporate with maintenance and reconditioning costs, and you would still be left with a rougher, less-valuable car.

These cars are perfect entry level classic's with modern day-to-day usability and an upward value trajectory. In today's heated classic car market $25,000 does not buy you much in the way of post war sports cars-but that sum will buy you an extremely nice Mercedes convertible. Be ahead of the curve on this one, excellent examples of these cars will get rarer, and nice ones are sure to increase in value closer to their 'Pagoda' predecessors. While the more powerful 560SL will likely always be worth more money, there is more appreciation of the early examples and this car with its contrast colour hard top and 14" Brundt alloys has undeniable period charm.

Flckr Photo Album with 90 Hi-Res Photographs (cut and paste URL)

https://flic.kr/s/aHskAWBrmP

YouTube Video Library

Condition Report: https://youtu.be/WFs11zKyYBs

Documentation:https://youtu.be/wWpE3KHUinU

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to describe this car to the best of our ability, but condition is subjective and we encourage prospective buyers to view the car in person. To the best of our knowledge everything works in the car and all the maintenance has been brought up to date - but the car is 36 years old and just because something worked yesterday does not mean that it will be working tomorrow-this car does not come with a warranty of any kind. We can supply paint meter readings upon request.

Taxes, Shipping etc.

Canadian residents must pay 5% GST. We will assist with shipping logistics. Cost to ship car to Seattle WA, including duty, and transport approximately $usd6k. Cost to ship the car to Europe approx. $usd5,000 not including VAT/ImportTax. Car is in our Showroom at Porsche Centre Calgary. We can assist with logistics.

Payment

We require a wire transfer in the full amount within 7 days of the auction close.

Contact information: Lawrence Romanosky, GSM Porsche Centre Calgary, LawrenceR@Porschecentrecalgary.com, 403-607-8625