Submitted for your approval is a brown-on-brown barn find Benz. This is only the second 280SL we’ve featured here on Barn Finds, which isn’t too surprising given their low production (8,047 units for model year 1969) and their high price (around $7,000 which was more than twice the price of an average car in ’69). This was a refined 2-seater roadster for the well-to-do to enjoy, especially on weekends, and the 280SL’s combination of comfort, great looks, and performance didn’t disappoint. The seller is very skimpy with details and the car’s history and only shares (a) it’s a barn find, (b) it’s been in the family since 1971, (c) it will need to be towed as it has been sitting for a few years, (d) it’s rust-free and completely stock, (e) the soft top is in good condition, and (f) the $59,000 asking price is firm and will not take a penny less.
I’ve always loved the classic styling of the 1963 – 1971 “Pagoda” series. Many feel the SL series really started with this W113 generation as the previous generation 190 SL’s were underpowered and the new styling was fresh, clean, angular, and more modern looking than the round, curvaceous 50’s-era look of the 190 SL’s. A look at the photos of the 280SL on a trailer shows that the car appears to be solid. I’m not seeing rust and the paint and chrome and glass look decent for their age. The car has the matching brown removable hardtop (there are no photos supplied of the soft top) and the attractive color-keyed full wheel covers. The rear California license plate has an OCT 94 sticker on it, so one could assume this Benz has been off the road for 31 years.
280SL’s had roomy cabins and refined interiors and with the large glass, they were also easy to get in and out of. Overall, The light brown interior of this survivor looks pretty good. I’m guessing those are seat covers on the bucket seats since 280SL’s seats were usually either leather or the nearly indestructible MB Tex vinyl. The door panels, carpet, and instrument panel look presentable, but I’m not sure about those black things on top of the dash. Perhaps that’s for a new dash pad. I also spot a clutch pedal which means this 280SL has the desirable 4-speed manual transmission.
The 280 series featured a smooth running 2.8-liter, overhead-cam, Bosch fuel injected inline-6 engine that was rated at 180 horsepower. The engine isn’t currently running and the odometer is listed at 90,000 miles. It’s mated with the standard 4-speed manual transmission. This SL series has long been collectable and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. The old blue-and-yellow California license plates and the fact that it’s currently located in Phoenix, Arizona, could mean that it’s been a West Coast car since it left the Stuttgart factory 56 years ago, which would certainly be a plus. It is currently listed for sale here on Facebook Marketplace. The not-a-penny-less-than-$59,000 asking price seems on the high side for a non-running car that’s been sitting 30 years, but is priced in between what Hagerty’s values a 1969 280SL in #3 Good condition ($74k) and #4 Fair condition ($41k). Hopefully, the next owner can get this classic roadster roadworthy again and keep it as original as possible.
Maybe by saying “completely stock”, he means the engine only, as the interior has incorrect cloth replacement, the radio has been replaced, and the taillights are from a 230 or 250 113 model, not a 280 as they had yellow inserts. GLWTS.
‘Submitted for your approval … ‘ – Rod Serling
The black things on the dash could be adhesive-backed pieces of velcro used to hold a dash cover in place. There appears to be a crack in the center of the pad.
These are very desirable and collectible cars but you can buy one in nice running condition for that price.
Price too high for a non running car. Pass.
We had a ’67 230SL back in the early mid Eighties. A beautiful burgundy. I actually paid for a correct leather redo of the complete interior ( shows how how much things have changed as I couldnt afford it today :)) I used to remove the hard top by stepping into the car , putting my back into the top and standing up!
. It was a Euro version with euro headlights and speedo. I had it stripped and repainted. It was stunning. One day we got T boned by a dumb woman on a shopping mall access road. This exposed incredible rust in the headlight bucket despite my paying for a complete strip. I was young and allowed the insurance company to total it. Big mistake. The sound of even the 230SL was fabulous. The only thing I would say if I got another one somehow was it would have to be a row your own….with the larger hp of the 280.
Just beautiful cars.
I have a 1980 350SL Black,,tan interior sitting on my property,,not mine I want to get rid of,,has a spare engine V8 as something is suppose to be wrong with the one in the car,, not in too bad of shape,otherwise ,the owner will take $4800.00 OBO
How do people find these things? Better than gold!
Being from an MB dealership background, I can get this 280SL roadworthy. The seller is proud he’s got this car, but the parts costs for getting her back in the game works against his price!
I restored a 1971 280SL in the 90’s. The simple, elegant styling and high quality chrome and other trim is a delight. Imporant: This was the first car that incorporated “crumple zones” in the body design. All done with slide rules and probably brick walls.
Parts were widely available then, and I suspect most stll are. It is really, really expensive to restore a Benz, and you can be sure that the abundant real wood trim on the dash and console is toast. While some like the four-speed, this car is really well suited to an automatic transmission.