Produced by Mercedes from 1971 to 1989 it became the second-longest single production run that Mercedes has ever done. Coming in many different variants ranging from the 280 SL up to the crazy 560 SL it was a very successful run and cemented the SL name in automotive history, a name that still lives on to this day.

In the 18-year production run, only 237,000 SL’s were built making them a rare sight on UK roads today. With the brilliant design, this automobile will age gracefully unlike so many of its counterparts from that period.

Being built in 1981 this 380sl was destined for the American market, the perfect setting for this type of classic Mercedes. It has resided in the state of California for at least the past 20 years if not all of its life, in these last two decades it has been owned by the same family. This family have devoted a lot of time and money into keeping this 380sl in almost new condition.

It has been imported to the country recently to offer the UK a brilliant and solid example of a beautiful classic Merc. With thanks to the previous owners and their level of care and attention the condition is ‘like new’. Every aspect of this classic is in pristine condition, the bodywork is unmarked with all the brightwork being present and correct.

The brown leather interior is also in like-new condition, with all of the switchgear showing little signs of wearing. Even if you look in the boot or engine bay you will be amazed at how well looked after this car has been.

Sadly, for a car of this amazing calibre, there is little physical paperwork. However, the car does come with a Carfax report from the states which documents 3 previous owners, 40 service history records and it only being a personal car whilst out in the states, with the recorded number of services it indicates that this car has been cared for.

The most important factor for an imported car is whether or not all of the duties have been paid, the new owner can rest easy with the knowledge that all of the Nova/import duties have already been paid. 

One of the standout features of this car is the brilliantly cared for interior. When compared to other R107s on the market the interior of this specific one could be the best up for sale at the minute.

The brown leather seats have been looked after properly from day dot. There are no rips, tears or marks to the seats, and these are some of the most comfortable seats on any car. They are more akin to chesterfield sofas with the amount of craftsmanship than they are car seats.
If we take a look at the door cards, sometimes an overlooked but usual place for damage, we can see that these too are in great condition. There are a few minor marks that are present but with the rest of the interior taken into consideration, these are almost irrelevant.

In a classic Mercedes the dashboard is iconic, with the three big dials set behind the big steering wheel these show you all of the vital information that you would need, with the bonus of all of these dials still work today.

Many classic cars that come from hotter climates will sometimes suffer from cracks in the plastic dash, it appears that this Mercedes doesn’t suffer from such an issue. There is some carpet material that has been installed on the dash to help prevent this from happening. It's this level of attention to detail that has helped this SL380 survive this long in such a condition.

Compared to a UK car this US example is fitted with a trick automatic climate control system in the centre console. Offering many different levels of temperature and vent configurations provides another level of comfort that many other cars cannot match.

The exterior of the R107 generation of SL’s is instantly recognisable. With their square headlight set up to compliment the boxy design, it screams the 80’s. The almost corrugated sections at the bottom of the doors that run the length of the exterior sides are too an iconic feature of the R107. With this being a US variant there are a few subtle differences, mainly with the front and rear bumpers for pedestrian safety regulations. Apart from these slight changes, it looks the same as a European variant.

Once again, like the interior, the exterior of this 380sl is in great condition. All of the body panels are straight and thanks to their time in a hot and dry location it has been naturally preserved against rust, unlike some UK examples.

The only slight issue with the exterior is with the wheels, after 40 years of use they could do with a little bit of TLC to bring them back up to a condition like the rest of the exterior.

With this example being a great combination of classic design and excellent exterior condition it is one not to miss. It could be the best example of a R107 on the market today, it is bound to turn heads wherever you go with it.

With there being a slight lack of paperwork with the car it is hard to say with certainty whether or not parts have been replaced or changed in the past, but from the Carfax report, we can say for certain that this car has received many services over its lifetime which is always great to see.

With so many service stamps we can imagine that this car is in great running condition and a pleasure to drive with the hardtop removed. Classic Mercedes’s are known for having almost bulletproof engines and reliability, with only 100,000 miles on the clock this Mercedes should easily go on for yet another 40 years and even 100,000 miles.

With this being a North American 380sl it is fitted with a big 3.8L V8 capable of 155bhp and almost 200 lb-ft of torque. This car however is not about speed and performance, it is about luxury and comfort, a character trait that this SL has in bucket loads. To aid with the comfort levels it is fitted with a smooth automatic gearbox feeding power to the rear wheels.

Overall, the mechanical aspects, as you’d expect with a car in this condition, are in great condition. The new owner will be picking up a car capable of whisking you away in a level of comfort that is not matched by modern 2-seater roadsters.

The R107 generation of the legendary Mercedes-Benz SL is a great classic car that is already garnering attention as a desirable classic car that should start to increase in value over the next few years. With the timeless lines, this kind of SL offers the new owner will look stylish wherever they venture. 

The SL benefits from the ability to be a hardtop, soft top, and convertible all on one chassis, this huge level of configurability provides excellent value for money.

With this Californian import being in such great condition and being bought to the UK market for the first time, the new owner will be picking up a car that is like none other on the market currently. A sensible buy through factors like reliability, drivability, and appearance the new owner will not be disappointed with their new purchase, it also has the bonus of soon becoming tax and MOT exempt.