Description
This 1982 Mercedes-benz 380 SL is presented in fantastic condition with just under 138, 000 miles on the clock.
The car has been subject to a full scale rebuild in 2019/ 2020 consisting of a full bodywork restoration as well as an interior restoration.
As it stands before us today the car looks as good, if not better, than it would have been rolling out the factory doors some 42 years ago.
We recommend viewing this car in person to truly appreciate just how beautiful of a machine that it is!
We are selling this car on behalf of a customer in this instance with the sale being directly from them.
A great chance to own a lovingly restored classic car that can be driven away today!The car has been lovingly restored to original condition by the previous owner who carried out a full body restoration in starting in 2019 for the interior and 2020 for the bodywork. The restoration was extensive and is fully documented in photographic form. There have been no shortcuts in making this particular example one of the best restorations that we have ever seen.
Below are a few words by the previous owner on the work that was carried out as taken from the cars comprehensive file. Please note this has been copied from image to text so may have some typos.
'My Journey with Mercedes-Benz 380 SL EKA 333Y
I purchased EKA 333Y in June 2018, and when the car arrived, it looked okay. I paid £10, 000 and thought with a respray and some refurbishment and fettling, it would look great and be something to enjoy in summer and winter.
The car was originally a demonstration vehicle for Road Range, Liverpool, the then main Mercedes-Benz dealer for Liverpool in the 70s and 80s. This was confirmed by Mercedes-Benz UK when I was doing my research on the vehicle to find out the specification. The car has its original service book showing a full main dealer service history from 1982-2001 (19 years).
In 2019, I decided to put my plan into operation and used a local bodyshop to start preparing the car. To prepare for a repaint entails stripping the paint back to bare metal and removing the chrome.
Once we started the process, within weeks it became apparent I had bitten off more than I could chew. I was in trouble. The pictures in this file show the true extent of what I now faced.
I contacted a very high-end bodyshop called American Auto Finishers Ltd in Cranleigh and told them of my plight. John, the owner, said if I could drop it off, he would assess the situation. It wasn’t great, but he said if I wasn’t in a hurry, he would undertake the full restoration of EKA 333Y.
So, the car arrived at American Auto Finishers in January 2020. We had just had early symptoms of COVID arriving in the UK, but work was underway. The whole car was stripped bare, and all the interior had long gone to D Class Automotive back in 2019. By now, I wanted the car to be as it left the factory in 1982.
It was decided to return the car to its original Lapis Blue Metallic with grey sport check interior. With Mercedes-Benz specifications on file, once the car had been stripped bare, we could see all the problems we faced.
The car basically needed everything. The car had to have new rear quarters, new front inner and outer wings, new front panel. The bulkhead needed sorting. New side seals inner and outer with new jacking points. New boot floor and lots of welding, as you can see from the pictures.
The work came to a stall when we entered lockdown. However, at this point, I was very busy buying parts from Mercedes-Benz specialists, The SL Shop.
In a way, this kept me from going insane as we all were in lockdown. The parts were ordered and delivered to me at my home address, and my home started to resemble a parts department!
Once we came out of lockdown, John started to gather pace with all the welding and replacement parts being put in place. The car was then subjected to a complete first coat of primer, then rubbed down, and the process was repeated a further two times until it was perfect and ready for its final grey coat of top primer. Once it had hardened, it was rubbed down again, cleaned thoroughly, and was ready for its final Lapis Blue Metallic coat. Flat and polished, buffed, and lacquered.
The car is now completely rust-proof and safe from rot. The total cost of the restoration was £24, 720 at AAF before any parts were purchased or my own time included. Once the car was ready to be refitted on a ramp, all the wheels were sent for refurbishment at Kerbed, and in addition, five new Dunlop tyres were fitted along with the new correct wheel centres and wheel bolts. I then decided that the original hood was letting down the car and decided to have a new one fitted.
When the car arrived in Maidstone, Kent, the owner of the business said he could not fit the new hood unless the car attended Cayman Hood Specialists for a full cable and service of the innards to make the new hood fit flush and correctly, which was carried out. Both invoices are in the file.
The car had new calipers all around, including discs and pads, new brake pipes, new suspension parts, a complete Mercedes-Benz original exhaust, and a full service before finally being available for me to collect.
I have now driven the car for about 500 miles, during which it went for its last and final MOT, which it initially failed on front brake hoses. I changed these, and the car then passed its final MOT.
As of 2nd September 2022, the car is now MOT and tax-exempt as it is now 40 years old and ULEZ compliant, meaning you can drive it into cities congestion charge-free.
Scott
Custodian'
