1976 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

1976 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Euro Spec

- Rare 4 Speed SL
- Brought into the U.S. in 2002
- Recent German Automotive Services tune up
- All Books and Manuals

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280SL on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

"Supercar status twinned with old school Mercedes durability makes the R107 SL the thinking person's sports classic" – Classic Motoring, August 2011

Classic Motoring Magazine offered a similar take on these classic Mercedes sportscars: "When it comes to real-world affordable cars, none are better engineered than a Seventies or Eighties Mercedes. One of the best was the R107 SL, which was produced at a time when build quality was all; engineers ruled instead of bean counters. However, while everyone clamors for its predecessor (the 'Pagoda-roofed' W113), the second-generation SL offers everything the older car does – and much better value besides. Although these cars were built up to a standard rather than down to a price, you don't need the wealth of Bill Gates to buy or run one. Indeed, many of the mechanical components are surprisingly cheap as they're shared with contemporary (Mercedes cars). Simple enough for home maintenance, there's also a raft of specialists out there, ready to help you keep an SL in fine fettle if you're not so handy with the spanners."

Offered here is a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280SL (R107 series) in silver over black. Adding to the car's uniqueness, the transmission is a 4-speed manual rather than the far more common (especially in the U.S.) automatic. Currently showing 66,395 miles on its odometer, this proper Euro-spec 280SL (note the Euro headlights) has traveled fewer than 1,500 miles per-year on average since new.

The metallic silver exterior paint demonstrates the high quality of Mercedes paint-application in the mid-Seventies. The finish retains much of its showroom-new appearance. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) There is no damage to the sheet metal panels; no dents, dings, or abrasions (lower-body metal shows slight surface rust). In the same way, the chrome elements-the bespoke front grille (with large 3-pointed star emblem in the grille, a design the company has relatively recently resurrected), window surrounds, and body-side trim-all display excellent shine and an absence of noteworthy damage. The car's black soft top is also in excellent condition, and a black-vinyl-covered removable hardtop is in overall very good condition (including the chrome top-trim details) with slight deterioration inside at the base of the rear window. Cabin glass and lighting lenses are clear (including the lower front driving lights and adjacent amber turn-signals required for U.S. importation). Factory 14-inch ("bottle-cap" style) alloy wheels with 3-pointed-star center emblems are mounted with General® Altimax RT 205/70 all-season radial tires.

Inside, the condition and feel of the cabin surfaces is excellent. Black door trim fits well and is free of damage; door sills have been treated with care. The lack of wear on the original MB-vinyl seat upholstery is amazing and fully up to the material's legendary quality reputation. The textured-vinyl surface and its vertically pleated design is a Mercedes hallmark. Black carpeting covers the floors and (removable) Pioneer® audio speaker boxes are mounted behind the seats. The original 4-spoke, 3-point-star-emblem steering wheel frames a very well-maintained black padded dashboard. The instrument cluster includes a 160-mph speedometer, 6,500-rpm-redline tachometer, and a single gauge clustering two engine-monitoring functions and a fuel-level readout. Round vents are arrayed across the dash, and a Pioneer audio head unit is mounted in the factory-radio location. Slide-levers operated vertically control the heat and ventilation. The simply designed center console hosts the shift lever for the 4-speed manual transmission with its shift pattern displayed on the top of the knob. The unspoiled condition of the interior surfaces-including upholstery, switchgear, and instrument lenses-is a tribute to prior owners of the car.

Under the hood, the 2,746-cc Mercedes straight-6-cylinder (recently serviced by the highly regarded German Auto Service of Grand Rapids) retains its original finish. Components in the clean engine bay are complete and properly installed, and both hoses and wiring are correctly routed; the powerplant shows all signs of proper maintenance through the years. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is complete, straight, and undamaged. Expected surface rust is present on untreated metal. The properly routed partial-dual-exhaust system is a visual focal point.

The car's original identification tags remain mounted. A full complement of owner literature, a car cover, and multiple replacement parts are included in the sale.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '76 Mercedes-Benz 280SL in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

In its day, owning this Mercedes 280SL communicated its owner's success, attention to detail, and appreciation of fine German quality and the good

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