1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SL

“I’ve had the car since 2017 and started slowly restoring it just before the pandemic hit. The whole car was stripped including the engine, gearbox and interior, while the bodywork was restored with numerous panels replaced,” explains vendor. “However, all work stopped when Covid hit, and it has sat in the garage for around three years since.”

With restoration momentum lost, the vendor has now decided that he no longer wants to spend the time restoring this particular SL and has instead bought a fully restored example to add to his car collection.

That decision means that this SL, in a particularly fetching colour scheme it must be said, is now available for another party to take on and complete. With an estimated price of between just £5000 and £8000 it could see someone bag this sophisticated Merc project for a relative snip.

“I’ve spent about £20k in total, and that includes the cost of the car”.

This generation SL is still so of its time; it screams 1980s. This example is presented in a fetching period emerald green colour. There are some scrapes and scratches here and there, but the larger panels generally look to be relatively dint and dent free. Wheel arches too look to be solid. The paint looks okay in its current condition and may even polish up well, but if the next owner is looking to embark on a full restoration, then a re-spray would be worth investing in to get it positively gleaming and showroom ready.

The matching hardtop is present and again looks to be in good condition, although there is some delamination to the glass on the offside lower corner. Alloy wheels look relatively good, but again may benefit from refurbishment and new rubber is of course, a must.

New front light lenses, and possibly rear ones too, to replace the slightly cloudy original items, and brightwork restoration would help to further sharpen aesthetics.

The cabin will require sourcing of some new fabric for the rear seats, as some of it is ripped. Leather is a touch aged, although looks to be fairly rip- or tear-free, and will need to be fed to see how it responds.

Carpets will likely need replacing, as will the hardtop headlining which is marked. Lifting the former does reveal what looks to be solid, nicely protected metal. Woodwork will need assessed on a panel-by-panel basis.

Again, this is a proper project so the final standard to be achieved will be dictated by the next owner.

“The SL drove nicely before I started the restoration,” says the vendor. “But it hasn’t been driven since it started and the engine was removed.”

The power plant is now back in situ, although the car is not currently running. It’s a tad dusty under the bonnet, with a jumble of wires catching your eye. Again, it will be a case of assessing the components and deciding what to replace and what to keep.

You will find the vehicle’s V5c document in the history file, which shows a total of eight owners from new. It also indicates the 28th of August 1985 as the date of its first UK registration.

A recent online Vehicle check is included, and it shows no issues with regards theft accidents or finance. Blaupunkt Autoradio and Scorpion Car Alarm Systems manuals are present, as is the original Owner’s Manual. A separate Clarion radio fascia comes with the car.

There are also several expired tax discs (remember them?), MOT test certificates and invoices from earlier in the car’s life.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork.

We’ll bring the car’s estimate to your attention once again: £5000 to £8000. That is not a lot of cash for one of the Three-Pointed Star’s elegant Eighties boulevardiers.

Yes, there’s still a considerable road to be travelled towards its ultimate completion, but isn’t that half the fun?

As we stated before, the level to which the restoration is carried out will be dictated by the SL’s next owner. It could also be done on a budget, with most of the graft coming via that very same person.

Either way, restorative hi-jinks await.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.