Fantasy Junction

Description

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL
s/n 113044-12-015816 Eng. No. 130-983-12-010305
Two Tone Beige Gray and Dark Brown with Cognac Leather Interior

Representing Mercedes-Benz's trend towards producing more usable and practical sports cars, the 230/250/280SL line was meant to replace both the 190SL and the illustrious 300SL. The car was a comfortable two-seater that was to be neither too big nor too expensive, and exhibited excellent roadholding thanks to the innovative and sophisticated rear suspension design. Built to Mercedes' usually high standards and employing excellent visibility, the cars were popular and sold well. The cars were continuously developed, with the 280SL being the ultimate version of the car, with its larger more powerful engine and all around disc brakes.

This is a three-owner lifetime California car has never required comprehensive restoration and still wears six digit blue plates. Sold new on the 26th of June 1970 by Lloyd Pearson Inc. of Pasadena, California, this car originally belonged to a N.Y. Matossian, also of Pasadena. It still wears its original color combination of DB181 beige gray with dark brown hard top and hub caps with cognac leather interior. It was originally optioned with codes 426 (automatic transmission and power steering), 491 (US version), 503 (left side exterior mirror), and 515 (Becker AM-FM radio). Additionally, the car was originally equipped with Frigiking air conditioning. The car’s current owner purchased it approximately three years ago from its second owner and believes that the indicated mileage of 50,000 is from new. He has sympathetically refurbished the car as necessary, including comprehensive engine detail, mechanical freshening, and new exterior paint. The door jambs and engine compartment remain in their original paint. The original interior is in excellent shape. In October 2014, the car had a brake service that included four new brake calipers, new brake pads all around, and new brake master cylinder.

Cosmetically, the car makes a strong impression. The paintwork was renewed to high standards and is in excellent shape. The body has excellent fit, panel operation, and gaps. The nose of the car, which often shows evidence of collisions on these W113s, is intact with factory spot welds and the correct layering of the inner fender panels where they meet the grille surround. The ridges on the inboard edges of the headlight trim rings are intact and crisp. Additionally, the inner front fenders, which tend to trap moisture and can rust, appear unadulterated. The chrome is very good to excellent, with no pitting on most of the components and light pitting limited to a few pieces such as the right door handle, one of the trim pieces on the hard top, and the front windscreen seal deco strip. The bumpers are excellent as is the majority of other chrome. The lights and lenses are in good shape, as is the glass.

The interior is in excellent original condition. The wood trim on the dashboard has been refinished but the interior appears otherwise unrestored. The seats, door panels, and carpets are all very well-preserved. The dashboard is similarly nice, with very nice dash pad, instruments, switches, and controls. The HVAC sliders are not seized and even the original Kangol safety belts are in place. The headliner of the hardtop is in excellent original condition as well, and only the wood around the rear window shows some aging. The metal trim on the sill thresholds shows some scratching from ingress/egress. The steering wheel is excellent and car retains its Becker Europa radio.

The engine compartment is extremely tidy, and is impressively clean, particularly for an unrestored car. The components of the engine are very clean, as are the inner fenders. Extensive detailing work was performed with fresh cadmium plating throughout, from the fuel injector lines to the brackets and other hardware. The firewall heat pad appears to have been recently replaced and is excellent. The structural elements are also excellent, including spot welds and inner fenders. The trunk is excellent, with original spare tire cover, correct rubber floor mat, and excellent trunk floor, which is an especially vulnerable area on these cars.

The car has a tool roll with tools, in addition to a very complete original book set which includes:
Owner’s manual
Maintenance book and owner data plate
Original pre-delivery inspection document
Warranty booklet
Dealer directory
Frigiking manual
Frigiking warranty card

This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a high caliber 280SL that simultaneously manages to be both cosmetically excellent and wonderfully original and undisturbed. A lifetime California car with superb structure, this example is equipped with Frigiking air conditioning, power steering, automatic transmission, two tops, and Becker radio, and is complete with books and tools.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608