I’m officially declaring that spring is in the air. We are into mid-March now and soon the weather will turn for the better. That means car season is here and convertible season is soon to follow. Today, I wanted to look at one of my old favorites that always bring joy to me no matter the engine size or the condition – the W113 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. I think these are one of the most classic Mercedes models in terms of package and usability of them even over 50 years later. I am not alone in this thinking therefore prices are not cheap. However, this 1968 280SL up for sale in Virginia comes in at a somewhat reasonable price and I’m not sure why.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL on eBay
Year: 1968
Model: 280SL
VIN: 11304412000562
Engine: 2.8 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 68,019 mi
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Price: $59,900 Buy It Now
Iconic Mercedes-Benz 280SL in very nice condition! This car is a lot of fun to drive and will turn heads wherever it goes. Great driver and steers straight plus 4-speed automatic transmission shifts well, with lots of power and kick! Brakes very responsive and stop as they should. Temperature gauge stays cool, right at the 180 degree mark, even in city traffic. All gauges and lights working (except one bulb out in instrument cluster), even the clock is working! Factory-correct Becker Europa radio working. Body and panel gaps nice and straight. Clean car! Doors, trunk and hood close perfectly. The hood and doors are aluminum on this model to keep it light and fast. This car was restored in the 1980s by a previous owner, It could use refreshing but looks very, very good, even the paint looks great close-up with nice gloss and luster. The only place the paint needs attention is on the air vent below wipers, for some reason it is faded and spidering. I believe this one piece can be removed for easy refinishing. The chrome bumpers and aluminum trim are nice and are dent-free, but several smaller pieces of chrome will need replacing/rechroming. Interior upholstery excellent and seats have rich color and are sturdy yet soft, no rips or tears. Two very thin cracks on dash above cluster but nothing on rest of dash. Light wiper marks on windshield can be easily buffed-out. Soft top in good condition, no rips or tears. Hardtop in excellent condition with excellent correct original headliner. A great driving car for an extremely reasonable price, hard to find an entry-level 280SL in this condition for this price! Enjoy as-is or take it to the next level. Shipping cost is responsibility of buyer, I am more than happy to help with arrangement of shipping as well as worldwide shipping. Car sold as-is, with no warranties expressed or implied. Clean Virginia title. Bank check, certified funds, or bank wire required to complete sale. Please message with any questions. Happy bidding!
***note: photos and vid taken August, 2022. Has been in covered garage since. Becker Europa radio installed a few weeks after photos and vid were taken**** radio plays and in excellent condition. Spare wheel and tire not pictured but included with sale.
A perfect example this is not, but I’m sure seeing a ton of downsides here. This one looks to be from a loving owner with a fair amount of service history and no rust from what I can see. The really big wart is the stained headliner on the soft top, but I think I can live with that. I’m sure there are some little things here and there, but at this price, I don’t believe you’ll lose on it.
An asking price of $60,000 seems awfully cheap considering what nice 280SLs regularly sell for. If this was a 230 or 250 I wouldn’t be so surprised, but the 280s command the big numbers for a reason. Everyone wants the extra power and four-wheel disc brakes, and this one was even optioned with power steering. I sure wish I had the room. My guess is that this one won’t last long.
– Andrew
