11/17/2023
1984 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible
$17,925
Low-mile 1984 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible nearly all original, with the car having been owned by a mechanic most of its life and meticulously maintained. The car comes with its original manuals, documents, and service records dating from 1986. An included manual shows an Auto Page alarm system installed. This 380SL presents very well in provided photos, with the driver’s seat appearing to be the only obvious location of visible wear.
The Mercedes-Benz R107 SL series, sold from 1972-'88, was prolific, with Mercedes building nearly 240,000 examples over that span (including the longer-wheelbase C107 coupes). The U.S. became the largest market for these cars, and all U.S. models were V8-powered. Along the way, Mercedes changed the engine for the U.S. model a couple of times, with each bringing a model badge change. For 1981, an aluminum 3.8-liter version of the M116 V8 replaced the 4.5-liter iron-block version, and the car became the 380SL. There was no difference in performance, though, as the much lighter 3.8 was down just 5 horsepower from the 1980 4.5-liter engine. A new aluminum hood further reduced weight, and a new four-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous three-speed.