1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SL ROADSTER

Refinished in Silver over an original-appearing, blue-upholstered interior, this late-production 280SL from 1971 includes both a Navy convertible top and a removable Pagoda hardtop. Retaining the original 2.8-liter engine, this 280SL is well very well-equipped for sporty classic enjoyment with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, air conditioning, power brakes and power steering, plus a period-correct Becker 'Europa' AM/FM radio and added fog lamps. Correct body-color ventilated steel wheels, factory star hubcaps, trim rings and radial tires finish it off. This end-of-line 280SL is one of only 558 export-market cars for 1971, including 520 destined for the United States. While visually undistinguishable from its predecessors other than its identification scripts, improvements applied to the 280SL were numerous, chiefly the uprated 2.8-liter 180hp engine. The enhanced power output, low-end torque and all-around driving flexibility of the 280SL captivated road-testers in period and it continues to enchant marque enthusiasts today. Just 830 examples of the 280SL were produced for the final 1971 model year before the release of the new ''R107' SL generation, including this highly original example. Launched in Geneva in 1963, the 'W113' Mercedes-Benz 230SL replaced the 300SL and 190SL at once and initiated a new single-platform sports car policy for its maker. Fast-rising designer Paul Bracq styled the new SL, including its distinctive Pagoda-style removable hardtop, and Bela Barenyi engineered the vehicle's many built-in safety features that would profoundly influence automotive design. Development was overseen by legendary Mercedes-Benz personnel, including Technical Director Fritz Nallinger, Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and Head of Styling Friedrich Geiger. Models progressed from the first-generation 230SL through the 1967-only 2.5-liter 250SL, which ushered in new 4-wheel disc brakes, to the ultimate 2.8-liter 280SL produced from November 1967 to February 1971.

Highly original example with a silver refinish over the original blue interior. Featuring an original engine, 4-speed automatic, air conditioning, power brakes and steering, plus a hardtop and soft-top.