Selling my baby: Euro 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Automatic Number Matching!!!!! 😭
The car was brought to San Francisco from Zurich by Bay Area musician Abe Battat in 1983. It then remained with its second US owner in San Diego from 2006 until I bought it in 2009. I have enjoyed it for 16 years!!!! ….. with great sadness unfortunately, I must sell it due moving. I hope it will find a new home and the new owner will enjoy it as much and much much more!!!!
The car has many original elements and is number matching including body parts, engine, transmission, Becker Europa Kurier radio, etc. It still has the original fire wall padding in the engine bay. It has the flat-lens rather than the rounded euro ones, I believe due to being a Swiss car and Nardi steering wheel.
Documents and service records include the copy of the 1968 Original Moter Vehicle from the factory, shipping documents from Zurick to USA as well as service records state side from 1983 to todate. The last service I did in January 2025 included changing the oil, flushing the coolant, cleaning the fuel tank and pump, and replacing the battery. The seats and headrests we reupholstered in OEM MB black leather. I have original owner’s manual, MB tools and pouch, hardtop tools and pouch, service records, car cover, hard top cover few replacement parts and transferable New York registration.
As I stated above, I have enjoyed it tremendously ever since 2009. I never intended to part ways, but unfortunately due to moving I am left with no option but to sell it. In 2009 in my search for a Pagoda, I bought THREE 280SL, TWO of which sold immediately, keeping this gem (in my humble opinion). I acquired this car from the second US owner who bought it for his wife in 2006, but did not get a lot of use since they had 3 little kids!! The original US owner from 1983-2006 took great care of the car. When I first acquired the car I did the main required services for the transmission, engine tune-ups, radiator etc. at UDO’s Automotive in Tenafly, NJ (an expert in MB and as he claims descendant of the founders !!!) Ever since I do oil changes, filters etc twice per year, one in November before the winter hibernation in my garage and one in April/May after the heavy rain washes the east coast roads. I use the car mainly as a glorified golf cart to and from the local golf courses, and local outings with a few trips to the Hamptons (on non-rainy days of course).
There are no active leaks, and all instruments do work except the clock. The ventilation levers all do work, except the top driver side one where the knob is broken but I do rotate the wheel itself. Actually, when i do need to switch between hot air/cold air (twice a year) I do rotate the wheels rather than using the knobs on all of them since the knobs are sensitive. I bought 2 sets of replacement levers and was planning to replace them with the clock in due time.
This early production 280SL has the original Data number matching body parts, engine, trans etc.. this was the main attraction for keeping the car as I always had in mind to do a full restoration one day!!!
I am happy to answer any questions and provide any additional information you might need. Below is a link for pics and videos.
https://1drv.ms/v/c/bf086faabffee0d4/EeRhJdNjw9FLkOuvZ3lJHRMBGk1Xyc-LcKmVT7M3N23l1w?e=nwYS0TThanks again for your interest in my baby!!!!
