Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 1969

This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL was apparently sold new in Switzerland and imported early in its life to the U.S., where it was purchased by an Arizona collector in the 1990s. The car spent about 20 years in the States, undergoing a three-year restoration, begun by Transcendental Finishes in Prescott and completed by CPR Classic in Fallbrook, California. The work included a paint job to Silver Gray Metallic, new Light Red leather upholstery, a service to the 2.8-liter inline-six engine and four-speed manual transmission, the installation of a modified air conditioning system, and more. 

Originally painted Midnight Blue (DB-904), the car was repainted Silver Gray Metallic (DB-180) by Cyril Mischler of CPR Classic in 2014, according to the selling dealer. The finish is shown in detail in the gallery below, along with photos of the hardtop and the black softtop in the desired color.

Silver 14″ Bundt alloy wheels wear Michelin Defender tires with 2014 date codes. New brakes and suspension components are said to have been installed during the refurbishment.

The cockpit was reupholstered in Light Red (3001) leather with matching carpets, door panels, and dash trim. Features include a sideway-facing “kinder” rear seat, a Becker Mexico radio, a wood storage console, and a period Kuhlmeister under-dash air conditioner fed by a modern Bud’s Benz compressor-based system. 

Instrumentation includes a 220-kph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6,500-rpm redline. Just under 26k kilometers (~16k miles) are shown on the five-digit odometer, 5k kilometers of which have been added under current ownership.

The 2.8-liter M130 inline-six features Bosch mechanical fuel injection and was rated at 168 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque when new. The engine is said to have been rebuilt during the refurbishment, though supporting records are unavailable. An oil change was performed by the selling dealer in October 2019.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission that is also said to have been overhauled, while the driveshaft was rebuilt using parts from Mercedes-Benz Classic according to the selling dealer.