This 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL was originally ordered as a German-market example and imported to the United States from Germany in the early 2000’s. According to the seller the car was damaged during the export/import process and due to damage to the rear of the car, the title was issued with a rebuilt status. The car is finished in Astral Silver (735) over a Black Leather (231) interior and powered by a 5.0-liter M117 V8 paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. The current odometer reads 98k miles and has been in the current owner’s care since 2015. Features include a black soft top, paint-matched hardtop, power windows, cabin heat with rear defrost in the hardtop, heated front seats, and a rear kinder seat. Recent services include an oil change, fluid flush, and a tire rotation and balance. Records will be included showing service history under current ownership. This R107 is now offered with recent service, two keys, factory literature, a Carfax report, and a rebuilt Connecticut title.
The exterior is finished in Astral Silver (735) and features North American bumpers, European-spec headlamps, and dark amber corner lights. Additional exterior features include lower fog lamps, a power antenna, and original brightwork. The body has received a repaint in the original factory color with no blemishes or flaws noted by the seller. The black soft top shows one flaw noted in the right side along the trim where the chording appears frayed and photos of the paint-matched hardtop can be seen in the gallery below.
This SL wears the original 15” Gullideckel wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tires measuring 205/65 both front and rear. Painted OEM center caps are shown and no major blemishes are notes. A brake fluid flush was performed in 2022 along with a tire rotation and balance.
The interior is trimmed in Black Leather (231) with matching door panels, and carpets. Burled wood veneer accents the dashboard and center console with detailed photos shown in the gallery. Additional amenities include heated front seats, a rear black leather kinder seat, rear defrost integrated in the hardtop, and power windows. All leather including the armrest and door cards shows some wear, creasing, and fading.
The leather-trimmed steering wheel frames an instrument cluster that includes a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and a digital odometer that shows 98k miles.
The 5.0L M117 V8 was factory rated at 245 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque when new which is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Recent services include an oil change, fluid flush, and a tire rotation and balance. Records will be included showing service history under current ownership.
The included Carfax report shows linear mileage reports since import. This R107 is now offered by the seller with recent service, two keys, factory literature, a Carfax report, and a rebuilt Connecticut title.
The R107 500SL continues to be amongst the most popular and collectible versions of the 107 lineup due to unrestricted emissions, market scarcity, European trimmings, and that admirable ducktail spoiler. While this car may not attract the die-hard purist, the tantalizing thought that a driver spec 500SL can be had for significantly less than collectible samples should be in the mind of those seeking the ideal driver. Roadsters like this remind us that whether its a 1961 300SL, a patina-laden Pagoda, or this 107, driver-quality examples offer a fun and guilt-free driving experience from behind the wheel.
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3 Comments
$9,750 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$9,500 bid placed by @Haroon71
$9,250 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$9,000 bid placed by @Haroon71
$8,750 bid placed by @Kofg
$8,250 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$8,000 bid placed by @Kofg
$7,500 bid placed by @JoeFR
Love theses 80’s SLs. I have mine full restored. Best of the best!
$5,000 bid placed by @Kofg
$4,500 bid placed by @Ranger902
$4,000 bid placed by @7_hots
@autorossa Rebuilt title means the car was damaged at one point and it was fixed, so now it will pass state inspections. There should be no issues titling the car in another state. The only thing it affects is people's mindset on buying the car. Most people assume rebuilt title means the car is junk, and that's not the case.
What does it mean to have a "rebuilt title"? What problems does this form of title cause the buyer when they want to register/retitle the car?
$1,500 bid placed by @Ranger902