This 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380SE is a European-market example that was ordered via the Mercedes-Benz Bielefeld branch in Germany. Reportedly this SE was imported to the United States in the 1980s after being sent to AMG for the modifications in Germany. It later was acquired by the infamous collector Barry Taylor until being auctioned in 2025. Finished in Lapis Blue Metallic (932) over a Beige leather (235) cabin, this 380SE is powered by the high-compression M116 V8 and paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission with a 3.27 rear end reportedly installed by AMG. Factory features on the car include a power sunroof, manual wind windows, a heated driver seat, rear defrost, and dual-zone climate control. Additional AMG features include an authentic first generation AMG body kit, authentic 16” AMG Penta wheels, and an Atiwe AMG steering wheel. The seller purchased the car in 2024 with the intention of a mechanical refurbishment. Recent refurbishment work reportedly totaled approximately $35k and addressed the fuel system, cooling system, ignition system, transmission, driveline, suspension, braking, belts, seals, and fluids. A complete breakdown is provided in the listing. This ex-Barry Taylor collection 380SE is offered for sale in Utah with recent service records, two keys, and a clean Montana title.
The body is finished in Lapis Blue Metallic (932) and features a period-converted SEC front end along with an authentic AMG body kit. European headlamps are shown up front with lower fog lamps, rear defrost, a power antenna, and a power adjustable right side mirror. The SEC front end was reportedly installed by AMG in-period shortly after the car was purchased new, along with the body kit and wheels. Records from AMG have not been kept with the car. Detailed photos of the body and exterior are included in the gallery and a paint correction along with a ceramic coating were performed in preparation for the sale.
The 16” AMG Pentas were refinished and trued under the seller's care. The wheels measure 16x8 all around and wear Continental ExtremeContact tires showing 2025 date codes. Work performed under the seller’s care includes new shocks, a new steering damper, new idler arm bushings, new brake hoses, and new rear sway bar links.
The cabin is trimmed in Beige Leather (235) with Zebrano veneer featured throughout. The factory build notes a power sunroof, manual-wind windows, a heated driver seat, rear defrost, air conditioning, rear speakers, and a power antenna without a radio. An aftermarket Kenwood head unit was added under previous ownership. The cabin shows well with little wear noted. Ribbed MBZ-embroidered floor mats are shown and the vinyl window trim is shown to have shrunk over time.
The Atiwe steering wheel was produced for AMG and wears the logo. It frames the gauge cluster consisting of a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and oil, coolant, and economy readouts. The odometer shows 49k kilometers (~30k miles).
Power comes from the Euro-spec M116.961 3.8-liter V8, rated at 215 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. The engine sends power to the rear wheels through a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the car is equipped with a Quick Silver exhaust system. Recent refurbishment work reportedly totaled approximately $35k and included service to the fuel system, cooling system, ignition system, transmission, driveline, suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, belts, seals, and fluids. Noted work included cleaning the fuel tank, replacing the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel distributor, warm-up regulator, and fuel injectors, flushing the coolant, replacing the radiator, water pump, coolant expansion tank, battery, drive belts, spark plugs, valve cover gaskets, lower oil pan gasket, transmission modulator valve, and shift linkage bushings, flushing the transmission, differential, brake, and power steering fluids, and replacing the steering damper, idler arm bushings, shocks, brake hoses, and rear sway bar links. Altogether the seller notes the car is capable of being driven regularly.
Now offered in Huntsville, Utah, This rare 380SE is offered for sale in Utah with recent service records, two keys, and a clean Montana title.
The W126 S-Class has always carried a quiet authority, but this European-market 380SE brings a much sharper enthusiast edge to the mix. Finished with Gen-1 AMG bodywork, Lapis-matched AMG Penta wheels, an early AMG Atiwe steering wheel, and the unmistakable front end conversion it presents as the kind of period-modified flagship sedan that feels equal parts discreet, muscular, and 1980s AMG iconic. At the heart of the car is its Euro-spec M116.961 V8, rated at 215 horsepower thanks to the higher-compression European-market specification. That detail matters. Compared with the softer U.S.-market cars that followed, this 380SE carries the AMG styling, stronger performance, and more direct character that make gray-market Mercedes-Benz models so compelling today. This example is further distinguished as an ex-Barry Taylor Collection car and benefits from approximately $35k in recent refurbishment. That allows this to be a true driver example rather than another meant car to sit in a dusty museum. For buyers drawn to W126 sedans with real European-market appeal, period AMG presence, and meaningful recent sorting, this 380SE is a rare and highly compelling find.
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21 Comments
$28,500 bid placed by @AMGobsessed
$27,500 bid placed by @CoupedUp
$26,500 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$25,000 bid placed by @Canada1256
$23,750 bid placed by @spyder360
$23,500 bid placed by @CoupedUp
$22,500 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
Last few hours! I’ll be keeping a close eye to answer any last minute questions!Here’s some more videos to keep you busy, sound on is your best bet here! Exhaust - https://youtu.be/uu6eTgAufiY Drive up Canyon 1 https://youtu.be/01NrB0XhiWc Drive up canyon 2 https://youtu.be/3DTdQS3Twto Top and down 1 https://youtu.be/C-LSsgA7kco Top down 2 with hard brakes https://youtu.be/bsmGxiryqGk Drive with downshift https://youtu.be/LLwNOgjeYAw Radio-Antenna https://youtu.be/0lKipiY1MAA Dash https://youtu.be/nJ9ZJIqvMhY Windows https://youtu.be/4Id49kHJLV4@Steveo146 you would not be disappointed. My wife was not a huge fan of this car or the funds it was taking... and then she drove it home one night. It's about 60 miles from the shop to home. By the time she was home she was in love. It was a push to get her to put it up for auction. good luck!!$20,000 bid placed by @AMGobsessed
$10,250 bid placed by @silversun262
I would literally die if I won this magnificent masterpiece in this auction. My uncle had one in almost the same color back in 81 or 82. Stole me heart!! Great vehicle!!!!@sassanbehnam Not sure what the California requirements are but its a cat-less stainless exhaust system. So if you need catalytic converters to pass, it will not.Will she pass CA smog test?@onebadrover yes AMG stamping to boot + OMG $$$$ !!!! @ProdigalPetrolHead welcome to the auction !!!@Henson with the AMG stamping to boot! I looked for a suitable spare wheel and tire for the car and I found tons of “penta” wheels but only one that was stamped with the AMG logo… they were asking $4500 per wheel and that’s why there is no spare. :)$10,000 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
I am also a big fan of Penta wheels, especially colour coded.Good afternoon @ReiB, I also believe that Lapis Blue Metallic is a fabulous colour for the W126 flagships !!! Enjoy these 9 days, I know that I will.What a treat! Odd configuration for a "S" class. I picked up a Euro 84 500 SE Lorinser many years ago and thought the US market got the 380 and the rest of the world got the 500 for a V8. Manual windows and only a drivers heated seat. Would love to know the back story on that! Anyway, good luck with the sale, to me, this is the best exterior color for the W126, yes, I'm partial due to mine being the same color.Euro cars get dual tone horns as not to scare pedestrians: https://youtu.be/e225WGanFzg?si=WD0eM6GeloswLxfwAcceleration and hard brake: https://youtu.be/RcbccyAwdjM?si=bBL-TohZxSlkqITwHard brake: https://youtu.be/lV05FQwca5Y?si=D2DdyrYbiifylCUsCalm drive by: https://youtu.be/p7kEuoeAOFI?si=BWpkxK68hJd3chHsDrive while cold - https://youtu.be/5wMQj2MF58U?si=W0T7LcXZfgpuV_MMCold Start Video here: https://youtu.be/SMbn_e0QkPY?si=H6adWsRPAaDkajwA@MIMAVA this ones for you... https://youtu.be/RRrWYUC78tQ?si=z8eCdnXU7JmCZHaF@StuttgartClassix exactly. Maybe not on the 4th of July weekend!https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-mercedes-benz-380se-2/ lets try againHi You send us 450+ photos of the car and you didn’t send at least one with the sun roof open. Is the sun roof working properly???