1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

In a perfect world, we all want the very best, for the very least investment. A quality engineered vehicle at a used car price; a really great car for pennies on the dollar. Well, in this auction, you have the opportunity to purchase just that. So what defines a great car? Engineering? Design? Price? Name? Safety? Reliability? Resale value? How about all of the above? Enter the Mercedes..... Offered For Sale By The California Automobile Museum, A 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL. VIN WDB10704612001506. Currently licensed and titled in California, the hard work in owning a grey market car is done. The car does carry a NON US branding on the title. This 500SL will definitely set you apart from the other Mercedes "Pagoda" owners. This car has the European look and the 5.0 liter horsepower to make the 380 owners just a little jealous. This car overall is very clean and appears to be very well cared for. The body is straight and for the most part, still has its original paint. There has been some type of body work or repair on the front, and in the rear on the right side as well as the trunk lid itself. The rear bumper on the passenger side appears to be slightly bent on the side portion. Although the trunk lid has the insignia of AMG, this car is not equipped with any add on options commonly found on AMG Mercedes. Cosmetically, the paint still shines very nicely and the BBS rims add a nice flair to the car. They are in good shape with only very minor rash and they have decent tires mounted to them. The car has its minor scrapes, chips, and scratches as can be expected out of a 28 year old car. The silver color hides them very well and they are virtually invisible standing 10 feet away. The rubber inserts on the front bumper are pulling away slightly and should be relatively easy to fix. The interior on this car is neat and clean with no odors present. The seats show some signs or wear but no rips or tears. The car comes with black sheep skin seat covers, removed for photos. The dash has some very small cracks beginning to form and the sun visors have some seam separation in the corners. The soft top is in good shape, remaining pretty much unused over the last 2 decades. The plastic window is hazy as they all get and there is some water staining visible from the inside looking at the underside of the top. Mechanically, this car runs good and operates as one would expect from this style Mercedes. The braking is solid and responsive, the steering and suspension feel tight and feel trouble free. There is no pull or shake or any odd vibrations while driving. Idle and acceleration are all good and aside from the air conditioning, everything mechanical seems to be in top shape. There are some minor functional issues with the car. The passenger side window does not operate, (Diagnosed as a bad switch. With the switches reversed, the problem switches to the driver's side) and the aftermarket Alpine stereo has no sound. It does power on but we can not determine if the problem is with the stereo unit itself or the speakers. The ash tray when open feels loose and is easily removed. It may be missing some form of retainer clip. The cigarette lighter port is also disconnected. Additionally, there may be a problem with the blend door of the H.V.A.C. system. The defrost and dash vents work but the floor registers do not. The car overall is in good shape. There does not appear to be any rust anywhere aside from the typical surface stuff found on the bottom of the cars. This is a one owner car owned in California since its arrival to the U.S. and always garaged. There are stacks of maintenance records available and included with the car as well as a car cover. Technical Specifications Engine/Driveline Number of cylinders/type: V-8, OHC. Displacement: 4,973 cc. 96.5 mm. bore x 85 mm. stroke. Induction: Bosch fuel injection. Horsepower: 240 @ 5,000 RPM. Compression ratio: 9.0:1. Transmission type: Four speed automatic. Chassis Wheelbase: 97 in. Weight: 3,500 lbs. Brake type: Four wheel disks. Production Information Original list price: $48,000 (est.) These cars were not officially imported and this car was modified after importation, so prices are estimated. The History Mercedes-Benz is one of the oldest and most respected car manufacturers in the world. Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz of Germany were independently developing automobiles in the mid-1880s. A financial backer of Daimler sponsored the development of a sporting model to be named after his daughter, Mercedes. The Daimler and Benz companies merged in 1926. From the beginning of the company’s history, racing was a major part of Mercedes’ efforts to develop their cars technically and to promote them through racing success. The best known classic Mercedes sports cars were probably the legendary 300SL coupes and roadsters of the late 1950s. From 1963-1971, the W113 series of 230, 250, and 280SL roadsters with their unique “pagoda” removable hardtops brought a more “mass-market” series to the motoring public. In 1971 the new R107 series was introduced that would include the 280, 300, 350, 380, 420, 450, and 500SL models. This series would end in 1989, making this series of cars the longest single series ever produced by Mercedes. This 500SL is a so-called “grey-market” car as the 500SL was not imported to the U.S. and sold through Mercedes dealers. Customers wanting a 500SL bought cars through independent importers and had them certified for sale and registration in the U.S. Although it is not believed to be original, this car has also been modified with components from AMG, Mercedes’ in-house performance division which often included engine and suspension modifications and altered bodywork, spoilers, and trim. This vehicle was either consigned or donated to the California Automobile Museum, a non-profit organization and licensed California dealer located at 2200 Front Street, Sacramento, California, where it is available for inspection. This vehicle, and all vehicles sold through us are sold AS-IS with no warranty intended or implied by the California Automobile Museum or its consigner/donor. While we try to be as accurate as possible in our descriptions, please understand that we have no knowledge of the history of any vehicle and we rely heavily on the information provided with the vehicle. You, as a potential buyer, have the right to have the vehicle inspected at your expense prior to purchase. All sales are final, and there is no cooling off period in California. This Vehicle's mileage is subject to increase as it may be test driven or inspected during this auction. All sales will include a California Bill of Sale and a Warranty Disclaimers to be signed. (For our eBay customers) Your bid, winning or not, signifies you agree to these terms and conditions and you agree to make all payments within the allotted time. All purchased vehicles must be removed from the museum within 2 weeks from date of sale or storage fees of $10.00 per day will be applied. (Unless written arrangements for additional time have been agreed to by the Vehicle Sales Department) If you are the winning bidder and back out of your obligation to purchase, or fail to pay within the time allotted, (unless written arrangements with the vehicle sales department have been made) you WILL receive n