Here's a gem from back in the day that looks as good today as it did back when it shiny and new. This 1984 380 SL looking even more spectacular given that it's based up here in car devouring North East Ohio.
I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen Florida plates on this baby let alone these older, vintage 2003 Ohio plates that I see a fair number of melting from rust. There is some sentiment up here that road salt, or brine, used in abundance to keep roads safe during winter months never goes away. It lies in wait the blacktop and cement bubbling to the surface whenever it rains spraying our unsuspecting cars with its rust making solution.
This masterpiece of German engineering is flawless. At least from what I can tell. These SL's have a reputation for rust and, again, given this is Cleveland, an old Benz in this shape is even more remarkable. The better the condition the more it's worth, of course. You don't see many of these around these days that are in bad shape. What's more, if you see one if great shape, like this one, it's most likely original. These SL's are very expensive to repair let alone restore.
She's only a 380 meaning she has a 3.8 liter V-8 making all of 155 horsepower. A Buick 3.8 liter V-6 of the same vintage put out only five less horses and similar torque. Albeit with far less smoothness in operation. SL stands for "sport" and "leicht" (light). Sport and light may have been true on older SLs. Our beauty here weighed in at more than 3500 pounds. Light by todays standards, a modern SL pushes down north of 4500 pounds, not so much by even 1984 scales.
Back in the '80s, nothing said "I got it" more than a Mercedes Benz SL. Some things never change.
No comments:
Post a Comment