1983 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class convertible [prestigious classic] for sale

This 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL has the clean fundamentals that come from two-owner care

And when you become the third owner, the value price lets you also really make it your own. So if you want a prestigious classic that also is going to be a personal cruiser, you’ve found it here.

The Champagne paint is believed to be the original application, and it continues to have a nice metallic glow to keep this convertible looking nice in the sunshine. In fact, the info that we have on this one is that it’s a two-owner car, and while it’s unknown if the odometer reflects the full mileage, the overall fit and finish reflect long-term respect. So you’ll appreciate everything from the fit of the hood to the clean alloys. Mercedes like to present a thoughtful total package. That’s why the folding roof is in a harmonizing brown and the color-matched hardtop makes this look like it was designed to be a coupe from day one.

A car like this is all about comfort and ease, and the interior shows that off quite nicely. The bucket seats are well-contoured and have a fold-down armrest in-between. There’s room to spread out (even with the top up) with the kind of space that could rival a luxury sedan. The convertible top stores in its own sealed compartment so that it never interferes with items/luggage you have on the rear shelf. So the full package feels thoughtfully engineered. It’s also loaded with the best features like power windows, cruise control, and the classic Becker Grand Prix stereo. The classic Mercedes wheel of this era had a terrific grip, and the full VDO gauge package has a crisp and clean look. So the overall impression is a classic that’s also easy to enjoy in modern times.

The 3.8-liter fuel-injected motor is an alloy block V8. These hold a special place in enthusiast’s hearts. It’s a nice engineering feat to have a smooth-running consumer alloy V8 in the early 1980s when other companies were rather stagnant with innovations. And when you want a classic Mercedes, you also want to see this level of respect. Clean components, tidy wires, and factory decals are all big signs of meticulous care. And the way this one fires up and runs reaffirms the feeling that this two-owner car has had a lifetime thus far or proper respect. It’s this level of reverence that keeps a classic Mercedes a great cruiser. Plus, there’s a fully independent suspension, four-wheel power disc brakes, power steering, and a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. So this is the right classic for when you know what proper grand touring is all about.

This is a true cruiser’s classic. You may update the seats, restore the air conditioning, or use the value price as a way to budget for other upgrades and personalization. But that’s only if you’re looking for perfection. Most of us already see the excellence in a well-built and shining drop-top that has the right level of old-money charm.