This Arabian gray 280SL is essentially all original excepting an interior refresh done in our workshops and a couple of paint blends. Sold new by Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills, this two-owner has spent her whole life in Southern California.

She was reconditioned in our workshops with the aim of conserving this highly authentic specimen. As the years pile up, more and more cars will be restored with various levels of (in-)competence and fewer and fewer will remain original and authentic. The future will look kindly upon the few remaining preservation-grade examples (read “great investment”).

Motoring Investments has contributed 339 workshop hours to this end including all functionality items and preventative maintenance to assure she drives as Daimler-Benz intended for years to come (our clients spend upwards of $40,000 for work such as this on their cars)

Equipment and accessories include original Frigiking air conditioning, automatic transmission and the original Becker Europa radio. The original Continental brand spare tire is still secured in the trunk under its cover as are the tool pouch and owner’s manuals. Original features include: All glass, date coded trunk weather-seal, most paint, factory labels, headlight notches, body sheet metal, factory beige undercoating, Cosmoline shipping wax and all matching numbers per data card.

Click on a photo to see the large version—click again to see the super large version (‘back’ on your browser to return to the gallery).
   

Matching body number per Body ID Plate and stamping on hood (#605 – all of the rest match as well)
    

The trunk floors are most vulnerable to poor storage conditions and/or damp weather. This one displays all-original metal & paint (a rare occurrence). The original Phoenix Firestone spare tire still resides under its cover inside the trunk along with the original pouch, tools, owner’s manuals and trunk lid decals.