This 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL was refurbished under previous ownership before it was acquired by the current owner. Work included a repaint in Moss Green Metallic and retrimming the Bamboo MB-Tex interior as well as mechanical refreshment. Power is provided by a replacement 2.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and additional equipment includes a body-color removable hardtop, a green soft top, 14″ steel wheels with painted covers, Euro-style bumpers, a defroster, and a Becker AM/FM radio.
The W113 SL was designed by Friedrich Geiger, Béla Barényi, and Paul Bracq and was introduced to the public at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. This example left the factory finished in white and is said to have been repainted in its current Moss Green Metallic (834) in 2021. It features a matching removable hardtop, a green soft top, dual mirrors, US-specification headlights, and Euro-style bumpers.
The 14″ steel wheels feature covers with painted centers and are mounted with 195/70 Michelin Defender T+H tires that show date codes from 2017. Braking is provided by power-assisted four-wheel discs. The steering box was rebuilt in March 2020, and the idler arm bushings were replaced in July 2022.
The cabin houses bucket seats that were reupholstered in Bamboo MB-Tex under previous ownership, and matching upholstery extends to the door panels. Coco floor mats protect the square-weave tan carpets, and other interior appointments include an analog clock, a floor-mounted gear shifter, a Becker Europa AM/FM radio, and a defroster.
The two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6,500-rpm redline as well as auxiliary gauges. The speedometer cable was replaced in July 2022. The five-digit odometer shows 73k miles, a handful of which were added under current ownership.
The replacement 2.8-liter M130 inline-six was factory equipped with Bosch fuel injection. Work performed since 2020 includes repairing a coolant leak, adjusting the heat valve, and replacing the front crankshaft seal and ballast resistor. An oil leak is noted from the front of the engine.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission.
The data plate decodes as follows:
- 491: US version
- 503: Left-side mirror
- 050G: White Paint
- 291H: Dark Olive hardtop and hubcaps
- 6: Hardtop mounted on car, soft top folded
A reproduction chassis tag is shown and lists the VIN as 11304410012683, which matches the Indiana title.
