"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
08/28/2015 at 16:19 • Filed to: None
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"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
08/28/2015 at 16:19 • Filed to: None | 1
| 5 |
Spotted this in the parking lot at work:
What can you tell me?
All I know about this specific car, is it has 99,239 miles on it, and it’s an automatic. Also it’s in fantastic condition.
It’s probably the base model, but I would guess at least it has a sweet straight-6? Looks like a classy ride.
Party-vi
> functionoverfashion
08/28/2015 at 16:38 |
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Nah son - V8. The 380SL was the turd of the bunch, with only 155hp and around 200lb-ft of torque. That being said, they are extremely well built if you don’t count some of the earlier HVAC systems. Also, beware of the 1984 and earlier models. Mercedes installed an inexpensive single-row timing chain, and the chain would stretch, fail, and grenade the motor. Some have been retrofitted to a double-row timing chain, but this was a very expensive procedure. Any model after 1985 should be OK in that regard. My (almost) FIL has one, a gorgeous ‘85 380SL with gray paint and tan interior and around 77k miles. Going rate is anywhere from $5k for a basket case up to $12k for a very nice one.
EmbraceTheRasp
> functionoverfashion
08/28/2015 at 16:59 |
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I had one of these. And by “had” I mean my Pop bought one used in 1987 or 1988 off a car-dealer client that owned him and couldn’t sell the car. I was occasionally allowed to drive it when he wasn’t looking and once to take my Grandma to the beach.
It was a 6 hour ride with the top down at 85MPH. She was initially annoyed by the wind, but I put her in my special Magnum PI detroit baseball cap, rolled up the windows, put her seat heater on and she was all “carry on, my wayward son”. She was raised on a farm and it gave her no end of pride to arrive at her daughter’s house all regal like in it.
It was a non-metallic creamy tan almost camel-hair-coat color with a brown top. Low slung with the inward-dished aluminum wheels they put on the turbo-diesels. Such a sweet car.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-…
NOT A SPORTS CAR; but a great touring car. I’d discount-double-check the timing belt business, but that car was a brick house as far as reliability and durability.
Bonus points if it still has that sweet hard-top with the gentle curve to the center from the windows.
I may start looking for one of these—in the 560 range this time.
Cé hé sin
> Party-vi
08/28/2015 at 17:24 |
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“380SL was the turd of the bunch, with only 155hp...”
Maybe in America but elsewhere they were 215 hp. Not fast either way but it wasn’t really that kind of car.
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functionoverfashion
> Party-vi
08/28/2015 at 19:57 |
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Interesting, and that’s pretty good money (cheap!) for something that looks that good. I mean, it’s a little polarizing with the gigantic bumpers but I still think it’s classy looking. You could show up anywhere with that car and get respect. Girls would probably love it. And I suspect most would think it’s worth way more than ~10k.
On the other hand, I prefer my 1972 ford pickup. I get respect everywhere with that, but for better reasons. And no one thinks it’s worth anything, haha.
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Party-vi
> Cé hé sin
08/28/2015 at 20:19 |
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Yep - we had the smog-choked versions. Even the 560SL was only making 227hp over here. It’s what prompted the gray market importing.