I’ll start this off by stating that I am a bit biased towards Mercedes-Benz roadsters. I have owned a number of these cars over the years and feel like every single generation of the Mercedes SL is a top-of-class roadster GT in its category. Every single one, without exception, offers capable performance for the era, attractive styling, best-in-the-world build quality and – most importantly – is enjoyable to drive. Keep in mind that all Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters are GT cars and not really sports cars, but that being said, they are some of the world’s best cars to take on a vintage car rally, especially if you want classic style combined with utter reliability.
Of all the Mercedes SL roadsters, my favorites are the W113 models built between 1963 and 1971, named the 230/250/280SL. The reason? They offer classic 1960s Mercedes styling, are still light and sporting, and are extremely well-crafted and reliable.
Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is one of these amazing cars, a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL. The auction ends on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
The seller describes this car as being powered by an M130 2.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission. It is painted in Silver Mist with a color-matched removable hardtop over a black MB-Tex interior. The car is offered by the seller with the hardtop stand, spare parts and a clear title.
Among the highlights of this specific 280SL is that it was the recipient of a body-on restoration. Being a unibody car, that is the only way you can restore any 280SL. The seller also points out that it’s from a long-term private collection.
The exterior of this 280SL appears quite nice in the provided photos. The Silver Mist paint looks to be in good condition, as does all the brightwork. I’m impressed that the owner has replaced the U.S.-spec headlights with the much cooler-looking European ones. (The original U.S.-spec headlights are included in the sale.)
The interior is in black MB-Tex. Before you get all fussy and say you prefer leather, you should know that correct MB-Tex is some of the finest vinyl ever put in a car. It wears forever, is nice-looking, requires little special care and is comfortable to sit in. While sitting in that comfy driver’s seat, it’s easy to see why a 280SL represents classic German elegance at its best as you check out the full instrumentation behind the big steering wheel, which looks even more impressive at night when lit up.
This 280SL also features a dealer-installed factory under-dash air-conditioning unit – a somewhat rare amenity for these cars that makes them much nicer to drive on a hot day. A humorous note in the car’s description: The seller states an imperfection is that the factory Becker Europa radio has a delay after being turned on before it plays. In fact, this is not a problem – it’s how the Becker Europa works; it needs to warm up after being turned on.
Under the hood of this 280SL is the correct Mercedes M130 fuel-injected 2.8-liter SOHC inline-six that has 180 horsepower and 193 lb-ft of torque. These engines are tremendous and can last for hundreds of thousands of miles. Yes, they do require service, but a nice 280SL – as this one appears to be – is one of the easiest-to-own classic European cars. And the fact it is equipped with a 4-speed manual makes it all the more fun to drive.
When the first generation of the W113 roadsters was launched, Road & Track magazine closed off their review by stating it was “very near the ideal of a fast, effortless GT car.” In the review by the same magazine of the 280SL, they wrote, “For those who value engineering fitness and high-quality construction, it’s alone in the field.”
If all this is intriguing to you, act fast and place a bid – the auction for this 1969 280SL ends on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter Listing for more information and a photo gallery