Another 107 300sl 5-spd surfaces!!

[Doobster6]

Folks, check out the enclosed link. I just found this on eBay (7-14-08) but not in the 'SL' section so it's probably gone unnoticed. It's (purportedly) a 1986 Euro 300SL with 67k miles and a 5-spd. Looks great in the pictures but then again, everything looks better on eBay. Has the square headlights and bigger bumpers.
Based on very unscientific inferences regarding 'appearance-frequency' data (compared to 1988 BMW 735i 5-spds), I'm going to now guess that there may be as many as 25 to 50 of these cars roaming around in the US attracting no particular attention, on any given day. I know of my blue '86, another blue '86 running around DC (Jim's), a foreign diplomat's car and now this one. Since mine was driving along humbly under the radar in Delaware, and now this one pops up in Florida, what's to say there's not a couple dozen more running around out there that only SL lovers would even recognize?
Anyhow, one of us (but not me unfortunately) should snag this car though the seller ('BubbaSales') apparently knows he's got something unusual, and the reserve hadn't yet been tripped at $5k. As of this writing there's barely more than 9 hours left!!!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&mfe=sidebar&viewitem=&item=160256831195

[deanyel]

$8900 - cheap! Looked like a nice car.

[POS]

Wow. I missed that one - that's a sweet deal for a 6-cyl with a 5-speed. Could have sold the AMG and pocketed a large difference.

Naaaah.

[Michael K]

Assuming it's not a basket case, someone got a deal. I don't like the large bumpers, the spoiler on the rear deck is iffy, and I think the steering wheel is not original, but it looks good overall. I bet they could have doubled the total on ourSL.com where folks would recognize it for what it is.

[Roncallo]

That looks like a good deal and possibly an investment opportunity in this market.

[Doobster6]

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

Assuming it's not a basket case, someone got a deal. I don't like the large bumpers, the spoiler on the rear deck is iffy, and I think the steering wheel is not original, but it looks good overall. I bet they could have doubled the total on ourSL.com where folks would recognize it for what it is.

Good eye catching that. But the car was advertised as having an airbag which would explain why the steering wheel looks different than mine. I agree with the other post that the bigger bumpers, spoiler and even the sqaure headlights all detract. My car has the round headlights (which I at least prefer) and the smaller Euro bumpers which really clean up the appearance.

[deanyel]

Plus people didn't convert bumpers for the fun of it - front, rear or both has been crunched and an insurance company went for the easy answer and an unwise owner failed to object.

[Michael K]

Bumpers - the Euro bumpers on on my SL are on borrowed time. 100% scratch free right now, no dents, nothing. I drive the snot our of the SL every day, though. I pretty much figure the bumpers are on borrowed time.

[Steve C]

He guys

I have an '84 280sl 5 speed stick.

I realize that my prize is not as rare as a 300
but I wonder other than that what are the
differences in these cars.

Steve '84 280sl 191k

[rdgarzon]

I have an 84 as well, how about posting pics? or send to rdgarzon@live.com