Mercedes 230/250/280SL

by Jim Schrager

1970 280SL sold for $16,953 at Brooks, Stuttgart.

Representing a gigantic step forward over the four-cylinder 190SL, the six-cylinder 230SL appeared in the early ’60s as a dramatic styling statement that still is striking today. This supurbly built car with decent-but-not-shattering performance remains quite affordable, with usable examples starting at $15,000, nice cars at $20,000 to $25,000, and first rate examples going for $30,000. The 230 (1963-66, 19,831 built) and 250 (1966-68, 5,196 built) are a bit less valuable than the more numerous 280SL (1968-71, 23,885 built). Body changes are minimal, but the hubcaps and trim rings on the 230 and 250 cars are separate pieces; the 280 has a single large cap. Alloy wheels were not generally original equipment. Rust is an issue with the basic structure of the car, although the hood, trunk, doors and tonneau were made of aluminum, which was rather exotic for a production car. Look carefully at shut lines for the hood, as these are difficult to restore to the...