This 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is a running and driving project that is powered by a 2.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The car has been refinished in silver over blue MB-Tex, and equipment includes a blue convertible top, a body-color removable hardtop, 14″ steel wheels with painted covers, and a CD stereo. Work since 2023 has involved replacing the fuel tank, rear wheel bearings, water pump, battery, starter, and ignition switch. This W113 SL is now offered by the selling dealer, a BaT Local Partner, at no reserve with transferable New York registration.
The car came finished from the factory in White with a Midnight Blue hardtop and was repainted silver some time ago. A dark blue Robbins soft top has been installed. The seller notes rust and patches in the floors and rockers, and other imperfections include the following:
- Additional rust around the body and in the trunk
- Chips, cracks, and peeling around hood
- Rust on the right rear bumper
- Cracks on the front headlight surround, front reflector lens, and both rear marker lenses
- Chips on windshield
- Dry-rotted windshield and trunk seals
- Dry-rotted fuel fill neck boot
- Inoperative windshield washers
The 14″ steel wheels feature covers with painted centers and are mounted with 205/70 General Altimax RT tires that show date codes from 2018. Braking is provided by power-assisted four-wheel discs. The rear wheel bearings were replaced in 2023. The seller notes a noise from the rear end bearing and a rattle from the rear of the car along with play in the front kingpins and leaks from the right front shock, steering box, and power steering pump. An invoice from 2023 notes that the control arm bushings are dry and cracking.
The cabin houses bucket seats upholstered in Blue MB-Tex that extends to the door panels. Interior appointments include an analog clock, a floor-mounted gear shifter, an Alpine CD stereo, aftermarket speakers in the rear firewall, lap belts, and a heater. The removed Becker stereo is included in the sale. The right door lock and door pull handle trims are loose, the dash wood trim is warped and cracked, and the vanity mirror is cracked. Other noted issues include an unsecured center console, broken knobs, a noisy blower motor fan, and a stuck floor vent switch and left heat slider.
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 gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 97k miles. The center of the steering wheel is damaged.
The 2.8-liter M130 inline-six was factory equipped with Bosch fuel injection and was rated at 180 horsepower and 193 lb-ft of torque when new. An electronic distributor was installed in 2020 and the distributor cap and rotor were replaced in 2022. A replacement fuel tank and hoses were installed in 2023, and the battery and water pump were replaced in 2025. A replacement starter and ignition switch were installed in 2026. The seller notes that the alternator belt is installed backwards and the hood spring requires replacement. There is a coolant leak from the left rear of the cylinder head along with leaks from the valve cover gaskets, oil pan, and oil filter housing.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The seller tells us that the transmission slips and is leaking. There is rust on the exhaust system and underside as shown in the gallery.
Decoding the underhood data plate provides the following information:
- 249 – Rear window electrically heated, tinted glass
- 426 – Automatic transmission, floor shift with power steering
- 492 – Heavy-duty heat exchanger
- 511 – Radio Becker Mexico
- 531 – Automatic antenna
The vehicle is being sold on its New York registration, which serves as an ownership document in that state.
