1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SL
Light Beige with Dark Red Leather
Mercedes-Benz 250SL
Year: 1968
Chassis Number: 11304322003968
Engine Number: 12998222001931
Price: SOLD
Specification
DB181 Light Beige with Dark Red Leather
Matching Numbers
Automatic with Power Steering
Just 77,600 Miles and a Wonderful History File
Another great find! This very rare late 250SL is finished in Light Beige (DB181) with a beautiful dark red Leather interior. It is fitted with an automatic gearbox and power steering.
Whilst 250SL’s are rare in their own right with production lasting just 10 months, this ‘facelift’ 250SL was manufactured in September 1967 at the latter stages of 250SL production with the cars looking identical to the 280SL that followed. It is in effect visually and mechanically identical to the 280SL, except with an engine 300cc smaller.
Supplied on the 1st January 1968 by Greenhill Continental Cars in Pinner, Middlesex to a company in New Oxford Street, London. This records its first service on the 5th May 1968 at 1050 miles. The mileage was to rise to 28,739 miles on 28th April 1971 when it received its 4th service at Alan Day Mercedes-Benz. The car was certainly used as intended early on in its life!
A very comprehensive service history accompanies the car and it has very plainly been very carefully looked after. The first restoration works were carried out by well known motor engineers TT Workshops whose invoices totalled over £3,000 in 1979-80, a rather substantial sum in those days!
In 1991 having covered almost 60,000 miles according to the MOT’s on file, the car was further restored by Wesley Jones in Essex, including receiving a complete repaint. At the time, the owner, who owned and ran a car audio business commissioned the superb bespoke interior that you see today and naturally installed what was at the time a state of the art stereo system. He had the car maintained by specialists such as Roger Edwards Motors, Wesley Jones and Peter Mercedes throughout his ownership; again there are invoices and photos on file for the restoration and other work carried out.
The last owner kept the car for nearly 19 years and as before there are invoices for work during his tenure. During this period he covered less than 9,000 miles, clearly only heading out in good weather, taking the mileage to 77,600 miles as it stands today.
There is the rare and complete book pack in the original plastic wallet with handbook, spare parts book and the often missing service book. We also have the original Data Card and a letter from Mercedes Stuttgart dated August 1991 detailing the original build specification and confirming it to be matching numbers. The car has a printout of the ownership from DVLA. This includes a copy of the original registration document and a list of owners over the years. Sadly owing to data protection rules, DVLA no longer makes this available, so a rare treasure!
The car now presents with superb panel fit and shut lines as indeed it should after such comprehensive works. However, it is the underside which is most impressive. It really looks as if it has never seen bad weather, and is worthy of careful examination. The under bonnet is clean and just as it would have been when new.
The car has a matching hardtop in Light Beige in wonderful condition with its original wood trim and lining. The soft top was replaced during the previous ownership in contrasting red and still presents very well today.
Recently the car has passed through the workshop of the very respected Roger Edwards Motors. A major service was carried out, as well a new (and correct mild steel) exhaust system, and other minor fettling works totalling just shy of £6,500.
The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed our extremely sensible asking price. The reason for this is that sadly some of the body panels have suffered from micro blistering and whilst it is perfectly usable as is, the car would benefit from a repaint at a future date.