1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible

In the rich history of the Mercedes-Benz marque, the SL range - starting with the legendary Gullwing of 1954 and continuing with the current R230 range of two-seaters today - has always been the most glamorous, overtly sporting model to come from Stuttgart. Although SL stood for Sport-Leicht, the W107 SL range introduced in 1972 could hardly be described as a lightweight sports car in the traditional sense, rather it was a solidly-engineered, beautifully-built machine capable of crossing continents at high speed. Truly versatile, the W107 came with a quality hardtop capable of transforming the car from open roadster to coupe in inclement weather. Incorporating numerous safety features and a build quality that has rarely been matched, the W107 range lasted in production for nearly two decades. Although the Teutonic styling remained largely unaltered, under the skin the SL underwent constant development and - from 1980 - a new range of lightweight alloy V8 engines were introduced in an effort to improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance. The 380SL was powered by a 3.8-litre engine developing 218bhp and mated to a new four-speed automatic transmission with torque converter in place of the old fluid coupling to improve shifting. External changes were minimal, limited to an aluminium bonnet and small front spoiler, while anti-lock brakes were adopted right across the SL range. The 380SL remained in production from March 1980 until October 1985, with a total of 53,200 built. No longer just the preserve of those residing in Double Bay or Toorak, the SL now represents superb value for money and makes an excellent choice as a second vehicle - reliability, performance and style in a quality package, all for the price of a Japanese hatchback.