1980 Mercedes 380 SLC only 59208 miles from new

Forty two years ago this October, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the C107 SLC at the Paris Motor Show. The launch signalled a shift in thinking at Stuttgart about what made a successful luxury coupe. The C107's extra 360mm in the wheelbase over the R107 allowed for a rear seat bench whereas the SL offered little more than a shelf. Born from the R107 SL chassis which was in turn built with parts carried over from the W114 platform, the long version of the SL emerged as a highly popular and extremely long running car. Sporting a longer wheelbase and sufficient interior room for four, the SLC was a sleek two door coupe that combined the seating advantages of a four door sedan with the sportiness of a coupe. Powered by Mercedes own M116 V8 engine the 380 SLC developed 215 BHP and had a top speed of 134 mph.

This fabulous looking C107 Coupe has covered fewer miles in its 33 years than many modern cars notch up in a quarter of that time, 59208 to be precise which works out at just over 1,794 miles per year. With only four recorded owner from new its provenance and history file is superb. It comes complete with the original supplying dealer hand pack, all the correct period handbooks, leather wallet and there is even the original sales brochure.

We are informed that the car fires readily from cold with no blue smoke or nasty knocks or rattles, it drives both smoothly and swiftly with nicely weighted steering and firm brakes that track both straight and true, it is assisted by a super smooth automatic transmission that gives a linear power delivery right through the power band including kick down. All electrics and gauges work perfectly and when warm the temperature gauge sits at exactly 80 degrees and never moves.

Sitting inside this car is like travelling back in time, the lavish cabin is pure classic Mercedes. All the gauges and switches are properly fitted and function exactly as they should. The cream interior is in beautiful condition throughout and genuinely seats four people in supreme comfort and both front seats are in superb order with absolutely no marks or tears whatsoever. Even the luggage area has seen no use whatsoever and there is the original, complete unused tool kit.

The Inca Red bodywork is very straight, the gloss of its paintwork is deep, and the shut lines and gaps are reassuringly symmetrical and narrow. The result is a car that is about as good as you can get. It really is a beautiful car, it has a simple elegance that is not found in a modern Mercedes, the market for these is on the rise, sold with a fresh MOT, this SLC is ridiculously good value.