In spite of the negative things that the year 2020 has brought so many people, there’s been one reward for automotive hobbyists during the coronavirus pandemic: Additional time for project cars.
With shelter-in-place orders in effect, curfews in place, and the closure of so many social venues, many have turned their attention to the garage or workshop. One such person is a private seller on ClassicCars.com with a Mercedes-Benz SL advertised as a “COVID project.”
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350SL that has been painstakingly restored, with more than 200 hours invested over the course of this year, the seller says in the ad.
“I have restored it as if I were keeping it, using all high-quality replacement parts and correct spec fluids,” the seller states.
Presented in an image gallery that looks like it came straight out of the Mercedes-Benz promotional catalog, this SL in Cambria, California, rides on an R107 chassis and is powered by a 3.5-liter V8 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The SL label for Mercedes two-seaters stands for “super light,” with dates back to 1954 and the 300SL Gullwing race car. By the 1970s, the SL model had established a foothold in the luxury marketplace as the must-have roadster for affluent performance enthusiasts. Many SL models, like this one, came with both hard and soft tops.
The odometer on this example shows only about 29,000 original miles, which the seller believes to be original to the car. Among the items on the Mercedes’ 2020 restoration checklist were a number of service items, including recent brakes, tires and ignition work. In addition, the nearly 50-year-old carpet and interior got some much-needed TLC. The results appear to speak for themselves.
The seller has hyperlinked the vehicle ad with his personal website on, which spells out in greater detail the background of the Mercedes and its return to roadworthiness after many years of sitting in a friend’s driveway. Photos from pre-restoration are also included there.
“This SL is a sweetheart,” the seller concludes. “You can literally fly into central CA and drive this car home with no hesitation.”
Without a doubt, this seller definitely made the most of his spare time in 2020. Hopefully, he gets a chance to enjoy a few top-down cruises as a reward for his efforts before the Mercedes is sold. The asking price is $19,200.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.