280SL "barnfind"

[Jaru]

A friend called me a couple of weeks ago, and asked me if I was interested to come along and visit his uncle to look at a pagode who had been sitting in his barn for 12 years. This is what we found.

[Jaru]

At first glance it just looked like a crashed piece of junk. Because of the Opel next to it it wasn't easy to get a good look underneath. But after looking under the carpets and in the trunk, I started to realize that this maybe wasn't as bad as i first thought. In the glovebox I found the datacard, servicebook and all the keys. After looking at som other old cars in the barn it was time to leave. My friends uncle asked me if I was interested in buying the 280SL. I told him i would think about it. I didn't get much sleep that night... I decided i had to take another look at the car with the Opel out of the way. I asked a friend of mine whom is an expert on these cars, if he could join me and take a better look at the car. Next saturday we brought flashlights and a jack and pushed the Opel out of the way. The car had a 5mm layer of dirt underneath, but there was no sign of rust. The car seemed very original and solid except for the damage in the front.
Now there was no doubt in my mind I had to have this car.. After dealing with the owner for a few days the car was picked up and brought back to my garage.

Here is a few pics when i got it home.

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[stickandrudderman]

Great find!

[Bonnyboy]

Awsome find.   I agree, Ya can't let something like that fall through your grasp - looks fairly straight forward compared to some of the stories on this site.   

Congrats.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Nice find!

Keep us up to date of your progress it will make for interesting reading.

Looks like you have the right shop to do the work that needs to be done, or is it a local garage?

[Jaru]

Thanks

Its in my garage now. My plan is to pull out the engine, transmission and front axle, strip the engine bay and deliver the car to a bodyshop to get the front end repaired. I am not going to tear down the hole car for a full paintjob, just the front end will be resprayed for now. The engine/enginebay will be painted and detailed so this part will be finished while I am at it. The rest of the car will just be cleaned and polished. Hopefully its back on the road next summer.

Some more pics before cleaning..

[Flyair]

Congratulations... it looks like you've got enough to keep you busy this winter (and some other winters too
just wonder what could have happened to the gear box lever?

BTW... it does not seem to be a barn find in the traditional sense... I mean - given that the car was found in Norway - that it is not a European version sleeping beauty hidden in a barn and just discovered. It looks rather like a car imported from the US (cf. rear bumpers' protectors) for restoration that never happened... but it is just a guess

[Jaru]

The gear leaver was in the trunk, I'm not sure why.. Maybe I will find out on the first test drive

You are absolutely right about the barnfind theory, thats why i used the quotes "-"  I found it in a barn though..
It was imported from Georgia to Norway i 2002 and was supposed to be restored immediately but it never happend.

[Jaru]

I spent a few hours washing the undercarriage and was amazed how well it was preserved under all the dirt.
And no sign of rust..

Before and after

[Jaru]

And some of the wheel housings..

[Peter van Es]

That looks very solid indeed… lucky you!

[GGR]

So it was imported in that condition, the crash did not happen in Norway.

With no rust, you're quite ahead of the game, even with the damaged front. At least you know you only have that area to repair. With rust, you always discover new places, and getting a shell back to proper condition can be an endless and very expensive job, much worse than what you are dealing with.

[dpreston Virginia]

Looks awesome great find. How did you clean the under carriage? Degreaser ..... Pressure washer?
I need to do mine.

I spent a few hours washing the undercarriage and was amazed how well it was preserved under all the dirt.
And no sign of rust..

Before and after

[Jaru]

Thanks for the comments. I have been dealing with rust on many prior cars, and i must say it's a big relief not to worry about that. I agree that the front damage is far better to deal with.

GGR: thats right, the car was crashed in the US. It has never been on the road in Norway.

DPreston: I used a soap/solvent thats used for washing wooden houses prior to painting and hosed it down with hot water. I did this operation twice and the third time i used a prassure washer with cold water.

[KevinC]

Nice find. Best of luck!

[Jaru]

Started cleaning up the dashboard tonight. After a few rounds with polish it starts to shine again.

[Peter h]

lucky guy, great car.
it looks like a low mileage pagoda. Super under carriage , hard to find these days.
Peter

[Jaru]

Thanks Peter.

Some more pics, original and solid floor.

[Peter h]

this car was not long on the road. I think he has been with the front damage in a barn for a long time also in the United States.
Really a great car. He is'll get a good restoration. Good luck continue to work with the sheet.
Peter

[Jaru]

I think you are right Peter.  After what i have figured out from the service book and oil tags on the door I think it has run 160310 miles. And it probably crashed i 1989. Before its next oilchange at 64500miles. it would be intersesting to know the history of the car.

[Jaru]

Finished washing and reassembly today.  Next up is the wood trim. The doorpockets needs to be fixed and the front carpets should be replaced. Tested the radio, clock and interior lights, the radio works fine and so does the interior light under the dash, not in the glove box though. The clock was also dead, fortunately i had a nos clock on the shelf.

The drivers seat has been reapaired at some point, not the best result as you can see in the last pic. Found some MB-Tex seat covers on e-bay thats available in Bamboo. Anyone seen these in real life? Are they any good?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-SL-W113-230SL-250SL-280SL-Vinyl-Seat-Covers-kit-63-71-Imported-Mb-Tex-/160822929086

[GGR]

Is your interior MB Tex or leather?

[Jaru]

MB-Tex, code on data card is 139.

[Peter h]

original and in reasonably good condition is better than new and perfect.

Working at the fenders, I would take a professional. A few thousand Euros more well spent if the result is perfect.
Here is my silver barns pagoda 2013 was parking since 1998 with 120000 mi
Peter

[Solbekk]

Great find, the last few photos you have posted certainly instills more hope than the very first one!

Best of luck with the restoration, from a fellow Norwegian.