speeder's right on for the '80.
Other: Interesting comments someone mentioned... old man's car- LOL. Granted there were some whored out pimp mobiles, even from AMG... gawd awful looks with aero junk.

Few years ago, happened to come across an average to clean 380SL, brown with palomino for $2500. Lot of car for the money but just didn't want to fuss with it.

Fave are the '72 / 73 US nomenclature 350SL that actually were the 450. Must have the correct body color matched wheel covers. Look best with the h.top left on. Bone stock look and stance. A manual conversion wouldn't deter for my taste. Now light that stogie and the tires up!

Potential- found on the net for sale
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390937453.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390937547.jpg

same $$$$ buys the newer better 500sl with 300+hp

^^^ Old argument. That's what many former owners of 70's and 80's 911 owners thought and decided a Boxster was better suited.

At least in these older rides the image is a mundane. Kinda sucks having a 500SL get womped off the line by some of the newer mini-vans, SUV, truck or teen ricer cars.

I had an `85 380SL.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390950139.jpg
Plus:
Great car to cruise down the highway. Very distinctive. Loved the look with the hardtop or the top down. Love having a hard-top for the winter but I had a power hoist in the garage to make taking the 110 lbs top off a breeze. Brakes, oil changes, tune-up etc very easy.

Minus:
CIS. Terrible gas mileage and IMO requires 100% gas which is pricier (I wouldn't put ethanol in it since the fuel system wasn't made to handle it). HVAC was a Rube Goldberg design. Wind noise when the soft top was up (even tho the car had never been in an accident). Have I mentioned CIS?
Dumped it when it needed a soft-top and seats since the cost of them was almost what the car was worth.

Opinion: you will spend more on the car to get it right that it is worth.

I would take an SLC in Silver / Red interior. Seen ONE like that. WOW.