1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL W126 - Red Metallic - 278,578km - 3.8L M116 V8, Right-Hand Drive, Australian Delivery, Restoration Project
Note: The compliance plate confirms this vehicle as a 380 SEL. The boot badge reads "500 SEL" but the Australian compliance plate, key tag, and engine specification confirm the 380 SEL designation.
Description
The Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class (1979-1991) is widely regarded as one of the finest executive saloons ever built. Daimler-Benz built it to last, and most W126s have proven exactly that. Australian-delivered right-hand drive examples are meaningfully rarer and more valuable than grey import left-hand drive cars, and a red example is rarer still. This 1981 380 SEL, confirmed by its Australian compliance plate as an Australian-delivery vehicle manufactured in February 1981, presents as a genuine restoration project with a solid structural foundation and significant mechanical work already completed.
The body is straight. The panels are aligned. There is no evidence of accident history or major crash repairs. The sills show surface corrosion consistent with age and Queensland humidity, and the bonnet, roof, and boot lid have suffered clear coat failure requiring a full respray. The chrome grille, bumpers, and door trim are largely intact with surface weathering. The front bumper shows impact damage and will need attention. The exterior is honest about what this car is: a solid platform that needs paint and some body attention to return it to the condition its engineering deserves.
Mechanically, the vendor advises significant work has been completed ahead of this sale: the fuel tank has been cleaned and recoated, new fuel pump, filter, accumulator, and injectors fitted, new spark plugs, engine and transmission mounts, flex discs, rear brake calipers, rotors, parking brake shoes, new suspension springs, a reconditioned fuel distributor, and new inlet filter. The 3.8-litre M116 V8 is present and complete. Vendor advises the car ran before disassembly.
Inside, the rear cabin has been fitted with reconditioned tan leather seats and retains the factory burled walnut door trim and a largely intact headliner. The long-wheelbase SEL rear seat experience is one of the great pleasures of W126 ownership, and the new leather gives this car a strong starting point for completion. The front cabin requires work: the driver's door has been stripped and door components are stored in the boot alongside window regulator mechanisms and miscellaneous hardware from the restoration-in-progress. The dashboard and instrument cluster are present. An aftermarket wooden rim steering wheel and single-DIN radio are fitted.
For the buyer with access to a quality Mercedes-Benz specialist, this car represents genuine value. A finished RHD W126 380 SEL in good order asks $25,000 to $40,000 in the current Australian market. At a guide of $8,000 to $14,000, the numbers work for a motivated restorer.
Features
* 3.8-litre M116 V8 petrol engine
* Automatic transmission
* Right-hand drive, Australian-delivered, February 1981
* Long-wheelbase SEL body
* Sunroof fitted
* Aftermarket towbar fitted
* Reconditioned tan leather rear seats with headrests (vendor advises)
* Factory burled walnut dashboard and door trim
* ABS braking system (confirmed by instrument cluster)
* Sunroof
* Rear seat fold-down back nets
* Three keys present
* Factory W126 telephone-dial alloy wheels (fitted to rear; front wheels mismatched)
Mechanical Work Completed (Vendor Advises)
* Fuel tank cleaned and recoated
* New fuel pump, filter, accumulator, and injectors
* New spark plugs
* New engine and transmission mounts
* New flex discs
* New rear brake calipers, rotors, and parking brake shoes
* New suspension springs
* Reconditioned fuel distributor and new inlet filter
Condition Notes
* Significant clear coat failure on bonnet, roof, and boot lid requiring full respray
* Surface corrosion on lower body panels and sills
* Front bumper impact damage requiring repair
* Driver's door stripped to bare metal, door components stored in boot
* Front wheels mismatched (temporary steel wheel front, factory alloys rear)
* Boot badge reads "500 SEL" however Australian compliance plate confirms vehicle is 380 SEL specification
* Engine bay shows high-mileage patina
* Disassembled door and interior components stored in boot ready for installation
Specifications
Year: 1981
Make/Model: Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL (W126)
Body: 4-Door Sedan, Long Wheelbase
Engine: 3.8-Litre M116 V8 Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Transmission: Automatic
Drive: Rear-Wheel Drive
Odometer: 278,578km
Colour: Red Metallic
Seats: 5
Steering: Right-Hand Drive
Price Guide: $2,000 - $4,000
VIN: WDB12603322009634
If you have any questions relating to this vehicle, or if you would like to arrange a physical or virtual inspection, please contact Matt directly on 0461 481 639
(Key #CC36)
Lloyds stock #655821+1
#CCALL
#CCEUR
Location of item: 69 Manchester Road, Carrara, QLD, Australia
** This vendor is not registered for GST - therefore GST is not applicable on this asset **
As Standard Auction Practice all Vehicles are Sold Unregistered
As with all vehicles sold in the Classic Car Division, they have been well looked after by their previous owners. This is an Auction Sale. This asset is sold under standard auction conditions, as is, where is. High volumes of incoming product prevent our team from being able to inspect all items individually. All photos, descriptions, odometer readings, hour readings, engine specifications and any condition reports should be used as a guide only and have been compiled after speaking with the owners. To find out more about this lot or to book a live video inspection please contact the Auctioneer Contact which can be found on the Auction Details page. There is no statutory warranty & no cooling off period.
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