You've Probably Never Seen A Mercedes 380SL Roadster Like This One!
by AutoExpert | 24 August, 2021
Although beauty is subjective, there are limits to what you should and shouldn't do to an automobile. This is particularly true when it comes to cars like the Mercedes-Benz 380SL from 1981. The demand for exclusivity, on the other hand, spares no one, and this automobile, modeled on the R107 Mercedes Benz, is the ideal illustration.
Long Island coachbuilder Niko-Michael Coachworks has completely overhauled this strange-looking Benz, which belongs to musician Wayne Newton. Clients appreciate the coachbuilder's uniqueness and a high degree of craftsmanship.
To sum it up, the car's design has been simplified. The profile is made up of clear surfaces and appears to be based on speedboats. Around the same time, certain features, like the outboard spare wheel, obviously harken back to 1950s automobiles. You simply have to look a little closer to see that it's still a Mercedes 380SL.
Because storage capacity has been decreased due to the convertible top, the spare wheel has been moved to the "boat tail" trunk lid. For increased engine cooling, the headlamps have been relocated inboard, and the front fenders have been fitted with extra cooling vents.
The original black leather and hardwood inlays are present on the inside, which appears to be unaltered from the original. In addition, unlike the forthcoming Mercedes SL, the interior isn't influenced by Jar Jar Binks. A 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine with fuel injection powers this one-of-a-kind Mercedes.
The engine produces 204 horsepower and is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. The automobile is almost new, with only 2,000 kilometers on the odometer. Since it has been on exhibit at Wayne Newton's museum, Casa de Shenandoah, where it has been properly looked after, the automobile has been well-cared for.
After being purchased by the renowned musician, the 1981 Mercedes 380SL received a custom body sometime in the 1990s. Whatever we may think of the way it appears, it's a one-of-a-kind piece that's a testimony to artisan Niko Sokol's design and craftsmanship abilities. The automobile was last sold for $84,700, according to Barret Jackson, but it's still listed on the internet as Lot 703.
Source: Barrett-Jackson
