"DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THIS LOT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AUCTIONThe final incarnation of this simply beautiful grand tourer, introduced in 1967, belied a powerful engine beneath its well-made and elegant exterior. Comfort and quality were the watch words of Mercedes-Benz for all their range and there were certainly no short cuts when it came to the SL. The 2.8 litre, six-cylinder produced an impressive 180bhp, 20hp more than the preceding 250 SL, thus allowing a top speed of 200km/h and a shorter time to achieve it. The 280 SL's essential user friendliness broadened its appeal beyond the traditional sports car-enthusiast market and many celebrities and film stars owned them.Delivered new to the USA, upon crossing the Atlantic this car has undergone a significant amount of restoration works over the past 12 months. These works included a complete repaint in its original colour of Mercedes non-metallic blue. It was then dispatched for a complete retrim in the correct OEM specification hide and new correct carpets were also fitted. In addition, a brand new mohair soft top was fitted to the car by highly regarded marque specialists. All chrome and woodwork were removed and fully refurbished before being refitted. The car then underwent 300 hours of detailing and was fully sorted mechanically. Still in its left hand drive guise, this 280 SL presents in beautiful condition, the blue coachwork and biscuit leather interior are complemented by the blue mohair soft top. Factory fitted options include automatic transmission, power steering, disc brakes and air conditioning. These cars are effortless to drive and have stood the test of time, delightful examples such as this are extremely sought after and hard to find."