1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Market Value & Price History
The 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has a current market value of $134,960 as of Oct 12, 2026, based on 213 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex, with half of the verified USD sales since 2002 between $64,500 and $113,120. Based on US sales through Oct 10, 2026. 19 have sold in the past 12 months, and 15 are listed for sale from $79,000 to $294,900. The median sale price is down 1% over the past 12 months versus the prior year.
Data: DriveIndex. 213 verified auction sales for the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL (211 in USD, the basis for every dollar figure here), latest sale Oct 10, 2026. Value as of Oct 12, 2026. Methodology
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Last checked Oct 12, 2026, unless a listing shows its own date
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Price History
The median 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL sold for $101,000 in 2026, against $23,000 in 2003. Each row is the median of the verified sales recorded in that calendar year, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself.
| Year | Median sale | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,000 | 17 |
| 2025 | $110,000 | 23 |
| 2024 | $97,890 | 22 |
| 2023 | $90,000 | 23 |
| 2022 | $83,600 | 17 |
| 2021 | $85,000 | 15 |
| 2020 | $78,250 | 10 |
| 2019 | $95,200 | 7 |
| 2018 | $67,000 | 8 |
| 2017 | $66,550 | 10 |
| 2016 | $82,875 | 8 |
| 2015 | $77,550 | 10 |
| 2014 | $73,150 | 6 |
| 2013 | $75,900 | 11 |
| 2011 | $40,700 | 3 |
| 2010 | $28,875 | 3 |
| 2009 | $28,600 | 4 |
| 2007 | $28,080 | 3 |
| 2003 | $23,000 | 3 |
Years with fewer than three verified USD sales are omitted — a one-sale “median” is a single car, not a market.
Recent 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Auction Results
| Sold | Price | Mileage | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | $135,000 | 12,000 mi | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | $120,000 | 14,036 mi | Automatic |
| Aug 13, 2026 | $179,200 | 23,106 mi | — |
| Aug 9, 2026 | $60,000 | 61,000 mi | Automatic |
| Aug 8, 2026 | $102,000 | 8,000 mi | Automatic |
| Aug 5, 2026 | $54,500 | 99,000 mi | Manual |
| Jul 3, 2026 | $83,000 | 55,000 mi | Automatic |
| May 20, 2026 | $83,333 | 67,000 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 30, 2026 | $75,000 | 69,000 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 23, 2026 | $85,000 | 87,000 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 16, 2026 | $112,000 | 89,000 mi | — |
| Apr 9, 2026 | $122,000 | 18,000 mi | Automatic |
| Mar 6, 2026 | $138,000 | 41,000 mi | Automatic |
| Mar 2, 2026 | $101,000 | 61,000 mi | Automatic |
| Feb 20, 2026 | $92,220 | — | — |
Verified results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
All Mercedes-Benz 280SL auction results →See the full picture on the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL
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Mercedes-Benz 280SL by Year
Which 280SL year should you buy? Every year compared →1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL worth?
A 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is worth approximately $134,960 as of Oct 12, 2026, based on 213 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex. Based on US sales through Oct 10, 2026. Half of all verified sales fall between $64,500 and $113,120; the full verified range is $14,500 to $240,800. Condition, mileage and options move an individual car within that band.
How much did a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL cost new?
The 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL carried an original MSRP of $7,560. Verified examples now trade around $134,960.
How much has the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL depreciated?
It hasn't depreciated. The 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is worth about 1685% more than its original MSRP of $7,560, with verified examples now trading around $134,960. That compares today's value with the sticker price, not adjusted for inflation.
How many 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL sell per year?
19 have sold at auction in the past 12 months. DriveIndex has tracked 213 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL sales in total.
Are 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL sale prices higher or lower than a year ago?
The median 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL sale price is down 1% over the past 12 months versus the prior year, based on verified auction sales. That figure tracks the median of what actually sold, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself. The full Value Signal classification (appreciating, stable, bottomed, or depreciating) and its 1–5 year projection are part of DriveIndex Pro.
Where can I buy a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL?
DriveIndex lists 15 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL for sale, priced from $79,000 to $294,900 (last checked Oct 12, 2026). DriveIndex aggregates for-sale listings and auction results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
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