Best Mercedes-Benz 280SL Year to Buy
There is no single best Mercedes-Benz 280SL year: the right one depends on your budget and what you want from the car. Across 367 verified sales, the 1970 is the most affordable at $109,476 and trades most often (102 verified sales). The 1971 has held its value best, now worth 18 times its original MSRP.
Data: DriveIndex. 4 model years with at least 10 verified sales each, latest sale Sep 19, 2026. Methodology
Ranked across the 4 years with at least 10 verified sales. Years with fewer are in the table below but too thin to rank.
Mercedes-Benz 280SL Value by Model Year
| Year | Value today | Vs. original MSRP | Verified sales | For sale now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 280SL | $18,833 | 61% | 5 · too few to rank | — |
| 1984 280SL | $15,845 | 53% | 8 · too few to rank | — |
| 1983 280SL | $16,200 | 56% | 4 · too few to rank | — |
| 1982 280SL | $15,213 | 54% | 6 · too few to rank | 1 |
| 1981 280SL | $15,500 | 57% | 1 · too few to rank | — |
| 1980 280SL | $14,100 | 54% | 4 · too few to rank | — |
| 1978 280SL | $20,740 | 86% | 2 · too few to rank | 1 |
| 1975 280SL | $16,750 | — | 1 · too few to rank | — |
| 1971 280SL | $132,600 | 18× | 84 | 6 |
| 1970 280SL | $109,476 | 15× | 102 | 5 |
| 1969 280SL | $111,800 | 15× | 98 | 1 |
| 1968 280SL | $112,254 | 15× | 51 | 4 |
| 1967 280SL | $51,520 | 6.9× | 1 · too few to rank | — |
Value today is DriveIndex's current value for each year, from verified sales. “Vs. original MSRP” compares it with the sticker price when new, not adjusted for inflation: 100% means it is worth exactly what it cost. Years with fewer than 10 verified sales are listed but not ranked.
Which 280SL year is appreciating right now?
The table shows what each year is worth. Pro adds the direction: the live Value Signal for every year, how confident it is, a 1–5 year projection, and every sold price behind it. Collector adds the best months to buy and an estimated market-bottom date.
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Best Mercedes-Benz 280SL Year: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Mercedes-Benz 280SL year to buy?
There is no single best Mercedes-Benz 280SL year: the right one depends on your budget and what you want from the car. Across 367 verified sales, the 1970 is the most affordable at $109,476 and trades most often (102 verified sales). The 1971 has held its value best, now worth 18 times its original MSRP. The table on this page lists every model year with its value today, its value against its original MSRP and how many have sold.
Which Mercedes-Benz 280SL year is the cheapest?
The 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is the most affordable year with enough verified sales to compare, currently valued at $109,476. The most valuable is the 1971, at $132,600.
Which Mercedes-Benz 280SL year holds its value best?
The 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is now worth 18 times its original MSRP of $7,560, the best of the years with enough verified sales to compare. That compares today's value with the sticker price when new, not adjusted for inflation.
How much is a Mercedes-Benz 280SL worth?
Depending on the model year, a Mercedes-Benz 280SL is worth from $109,476 to $132,600 today, based on verified sales. Mileage, condition and options move any single car's price; each year's page shows its recent sales.
Which Mercedes-Benz 280SL year is appreciating?
This page shows what each year is worth today and how that compares with its original price. Whether each year is appreciating, stable or depreciating right now is DriveIndex's Value Signal, which Pro members see for every year along with a 1–5 year projection.