1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Market Value & Price History
The 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL has a current market value of $13,511 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 42 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex, with half of the verified USD sales since 2011 between $11,660 and $16,800. Based on US sales through Oct 4, 2026. 3 have sold in the past 12 months, and 8 are listed for sale from $11,495 to $26,495. The median sale price is down 8% over the past 12 months versus the prior year.
Data: DriveIndex. 42 verified auction sales for the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL (37 in USD, the basis for every dollar figure here), latest sale Oct 4, 2026. Value as of Oct 13, 2026. Methodology
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Last checked Oct 12, 2026, unless a listing shows its own date
1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Price History
The median 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL sold for $13,000 in 2026, against $14,250 in 2018. 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 | $13,000 | 3 |
| 2025 | $14,125 | 7 |
| 2022 | $14,389 | 6 |
| 2021 | $15,000 | 5 |
| 2020 | $20,500 | 3 |
| 2018 | $14,250 | 3 |
Years with fewer than three verified USD sales are omitted — a one-sale “median” is a single car, not a market.
Recent 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Auction Results
| Sold | Price | Mileage | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2026 | $12,500 | 82,000 mi | Automatic |
| Jun 24, 2026 | $13,000 | 60,000 mi | Automatic |
| Jan 28, 2026 | $30,000 | 9,000 mi | Automatic |
| Sep 2, 2025 | $14,199 | 87,055 mi | Automatic |
| Aug 24, 2025 | $18,000 | 43,000 mi | Automatic |
| Aug 10, 2025 | $12,500 | 88,000 mi | Automatic |
| May 1, 2025 | $15,000 | 56,000 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 27, 2025 | $11,500 | 76,000 mi | Automatic |
| Feb 21, 2025 | $11,660 | — | — |
| Jan 24, 2025 | $14,125 | 72,000 mi | Automatic |
| May 12, 2023 | $28,500 | 16,000 mi | Automatic |
| Jul 3, 2022 | $14,777 | 56,000 mi | Automatic |
| Jun 16, 2022 | $10,750 | 100,000 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 27, 2022 | $14,000 | 82,000 mi | Automatic |
| Mar 10, 2022 | $15,000 | 127,912 mi | Automatic |
Verified results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
All Mercedes-Benz 380SL auction results →See the full picture on the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL
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Mercedes-Benz 380SL by Year
Which 380SL year should you buy? Every year compared →1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL worth?
A 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL is worth approximately $13,511 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 42 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex. Based on US sales through Oct 4, 2026. Half of all verified sales fall between $11,660 and $16,800; the full verified range is $10,080 to $34,100. Condition, mileage and options move an individual car within that band.
How much did a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL cost new?
The 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL carried an original MSRP of $39,000. Verified examples now trade around $13,511.
How much has the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL depreciated?
The 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL is worth about 65% less than it cost new: it carried an original MSRP of $39,000, and verified examples now trade around $13,511. That compares today's value with the sticker price, not adjusted for inflation.
How many 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL sell per year?
3 have sold at auction in the past 12 months. DriveIndex has tracked 42 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL sales in total.
Are 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL sale prices higher or lower than a year ago?
The median 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL sale price is down 8% 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 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL?
DriveIndex lists 8 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL for sale, priced from $11,495 to $26,495 (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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