Danke Schoen! Wayne Newton’s 380SL Heads to Barrett-Jackson Vegas
Befitting of the Vegas legend himself, this 1981 380SL was custom built to the hilt for Wayne Newton, and heads to the big tent Saturday, June 19.
Few Benzes symbolized the Eighties more than the R107-era SL roadster. The two-seater even had a starring role on CBS’ ode to Texas-style excess, Dallas. And no wonder! American brands may have started the whole “personal luxury” thing, but Mercedes made it theirs with their second-longest-running icon.
Of course, for some owners, the Teutonic take on personal luxury wasn’t enough. Legendary Vegas showman Wayne Newton needed an R107 SL380 to rock his socks off. Now, his ride could be yours. Heading off to the big tent of Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Saturday, June 19 is an ’81 SL unlike any other.
According to Motor1, Newton purchased his SL380 in the ’90s. From there, he sent it off to Long Island, New York, where coachbuilder Niko Sokol transformed the two-seater into a Vegas Strip cruiser fit for “Mr. Las Vegas” himself.
Right off the bat, the black Benz gained a new face. The headlights are closer together, bringing the eyes towards the big, gold Mercedes badge in the middle. And speaking of gold, the badge and trim are all done in real gold. If that already doesn’t scream “Viva Las Vegas!,” there’s more in the back.
Or, rather, hidden in the back. Instead of the soft top, the long backside hides a retractable hardtop. Because of where the roof lives, though, the spare tire now has a home on the tail end of the SL380. All corners and the spare are gold BBS wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato P7s, just for extra fancy points. The only things remaining unchanged on the Benz are the 3.8-liter V8, its automatic transmission, and the interior itself.
Like every one of Barrett-Jackson’s lots, this unique 380SL is heading to the big tent at no reserve. This one might be more of interest to those who happen to be Wayne Newton fans, than those looking for a new Mercedes roadster to bring home. Wherever ever it lands next, though, it’ll certainly make everyone sing “Danke Schoen” for art pieces like this.
Photos: Barrett-Jackson
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