SL/R107 Getting 85 380SL back on the road

Mar 28, 2023 | 07:28 PM

Smokey73

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2009 E 320, 1985 380SL

Getting 85 380SL back on the road

I love the look of my 85 380SL but it has been sitting in storage for aboiut 4 years. I took it off the road when I discovered some disturbing rust on the rear control arm where the spring sits on the arm. I haven't had the heart to sell it. I just yesterday made contact with a Youtube restorer that does mostly restomods but he is thinking of expanding onto the "survivor" categorey and has told me he'd take on the 380SL. I really want to get this back on the road. I love the look and loved to drive the car before I found the safety issue. It also needs a new complete Air Con system, a must here in SC. Want it back on the road. Hopefully this will work. I'm starting a new thread looking for tips parts sources for a few things that will make or break the project for him. Please comment if you have some insightsl

Any tips or direct links to threads or sites for locating things like the complet Air Con components, etc would be greatly appreciated so I can answer to whether the parts are available. He is capable of doing a frame off restoration but we are looking at do work as necessary to make a good/safe/great looking driver, not a show car.

Thanks in advance as I launch on this adventure. I'll be searching the forum for info but if you have specific suggestions or links let me know.