1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL California Coupé

• Rare California Coupé model
• Desirable manual transmission example
• Dry stored for some time
• EU-import taxes paid
• No registration document

'Every driver who has more than a purely utilitarian interest in automobiles should drive a Mercedes-Benz 250SL at least once in his life. The car is an almost perfect yardstick against which to measure any other car. There are cars with better acceleration, cars with better brakes, cars with better roadholding. But there is no car we can think of that has such a remarkable good balance of performance, safety and comfort, and has them in such an absolutely civilised structure.' - Car & Driver.

Introduced late in 1966, the 250 SL used the same bodyshell as the 230 SL that had founded this spectacularly successful sports car dynasty, and which it replaced. Minor improvements were made to the interior but the major differences were the new 2.5-litre six-cylinder engine and disc brakes instead of drums at the rear. The new car's top speed of around 190 km/h remained the same, but the larger engine significantly improved flexibility and responsiveness. The 250 SL was built for just one full production year before being superseded by the 280 SL and is thus one of the rarest of the family. Christened 'Pagoda' after their distinctive cabin shape, these SL models were amongst the best-loved sports-tourers of their era and are highly sought after today.

This manual (4-speed) transmission 250 SL is an example of the rare 'California Coupé', a 2+2 version (first introduced on the 250 SL and carried over to the successor 280 SL) that came with a rear bench seat occupying the space hitherto reserved for the convertible hood. A removable hardtop provided the weather protection. An older restoration that has been dry stored for a good number of years, the car has undergone some mechanical work in the past months and is now in running order. It retains many period features including an original Becker radio, air conditioning and a Department of Defense sticker dated 1st November 1979 for Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, providing a small clue to this car's past life.
Recently imported into the EU, the car comes with a 'EU-taxes paid' document.

Please note that this vehicle is offered without any original registration documents, bidders should satisfy themselves as to registration requirements in their own jurisdiction. Please contact the department for further information.