1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible

The W107 SL series was the most sporting Mercedes-Benz available in the near two decades it survived in production and became a familiar sight cruising the streets of Beverly Hills or Double Bay during the 1970s and '80s. However the SL was so much more than just a toy for the rich poseur - the levels of engineering and build quality have rarely been equalled and the model was dubbed der Panzerwagen by Stuttgart's engineers thanks to the massive strength and safety built into each car. Although the Teutonic styling remained largely unaltered, under the skin the SL underwent constant development and - from 1980 - a new range of lightweight alloy V8 engines were introduced in an effort to improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance. In 3.8-litre guise, the new engine developed 218bhp and was mated to a new four-speed automatic transmission with torque converter in place of the old fluid coupling to improve shifting. Other changes included an aluminium bonnet and small chin spoiler while anti-lock brakes were adopted across the range. The 380 SL remained in production from March 1980 until October 1985, with a total of 53,200 built. Offering great value for money, the W107 series makes a superb weekend cruiser thanks to the effortless performance and open-air motoring, but is equally suited to daily use with automatic transmission and air conditioning. These cars have rock solid engineering and last forever if properly maintained.