This is another of the world famous “Makoto Sekiguchi Museum Collection” vehicles we have been fortunate enough to acquire.  This particular 280SL started life as a standard North American Market / USA model completed late in 1970.  It was originally and remains painted in the very rare exterior color “Papyrus White” (Color Code 717 G) which is far brighter and clearer than the regular standard white (Color Code 50G) which is a more flatter and duller white.

This 280SL was a local Los Angeles based car for most of its entire life.  In the early 1990s, Makoto Sekiguchi purchased this vehicle via the Japanese American classic car broker, Ichizo Kobayashi.  The car had covered some 60,000 miles and remained rust, accident free and still retained all of the original main components as delivered new such as the engine, gearbox and rear axle assemblies.  It was exactly what Sekiguchi was looking for, the perfect un-restored and un-mollested base for a complete and total restoration the likes of which had never been done before.

Immediately after being purchased, the car was delivered to Sekiguchi’s preferred restoration specialist, Lothar Motschenbacher who needs little introduction.

The restoration took nearly two years two complete and is estimated to have cost Sekiguchi San nearly $200,000!  Per Sekiguchi’s request, the car’s highly unattractive USA Market side marker lights, front headlights and bumpers were all removed and replaced with European market versions.  The removable “Hard Top” was color changed from the original “Papyrus White” to a contrasting and far more attractive “Midnight Blue” (Color Code 904 G.)  To complete the “European” appearance package, Sekiguchi had a new-old-stock European 220 kilometer-per-hour speedometer fitted.

After completion, the car was shipped to Sekiguchi’s Museum Collection and put on permanent display.  Even though the work was completed more than ten years ago, this 280SL has covered only 520 Kilometers since the completion of this restoration.  All of the mileage added during Sekiguchi San’s ownership was during annual routine maintenance and servicing.

Today, this 280SL still remains as crisp and fresh as it was when restored by Lothar Motschenbacher.  It is of course completely and totally rust and accident free with full tools and a complete original set of manuals and books.