US owner of abandoned Mercedes in dire condition offers it to detailers for free if they can clean it
- An Ohio-based detailing team was offered an abandoned Mercedes
- The 1982 380SEL was theirs for free if they could clean it
- However, it wasn’t going to be an easy job
Published on Apr 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Apr 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
This Ohio-based detailing team was offered an abandoned Mercedes 380SEL for free if they could clean it.
The 1982 model had lived a good life until it was abandoned and left to sit for over a decade.
As a result, it was in pretty poor shape with signs of both furry critters and tree debris.
However, despite being structurally solid, this wasn’t going to be an easy job.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
The abandoned Mercedes 380SEL
The team of three detailers at WD Detailing was made an offer that was impossible to refuse by their friend, Brett.
They could keep the 1892 car for free if they could get it running.
If they got it working, the car enthusiasts pledged to donate the proceeds to local school athletic programs – or its scrap value if not.
No easy task, the rare, extended-wheelbase Mercedes had been sitting in situ for more than 10 years.
Brett bought the Mercedes 380SEL from a collector who once owned around 80 of them.
Thankfully, the car was structurally sound, however, a severe rodent infestation and tree debris had taken their toll.
Sad, not least because the abandoned 1982 Mercedes 380SEL was a top-tier luxury model in its day, costing $45,000, which is the equivalent of around $145,000 today.
The clean-up operation
After inflating the tires and towing it back to the shop, the team began deep cleaning the car using degreasers, foam cannons, and clay mitts.
The process included pressure washing, removing tree sap, and detailing the interior and engine bay.
During the rescue, the dual hood latch system revealed the car’s original 3.8L V8 engine, which only made about 155 horsepower.
After verifying the oil and air filter condition, the team attempted to start the car, and while it turned over, it wasn’t getting fuel.
After further investigation, the team was able to diagnose the issue as an electrical problem, related to the fuel pump relay and delivery, a known issue with these cars.
Now the team is tasked with finding a functional W126 1982 380SEL fuel pump relay – and they’re not easy to come across in 2025.
Keep an eye on the channel to find out if their gamble was actually worth it.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
