If you are reading this page you will probably know only too well that the Irish Government levies huge import duties on new and used cars, and penalises the owners of larger engined cars with very high annual road tax. You can find out the import duty payable on your chosen car by entering its details at the following link:

https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showVRT

Fortunately there is a perfectly legal way around this tax - buy a 30 year old car.

In Ireland, any car first registered over 30 years ago benefits from the following concessions:

• No VRT import duty (normally up to 30% of the car’s value)
• Very cheap annual road tax, currently under 50 Euro
• Exemption from the annual NCT test
• Eligibility for low cost classic car insurance

Unlike most makes of car, a 30 year old Mercedes, if it has been well cared for, will still be a fine and practical car for every day or special occasion use. We have therefore started to seek out these cars especially for export to Ireland.

The most popular classic Mercedes models of this age are the R107 280SL, 350SL and 450SL roadsters, which were built from 1971 onwards. With minor upgrades this model was produced until 1989, which shows how advanced it was at the time. It takes an experienced eye to spot the difference between a 1971 and a 1989 example.

To the untrained eye this could be a late 1980's car.

Most of these cars have succumbed to the ravages of time now, but there are a few that we come across which have led a cherished and sheltered low-mileage life as a second or third car and someones "pride and joy". These are the cars we seek out.

Please call us if you would like to purchase such a car, or if you are based in the UK and have one to sell.

For Irish customers wishing to view cars we can meet you off your flight at Manchester airport, and for a reasonable fee we can deliver your new purchase to the ferry terminal at Holyhead, which is only two hours drive from us, or all the way to your home.

280CE Coupe 1980V