Vehicle Description
Not many cars can defy time like this beautiful, low-mileage 1975
Mercedes-Benz 450SL. Even today, nearly 30 years after they went
out of production, they still command respect from the general
masses, and remain grade-A cars to own and drive, representing huge
bang for the buck. This low-ownership, well-maintained example is
one of the nicer ones we've ever featured, having lived most of its
coddled life under the care of 2-owners that treated it like a
member of the family
Like most luxury models, you could pretty much get whatever color
you wanted on your SL, even in 1975. While so many of these cars
were black, white, or silver, this 450SL sports a lovely Carnelian
Red that works splendidly with the black leather interior. With its
dual headlight and bumper brackets (overkill specific for the
American market), it represents the high-water mark for the R107
roadster, a near-ideal blend of style and luxury that made it the
premier luxury car of the era. The paint, although not perfect,
remains in exceptionally good condition given the car's age, a
testament to the quality of the original materials and the care
this car has received over the past two-and-a-half decades. Gaps
and panel fit are to typical German standards and remain excellent
today. Light colors tend to minimize flaws, but even on close
inspection this one has laser-straight flanks, crisply rendered
body lines, and almost zero signs of road rash, although there is
obviously some evidence of age, which is all but inevitable, and it
could all be remedied greatly with a professional buff and polish.
All the chrome and stainless remains bright, and even though the
bumpers are a bit overzealous, they're in great shape too. It's
obvious this car was loved for many years.
The black leather interior is a sporting compliment to the slick
red paint, with seats that are all-original and it all still looks
pretty good. The bolsters inserts in the seats are still very
supportive, while the carpets are appropriate to the car's age and
mileage, and the rear package shelf, which always gets baked in the
sun, shows zero discoloration. You'll also note that lots of
features were standard on an SL, ranging from air conditioning to
cruise control to power windows just to name a few, and a later
AM/FM/CD stereo has been very neatly installed in the center of the
dash. Overhead there's a black convertible top practically still
looks new and with some practice, you'll be able to stash it or
pull it up in moments. And if you want even more protection, a
color-matched hardtop comes with the sale as well. The trunk has
its original mat, which was still rubber in 1975 and we like the
no-nonsense look.
The biggest virtue this SL has to offer are the ultra-low 47,365
actual miles, a nice stack of maintenance receipts, and long-term
ownership from only 2-owners in its lifetime. The 4.5 liter V8 is a
wonderful machine, torquey and smooth with a fantastic bubbly
exhaust note that sings in appropriately hushed tones thanks to a
lively factory exhaust system. Known for their longevity, these
engines are virtually indestructible given proper maintenance, and
will happily run for hundreds of thousands of miles with just gas
and oil changes. Evidenced by the underhood area, this one has been
lovingly maintained, and virtually everything has been replaced or
serviced at some point in the not-too-distant past, so it runs
great. A 3-speed automatic transmission was standard equipment on
US-bound SLs and the rear end is stock-speck and spins friendly
3.08 gears to make this roadster a bonafide open-road cruiser. The
fully independent suspension rides extremely well, yet gives the
roadster competent handling when the road turns aggressive, and
strong power disc brakes at all four corners shed speed without
concern. And while rust is always the enemy, this car has clearly
spent its life away from the elements, because it's amazingly clean
and solid throughout underneath. Color-matched hubcaps are an
unusual look that we find very appealing, and it wears 205/70/14
blackwall radials all around.
This is a gorgeous 450SL with a clean bill of health, a great
history backed with good maintenance records, an attractive and
unusual color combination, and lots of charm. Call today!