Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
example of this very rare and ultra low production 1972
Mercedes-Benz 450SL roadster with only 88K original miles; a US
import with the attractive European small chrome bumpers before the
US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration enforced bumper
regulations incorporating stronger energy absorbing bumpers without
regard to aesthetics for safety reasons. Introduced in 1972, this
particular example is an early US specification car and is thus
equipped with the significantly more attractive small chrome
bumpers that were fitted to all European cars.Sold new in Germany
on 9/13/1972 to it's original and long time southern California
fastidious owner who imported the car to California the same year
and where it was subsequently serviced at 'Beverly Hills
Mercedes-Benz' of Beverly Hills, CA. The car will be sold with all
original handbooks, service warranty manual, maintenance booklet
etc and was reportedly always primarily serviced at Mercedes
specialists and dealers since new with every indication showing
that this car was always well maintained and serviced on schedule.
The car was reportedly owned by the same family owner until earlier
this year and kept in a climate controlled facility until we
recently acquired the car.The car's original factory options
included:BEHR Air ConditioningCentral LockingRight Outside
MirrorBecker Europa AM/FM Radio (Replaced with Blaupunkt)Electric
Front WindowsTinted GlassDark Blue Soft TopFloor MatsPadded Leather
DashboardPadded Steering WheelThree Speed Automatic TransmissionThe
factory original 'Metallic Blue' (color code 387) color paint is in
extraordinarily fine condition and still reflects like glass. The
original 'Dark Blue' color interior is also in gorgeous shape with
virtually no signs of any wear. The car has it's original factory
matching German canvas 'Dark Blue' soft top and it's factory
'Metallic Blue' hardtop which is also in pristine condition.The car
drives exactly like such a well maintained and serviced Mercedes
should and must be seen and driven to be truly appreciated. The
engine is extremely strong with no noticeable oil leaks, the
transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the temperature
always remains cool.In 1972 Mercedes-Benz first offered the new
R107 series SL model in the US. It would go on to be the longest
production run of the SL series until 1990. The 350SL first entered
production in Europe in 1970 with a 3.5L engine and first was
imported to the US in 1972 as the 3.5L 350SL in very low numbers
until late 1972 when the 4.5L 450SL was introduced. Whilst the
previous W113 6 cylinder 'Pagoda' SL models were certainly beloved
and collected, this new R107 marked a significant advancement in
both styling and sophistication, being at once longer and more
imposing, bigger, more luxurious and with the new low compression
V8 engine matched to a robust steel frame, making it at once more
planted to the road with a heavier rock steady stance with superb
power and acceleration to match for sustained high speed driving
with a top speed of over 120mph.Without doubt, this is one of the
finest classically beautiful roadster designs built by
Mercedes-Benz, probably the last classically beautiful convertible
series they built and now becoming more desirable and collectible
than ever before - certainly you will look long and hard to find a
finer head-turning extraordinarily rare and low production early
model 1972 450SL example with low original miles with the
attractive small European chrome bumpers anywhere else!
