Vehicle Description
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a staple of the automotive world, and the
day they go out of production is probably the day that the
self-driving car becomes mandatory. This 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL
is a refreshingly classic alternative to all the dated yellow and
brown '70s SLs that seem to litter the market these days, and with
a clean bill of health, loads of maintenance records, and only
2-owners since new, it's ready to enjoy right now.
Silver over black is a combination that will never go out of style
and transforms the SL from "cute" to serious without changing its
personality. The silver paint is original and in good,
survivor-grade shape, only showing a few signs of age and the great
assembly and build quality for which these cars were justifiably
famous. Living life as a celebrity has its perks, so this car has
always been properly maintained and stored indoors, so there's a
nice, authentic original shine to the paint and crisp pinstripes
that stretch from nose to tail. There are a few areas that have
been touched up over the years, and some nicks and minor scratches
remain here and there, but you probably won't be able to spot them
on a cursory inspection, again suggesting that the owners of this
car were especially fastidious about its care. Slam one of the
doors, even with the top down, and you get a nice, solid THUNK and
panel alignment on these cars has never, ever been an issue. The
US-spec bumpers were derided at the time, but given the passage of
the years and the familiarity of the look, it's passed into being a
non-issue for buyers today simply because there's no way to make
these cars look bad.
The black interior is a pleasing contrast to the silver bodywork
and offers both a more sophisticated look and a cooler ride than,
say, the more dated tans and browns from this era. The seats are
MB-Tex vinyl, which was standard equipment that wears like iron,
the carpets are plush, and the dash and center console are
blacked-out, not adorned with wood, giving this roadster a very
sporty look inside. There are definitely signs of use, after all it
is all-original and just had its 45th birthday, but for a car with
over 200K miles it's been nicely preserved and still reeks of
quality and luxury from behind the wheel. That big steering wheel
is original equipment, and it sure looks good with a pleasing heft
to the steering that initially feels slow but really balances
itself as speeds build. The big, round gauges are the archetype for
legible dials and because this is a Benz after all, it comes with
great options, including A/C, power windows, and an upgraded
Kenwood AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that was installed in the center of
the dash. The carpeted package shelf behind the seats is good for
an overnight bag or two, but this car is strictly a two-seater, but
if it's more storage space you seek the trunk is actually much more
spacious than you might expect. There's a black convertible top
stowed under the hard shell tonneau cover, although if we're honest
it's all-original and has certainly seen better days, whereas the
matching hardtop is so nice it looks like it was repainted.
The SL's namesake 4.5-liter SOHC V8 engine was the main powerplant
for most US-bound Mercedes-Benz models, and for good reasons: it's
reliable, powerful, and smooth, all things that you'd expect from
your top-of-the-line German luxury car. Parts are still easy to
find and relatively inexpensive, and it's obvious that the two
previous owners have kept up on maintenance so it's ready to enjoy
for years to come. The 3-speed automatic transmission is
unobtrusive and smooth, the suspension is just the right
combination of sporting and supple, and the brakes are, as you'd
expect, quite powerful. A life in the warm south has resulted in a
clean undercarriage, which seems to sport a brand new reproduction
exhaust system that surely cost thousands. The flashy chrome alloys
are a Mercedes-Benz trademark look and carry 205/70/14 BFGoodrich
blackwall radials with lots of life left in them.
One of the most popular cars we sell, the R107 SL remains a staple
in the collector car hobby. Find out about what quality means and
call today!
