Vehicle Description
If you've been in the market for a vintage Mercedes SL, and you
want the best-of-the-best, then your search is likely over. Critics
will complain that we're lumping all SL variations together, but
this 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL is so incredibly beautiful and was so
impeccably restored that we can dare call it the 'King of the
R107s' with great confidence. We sell a lot of vintage SLs here at
Streetside Classics, and we know these lovely cars inside-and-out,
yet we've never seen one this close to 'perfect'. Treated to a full
concourse-level restoration by the professionals at Black Horse
Automotive Services over the course of five years and to the tune
of $133K, it simply has no equal on the market right now. R107s
have been skyrocketing in value as of late, and this drop-dead
gorgeous 450SL is offered at a fraction of its build cost, making
it quite the bargain.
Like most luxury models, you could pretty much get whatever color
you wanted on your SL, even in 1979. While so many of these cars
were black, white, or some variation of beige, this 450SL sports a
slick Code 735 Astral Silver that works splendidly with the red
leather interior. There's a reason vintage Porsches, Jaguars, Aston
Martins, and even Ferarris are remembered by so many in
silver-over-red color combinations. The same applies to classic
Mercs like this. It's a legendary color combination, one that has
been time-tested and is still as stunning today as it was in 1979
when this SL first set tire-to-tarmac. 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 was redone to a concourse standard, as lovely as
most human beings will ever see, and with only 7480 miles on the
restoration, it still looks impressive today. Most people would
give it a 10 out of 10, but in this subjective world that we live
in, we'll hedge our bets and call it a 9.5 out of 10. It's flat-out
gorgeous, and we've never seen its equal, with laser-straight
bodywork, expertly aligned panels, and a deep, lustrous finish that
you could drown in if you're not careful. We could go on and on,
but just know that these are some of the most admirable pictures of
a Mercedes we've ever posted on our website, and they STILL don't
do this classic the justice it deserves. All the chrome and
stainless were expertly restored as well, and even though the
bumpers may be a bit overzealous for some that prefer the Euro
counterparts, they're still in excellent shape too.
The red leather interior is a sporting compliment to the slick
silver paint, and it, too, was restored to concourse levels to the
tune of $26,000. The fact that the interior restoration bill equals
the cost of most driver-quality SLs on the market should tell you
everything you need to know about it, rendering these next few
words somewhat moot. Nevertheless, it's gorgeous, and in excellent
condition everywhere you look, from the supple yet firm seating
surfaces, the blemish-free door panels and dash, and the thick,
luxurious carpets that line the floors. Even the gauges were
restored, with the odometer rewound to reflect the mileage since
the restoration, and everything looks as clean (if not better) than
it did in 1979, from the steering wheel, the woodgrain, to all the
buttons, switches, and controls. Options include seatbelts, power
windows, power antenna, cruise control, a Becker AM/FM/Cassette
stereo, and a fully operational factory HVAC system that includes
cold air conditioning and hot heat. Overhead there's a black
convertible top that practically still looks new, and with some
practice, you'll be able to stash it or pull it up in moments. The
trunk is fully restored with matching red carpets, and you guessed
it, it's as darn near perfect as well.
One of the most considerable virtues this SL has to offer is the
fully rebuilt 4.5L V8 under the hood. The engine 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. The underhood area looks practically new, where virtually
everything has been replaced or serviced during the restoration or
in the not-too-distant past, so it runs like a top. The 3-speed
automatic transmission (also rebuilt during the restoration) was
standard equipment on US-bound SLs, and the rear end is stock-spec
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, nice enough to show off with
mirrors at a car show. Bundt-style alloy wheels are what this
beauty was born with and even they were also wonderfully restored
(are you surprised at this point?), and they come wrapped in
205/70/14 Michelin blackwall radials all around.
Flat-out, this is probably the best R107 SL on the market today,
and we doubt many will ever be this wonderfully over-restored. With
almost $135K in build costs, it's a beautiful overindulgence for
those that demand the best. Call today!
