Vehicle Description
Not many cars can defy time like this beautiful and unusual 1980
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.
Like most luxury models, you could pretty much get whatever color
you wanted on your SL, even in 1980. While so many of these cars
were red, white, or beige, this 450SL sports a lovely silver paint
job that works splendidly with the unusual tan interior. It also
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. It was repainted at some point, but the finish remains in
good condition given the car's age, a testament to 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, indicating that this car has never been hit or wrecked.
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 in any of the usual locations.
All the chrome and stainless remains bright, and the US-spec rubber
bumpers, which usually suffer from degradation in the sunlight,
remain supple and clear. It's obvious someone loved this car for
many years.
The all original tan interior is a sophisticated and unusual
compliment to the silver paint, with seats beautifully rendered in
MB-Tex that is both comfortable and durable. The interior's
condition strongly suggests that it has been exceptionally well
maintained since new: there are no wear issues on the seats, 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, which is surely helped by the light color. You'll
also note that lots of features were standard on an SL, ranging
from air conditioning to cruise control to power windows, and the
original Becker radio has been replaced by an AM/FM/CD head unit
powering extra speakers behind the seats. Overhead there's an easy
to use convertible top that fits snugly, and all SLs came standard
with matching hardtops. The trunk has its original carpets that are
as plush as those you'll find in lesser cars' passenger
compartments, as well as a full-sized spare tire stashed
underneath.
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 correct 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. Judging by the underhood area,
this one has been maintained over the years and shows signs of
recent service, including some ignition components, hoses, and
filters. A 3-speed automatic transmission was standard equipment on
US-bound SLs and does its best to stay out of the way, letting the
V8's torque do most of the heavy lifting. The fully independent
suspension rides extremely well, yet gives the roadster competent
handling when the road turns aggressive, and strong disc brakes at
all four corners shed speed without concern. And while rust is
always the enemy, this car has clearly spent its life somewhere
warm, because it's amazingly clean and solid throughout. Classic
Mercedes alloys wear 205/70/14 blackwall radials with plenty of
life left in them.
This is a handsome 450SL with a clean bill of health, an attractive
and unusual color combination, and a very appealing price tag. Call
today!
