Vehicle Description
Everyone is familiar with the Mercedes SL roadsters of the 1970s
and early '80s. But not everyone realizes that at the same time
they were also building a hardtop 4-seater SL called the SLC. Built
on a slightly longer wheelbase, these handsome coupes were
luxurious sport-touring cars with admirable performance and typical
Mercedes luxury.
The dark blue finish is sophisticated and entirely appropriate on
the sleek 4-seater, and while the paint is showing only very minor
signs of use, it still looks surprisingly good. There's a distinct
lack of ornamentation, and the muscular shape seems stretched taut
over the chassis for a classic look that will never go out of
style. At a glance, it would be OK to mistake it for the smaller
SL, but when you notice the cool quarter window treatment, the
longer quarter panels, and wrap-around rear window, you quickly
realize this is a horse of a different color. Standard US-spec
bumpers are a familiar look, as are the ribbed taillights that
defined Mercedes-Benz automobiles for a generation, but you can bet
on a few double-takes whenever you take this big cruiser out for a
spin. A bit of chrome here and there makes it look expensive, but
it's not ostentatious, suggesting that the Germans knew how to make
their cars look expensive without trying too hard. This car totally
nails it.
The beautiful tan leather interior has obviously received some
attention in the not too distant past, with attractive seat covers
and a dash pad that really brighten up the driver's compartment.
The condition of the carpets and door panels suggest that this car
was nicely maintained all its life and there are now sisal mats on
the floor that will make true Mercedes aficionados smile. That
giant Mercedes steering wheel connects to a nicely weighted power
steering system that makes this coupe track like a cruise missile
at highly illegal speeds, and gauges are big, bold, and highly
legible. Power windows, a sunroof, a 3-speed automatic
transmission, and a factory Becker AM/FM stereo system make it a
very comfortable place to spend some time. Even today, it would be
a great daily driver that requires no sacrifices compared to a new
car. There's also a decent back seat and a good-sized trunk with a
full-sized spare, making this a great vehicle for long-distance,
high-speed touring.
The 450SLC is powered by a single overhead cam 4.5-liter V8 making
222 horsepower and 278 pounds of torque, which were impressive
figures in 1974. With Bosch fuel injection, the engine has a
bubbly, friendly idle, and smooth power delivery that feels like
the engine will pull forever. A dual exhaust system with a single
muffler and resonator delivers a pleasant, muscular idle and a rich
full-throttle growl that is perfectly appropriate to the
sport/luxury mission of the SLC. The 4.5-liter engines are
typically Mercedes reliable, and with a long production run, parts
are still plentiful and easy to find and if you take care of it, it
should run forever. Underneath, it's clean even though it remains
completely unrestored, but you can see how nice it is just in the
photos. Braking is via 4-wheel discs and it wears a set of Mercedes
"pie crust" alloy wheels, which are perhaps the period's most
distinctive look and they carry 205/70/14 Michelin radials all
around.
These remain great-driving, fun, comfortable cars, even forty years
later. If you're looking for something a little out-of-the-ordinary
that can still be driven and enjoyed like a modern car, try this
450SLC on for size. Call today!