1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC

Description

Back in the 70s and early 80s, 4-seater coupes like this 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC were big business. Designed as the larger sibling to the 2-seat SL, the stretched platform added back seat functionality and a remarkably handsome profile that gives this car a look and feel all its own. With just two owners and a beautiful recent restoration, plus Mercedes-Benz's legendary build quality, it's a superb runner.

This car was purchased by the owner's father-in-law in 1978, so long-term history is excellent. It was restored in 2008, taken down to bare metal, and sprayed with its original metallic root beer color. With a brilliant shine that's typical of high-end finishes using two-stage urethane, this car still looks like an A-list celebrity. There's absolutely no rust, thanks to a history in the warm southern US, and no evidence that it has ever been in an accident. The R107 platform was built like a Panzer tank, and as a result body gaps are exact, the doors open and close with a precision that will delight you, and it still seals up tightly to be whisper quiet on the highway. All the rubber (and there's a lot of it with the federally-mandated bumpers) is in excellent condition, and despite living in the sun, things like the gills in the quarter windows and the plastic lenses are beautifully preserved. Cosmetically, there can't be many nicer SLCs available anywhere.

Inside, the leather interior, which was a rare upgrade over the standard MB-Tex, is equally nice. The buckets are firm and supportive and built to carry passengers great distances in maximum comfort. Other soft parts like the door panels, carpets, and headliner are similarly excellent. Sisal floor mats are a nice touch, which surely helped protect the carpets, and the darker brown dash top was purely intentional to help reduce glare. The SLC came standard with just about everything, including A/C, cruise control, power sunroof, and there's a great sounding AM/FM/CD stereo in place of the original Becker Grand Prix unit. There's also a wonderful wood-rimmed steering wheel that adds a bit of warmth to the interior and even the beautifully upholstered trunk shows almost zero wear thanks to a custom embroidered trunk mat.

The 4.5 liter V8 under the hood was one of Mercedes' better powerplants. With a bubbly V8 idle and a smooth flow of torque that's more electric motor than piston engine, it makes the SLC a sporting machine that delivers entertaining performance. It's also as reliable as a wood stove, with most examples running for hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance. It's clean and well-maintained under the hood, and a fresh alternator is a welcome sight, as this is one of the lone weak spots in the car's specifications. The three-speed automatic shifts well, and the chassis is quite clean. Traditional Mercedes alloys look exactly right and carry recent 205/70/14 Michelin blackwall radials.

This car also includes all the restoration photos and maintenance records, so you can buy with confidence. An impressive car for not a lot of money. Call today!