1978 Mercedes Benz 450SL Convertible  

The SL/SLC series from Mercedes ran from 1971 until 1989 making them the second longest running series produced by the company.  Only the G class has been in production longer.  North America was the target market for the series which was promoted as a personal luxury car and was the only roadster being produced by Mercedes during its time of production.  They've long been regarded as cars of the affluent and even ended up in television and movies, most notably the early 80's television series, Hart to Hart. 

For consignment, a car that spent most of its life in Texas before being purchased from a friend in 2014 then brought to Pennsylvania where over the past 10 years has replaced the transmission, interior, and paint.  It's a 3 owner car that has some unique features that makes it stand out from most American SL's.  It has an accessory hard top to go along with the standard soft top.  If you've been looking for a nice SL, read on! 

Exterior
The Ruby Red Metallic paint is absolutely gleaming.  It's obvious that great care and time was taken to paint this car and outside of some evidence of some old and halted rust on the door sills, the body is smooth as glass.  The car retains European spec cues with the smaller bumpers and single headlights.  The metal trim and chrome bumpers are in excellent condition and all the gaps are precise and straight.  The stock 15-inch wheels give way to stylish BBS 17-inchers on this car, and it changes the stance and gives the appearance of a shorter, more compact wheelbase and wider track.  

Interior
More care, and obviously more money, was dedicated to the interior where we find lovely Bamboo colored leather on the simple door panels and again on the front bucket seats which in typical Mercedes fashion, are robust in construction and beautiful in design.  This car has the rare option of rear seats, small, but complete with seat belts.  The steering wheel is function focused with that familiar firm Mercedes grip.  The triple gauge pod provides essential information including oil pressure and water temperature.  Three symmetrical vents top the center stack followed by a thin, wood lined panel that houses toggle switches.  Below is a Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit and an heater/AC control panel set in amazing zebrano wood which spills onto the center console where the shifter is situated.  The plush carpet is in nice condition as is the perforated headliner and trim on the removable hardtop.  The trunk is completely lined with saddle colored carpet and is spotless. 

Drivetrain
When you put a big engine in a small car, sometimes the engine bay looks full, and that's the case here with the 4.5 liter V8 taking every bit of real estate.  Fueled by the Bosch Jet-tronic fuel injection system, the engine is rated at 180 horsepower and is backed by a three-speed automatic transmission.  Power is sent to the rear wheels via 3.07 gears.  Power disc brakes provide the slowing and stopping to all four wheels.  

Undercarriage
Clean, solid and mostly dry underneath.  We would say driver quality with some very careful driving, more testament to Mercedes design and construction.  Twin exhaust leads into a single catalytic converter then splits again only to run tandem into a large stock-style muffler that sends two tips out the left side of the rear valance.  Independent suspension with coil springs is found front and rear and 235/45R17 tires show an early 2020 date code.  We note some residual oil on the rear diff. 

Drive-Ability
Nothing quite like a vintage Mercedes and this one, with its modernized wheel and tire set up, stands a little bit taller and rolls effortlessly onto our test loop.  It has good power, not blistering fast, but plenty of grunt to get this luxurious little car moving.  The brakes work as intended and the only flaw we found is an A/C system that was inoperable. 

We've seen our share of SL's at Classic Auto Mall and this one is just a little bit different from the average American spec models.  It has a noticeable presence and is an instant attention getter, so be prepared to answer some questions, especially from fellow Benz enthusiasts. 

10704412049047

107-Model 107
044-450 SL
1-LHD
2-Automatic Transmission
049047-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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