Mercedes-Benz 450 SL '77

• With hardtop


• Brought to Europe


• Comes with recent maintenance bills


• Natural German V8 power


• Excellent investment

The Mercedes-Benz W107 was released in 1971. It was a true status symbol that extrudes performance and prestige. Its price, its specifications, and its performance show that this a a car only the lucky few can afford. The W107 also had the difficult task of succeeding the famous Pagoda, which still shared a strong resemblance to its predecessor, the Gullwing. With the W107, Mercedes-Benz took a leap into the unknown future, without leaving behind its trademarking luxury. Except the G-class, this is the Mercedes-Benz’s car that has been in production for the longest period, the production just stopped in 1989.

The W107 came in two finishes. There was convertible R107 - or SL - with a soft-top, optional hard-top, and optional two-seat rear bench. Also, there was a C107 - or SLC - which was a two-door hard-top coupe with four seats. Both cars were available with a range of engines that all were impressive in their own right. Over the years, fewer engines were available, though each engine was made to perform. In 1981, the successor to the C107 was introduced, and production of it ended. The R107 continued to be sold in large numbers with three different engines until 1989. The total production number is estimated to be around 237,000 unique units.

The aerodynamic and less rounded design was contemporary, compared to its predecessors. Though it was not Mercedes typical at the time, the curves were replaced, in order to fit its decade. The long hood and short rear emphasize class and exude sportiness, while the Mercedes’ star in the grille adds charisma and prestige. The interior is very recognizable as Mercedes, very luxurious, with a classic finish in leather and wood tones. For the US, a number of aesthetic adjustments were made based on their regulations. The square headlights were replaced with round ones, and the bumpers protruded to absorb a collision at five kilometres per hour without damage, as required by US law.

Mercedes-Benz W107 450 SL

The 450 SL Mercedes W107 model was manufactured from 1973 to 1980 and it was the most powerful variant in the W107 series during its production period. Under the hood lies the most powerful eight-cylinder engine of the series at that time, paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Due to the torque-rich nature of the engine, offering a manual transmission was simply impossible.

The 450 SL is the best-selling W107-variant, approximately 100,000 units were produced. This high production number actually makes it easier to find replacement parts, which is a great advantage that even adds to its uniqueness.

Technical information:

Body work

• Length (cm): 463 (182 inch)


• Width (cm): 179 (70 inch)


• Height (cm): 129 (51 inch)


• Wheelbase (cm): 246 (97 inch)


• Weight (kg): 1665 (3671 lbs)

Mechanics

• Engine: 4520 cc V8 front-engine


• Valve gear: 16


• Fuel system: Bosch-Jetronic


• Gear box: 3-speed automatic


• Transmission: RWD


• Left-steered


• power: 180 hp (134 kW) at 4750 t/m


• torque: 298 Nm at 3000 t/m


• Top speed: 199 km/h (124 mph)