1978 Mercedes Benz 450SL R-107 convertible that is one family owned with wonderful history and full factory documentation, hardtop, new Black Hartz softtop, the very pretty white car has the original paint that is just professionally buffed to bring out the luster, the red factory interior is in really fine, fine condition, the wood console and the red dash pad are terrific, has the excellent white hardtop and latches, the under hood presentation of the reliable Mercedes Benz V8 appears low mileage, with but 52,320 miles in its life, the collectability and value are enhanced with receipts and the factory documents, this has the Owner’s Manual, Mercedes-Benz spec book, (SEE LINK), original Protecto-Plate in the plastic factory holder, (SEE LINK), factory Pre-Delivery Inspection, (SEE LINK) Becker radio warrantee, has the original alloy wheels, there are receipts in the file for chassis #10704412043196 going back to 1980 on the fine maintenance, these are $5,088 plus the recent tune and oil work in Atlanta in July 2011 for $1872 (LINK), then final detailing for Christmas 2011, this has the original alloy wheels, full spare, power windows work well, original glass, all fluids and road check just completed, see the original factory data tag with all specs (LINK), see family history statement (LINK),
Engine: this is the original engine, at 4520cc, it is the famous overhead valve and camshaft, Bosch electronic fuel injection, 250 horsepower SAE at 5800 rpm for the USA with 8.1 compression, this particular engine wonderful even compression at 148 to 155 lbs in a dry cold reading (LINK) just taken showing its excellent condition, in the very recent time, the service has included check of fuel system pressure, replacing the Bosch fuel pump, new
spark plugs, 15/40 oil and MANN oil filter, cleaned air box and filter with original air cleaner with snorkel detailed, R&R and recoated gas tank for clean fuel, new fuel filter and hoses, receipts in file for over $1872 by the son of the original owner, the stock engine bay is cleaned and like the low mileage it is, really terrific,Factory Specs: MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SL, model year 1978, version for North America U.S. (up to August) with 2-door convertible body type, RWD (rear-wheel drive) and automatic 3-speed gearbox. Basic specs and characteristics: petrol (gasoline) engine of 4520 cm3 / 275.8 cui displacement, Dimensions: this model outside length is 4630 mm / 182.3 in, it’s 1790 mm / 70.5 in wide and has
wheelbase of 2460 mm / 96.9 in. The value of a drag coefficient, estimated by a-c, is Cd = 0.45 . Standard wheels were fitted with tires size 205/70 HR 14. Reference vehicle weights are: official base curb weight 1665 kg / 3670 lbs, gross weight GVWR 2015 kg / 4442 lbs, top speed 205 km/h (127 mph)the engineers who designed it nicknamed it “der Panzerwagen” as one of their specifications was to meet or exceed stringent safety regulations that threatened to force the roadster body style into permanent extinction, stylistically the R107 Chassis with its blend of slab shapes and extra-long radii curves owes far more to the Panzerkampfwagen “Königstiger” than its graceful automotive predecessors, the W198 and W113 “Sport Leicht” series, under the hood, the R107 is motivated by a V-8 engine with an overhead cam and fuel injection, built in a time when Mercedes-Benz was truly and uniquely synonymous with “quality”… as they remained alone at the top of the luxury automotive heap to stand for substance and quality,
Chassis and brakes: when this car is checked on the lift, the original lug nuts have just been bead blasted and coated, the original wheels have just been taken off, they are painted now in argent silver (SEE LINK), stock alloy wheels in great condition, the original underchassis is really in fine, unblemished condition, very solid, this has just been hand cleaned and coated with WD40 to protect, far nicer in person than the photos would even show, the brakes are checked with the wheels off and found to have at least 50% life left in the pads, nice Toyo 205/40/14 tires with very good life left,
Interior: the dash fascia and instruments are in great condition, far better than one would expect, the instruments look fresh, the red dash pad has no cracking, it is in very fine shape for the age of this car, the wood on the console is really terrific, the photos again do not show really how nice, this has a newer radio installed some time ago for better sound with note it does not work but a radio shop could check, the strong point is that the original factory Becker radio is part of the package (LINK), has front Mercedes floor mats, the red interior front and back is a time warp, only the driver’s seat even shows any real fading, the chrome on the top of the rear quarters for the top latch is like new, the chrome door handles are great, note the factory markings at the inner door fenders with all numbers are shown (LINK), new Black softtop in fine condition,
Summary: exhaust work was just completed to make the car sound as new, the shop believes the front part of the system is having both the original white hardtop and newer black Hartz softtop add to the value and history, the original paint has been professionally polished with great care and really excepting very minor aging, this is exceptional, there are only a few minor door dents that happened through the years that have even not hurt the paint, very hard to see except in certain lights, the ‘dent’ guy could fix but would have to drill a hole in door post area, it is far more valuable like this, this is an amazing and pretty presentation for such an original Mercedes SL, there is no doubt that the ‘Mom” bought the car new, then with her passing, her son brought this here to Atlanta, full story, here is a really ‘classy’ Mercedes with audience all over the world, with updating for Spring 2012, this 450SL is a real treasure for $12,950
1978 MERCEDES BENZ 450SL R107 ORIGINAL FOR SALE!